I have already been granted a TPV or SHEV. Why should I apply for a subsequent protection visa?
TPVs and SHEVs are temporary visas. TPVs cease 3 years after date of grant and SHEVs cease 5 years after date of grant.
If you hold a TPV or a SHEV and you want to remain in Australia beyond your visa cease date, you must apply for a subsequent TPV or SHEV.
You must lodge your application before your current visa ceases.
If you make a valid application for a subsequent TPV or SHEV while you still hold your current visa, your current TPV or SHEV and eligibility for any benefits such as Medicare, Centrelink payments and work and study rights will continue to be in effect until a decision is made on your subsequent application.
If you do not make a valid application for a subsequent TPV or SHEV before your current visa ceases and you remain in Australia, you will become an unlawful non-citizen and you will be barred from applying for a subsequent TPV or SHEV.
You will lose access to benefits such as Medicare, Centrelink payments and work and study rights. You will also be expected to make arrangements to depart Australia.
If your TPV has ceased already and you are an unlawful non-citizen, contact the Department’s Status Resolution Service by calling 1300 853 773.
How can I check when my visa ceases?
You can check the visa cessation date on your Visa Grant Letter, or you can use our free and secure Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system.
You can also download the myVEVO app from your app store.
We may send you an email or SMS message reminding you that your visa will cease soon. Make sure that you have provided your latest mobile number and email address to us.
When should I apply?
If you are a TPV holder, we recommend you apply for a subsequent TPV or SHEV three months before your current TPV ceases. This will give us time to check for any application bars or other issues that may prevent you from lodging a valid application for a subsequent visa before your current visa ceases.
SHEV holders do not need to apply for a subsequent protection visa yet, as SHEVs will not start ceasing until October 2020. We recommend you apply for a subsequent visa three months before your current SHEV ceases.
If I am a TPV holder, can I apply for a SHEV instead?
Yes. If you are a TPV holder and your TPV will cease soon, you can apply for a subsequent TPV or SHEV.
To apply for a SHEV you will need to indicate that you, or someone included in your application, intends to work or study in regional Australia.
For information see
SHEV
Do I need to ask the Minister to lift the section s46A application bar before I apply?
No. The Minister has lifted the s46A application bar to enable all TPV holders to lodge a subsequent application for a TPV or a SHEV, as long as you lodge a valid application while holding your TPV.
The Minister has not lifted the s46A application bar for SHEV holders at this time as SHEVs will not start ceasing until October 2020.
How do I apply?
You can apply for a subsequent TPV or SHEV online using
ImmiAccount.
If you apply online, you will be able to check the status of your application through ImmiAccount including any correspondence we send you.
If you are unable to apply online, you can apply using a paper application Form 1505 Application for a subsequent Temporary Protection visa (TPV) or Safe Haven Enterprise visa (SHEV).
If lodging a paper application form, send the completed application form 1505, supporting evidence and any other documents by post to:
Onshore Protection New South Wales
The Department of Home Affairs
GPO Box 9984
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Note: If you use Form 866 -
Application for a protection visa to apply for a subsequent TPV or SHEV your application will be invalid.
What do I need to provide when I apply for a subsequent TPV or SHEV?
This is a simplified application process. You only need to inform us of any changes in your personal circumstances since you were granted your initial TPV or SHEV. You will also need to tell us if you have travelled overseas, current and previous addresses, changes to your family composition, declare any criminal offences and any changes to your reasons for claiming protection.
You do not need to provide claims or supporting information already provided as part of your previous application. You do not need to ask us for copies of these documents. You only need to provide new claims and supporting information if your previous reasons for claiming protection have changed.
Do I still need to apply for a subsequent TPV or SHEV if my personal details and situation have not changed?
Yes. If you still require Australia’s protection you must complete and submit a subsequent TPV or SHEV application even if there have been no changes to your personal details and situation since your last application.
You will need to be assessed to determine if you still require Australia’s protection.
I am no longer a part of the same family unit. What do I need to do?
If you were granted your TPV or SHEV as a member of the same family unit of someone who was claiming protection and you are no longer a member of that person’s family unit, you should apply separately online through
ImmiAccount. You can provide your own claims for protection and attach them online using ImmiAccount. If we need further information, we will contact you after you lodge your application.
How will my subsequent TPV or SHEV application be assessed?
We will consider the information you provide in your new application, together with information provided in your previous application, and other information (including information about the country against which you have claimed protection) available at the time you apply for your subsequent TPV or SHEV. If we need further information or an interview, we will contact you after you lodge your application.
We might be able to re-use health, character and security checks conducted during your previous application for your subsequent TPV or SHEV application. We will tell you if you need to do new checks.
Can I get migration assistance to complete my subsequent TPV or SHEV application?
If you need help with your application you can use the services of a registered migration agent, at your own cost (including pro-bono). Government funded migration assistance is not available for subsequent TPV and SHEV applications.
If you would like to use the services of a migration agent, always check that the agent is listed on the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) website. Visit
MARA and search for the register of migration agents.
Will I need to attend an interview?
Not necessarily. A decision can be made on your subsequent application based on the information you provide with your application. We will contact you if you need to attend an interview.
How long will it take for my subsequent protection visa application to be decided?
This may vary, as each case is different.
Finalisations of initial TPV and SHEV applications may take priority over subsequent TPV and SHEV applications.
If you make a valid application for a subsequent TPV or SHEV while you still hold your TPV or SHEV, this visa will remain in effect while we assess your subsequent application.
Can I travel overseas while applying for a subsequent TPV or SHEV?
If you hold a TPV or SHEV, you may travel overseas after you apply for a subsequent TPV or SHEV, as your current visa and its re-entry facility will remain in effect until we make a decision on your subsequent application. Note that you must be in Australia for the grant of a subsequent TPV or SHEV.
You must obtain our
written approval to travel before you depart Australia.
You should not use the passport or travel document issued to you by your country of nationality. If you do so, we may consider that you no longer require Australia's protection and we may cancel your visa.
If you hold a TPV or SHEV, you are eligible to apply for a travel document issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Contact any Australian Passport Office in DFAT to apply for a Convention Travel Document or a Certificate of Identity.
We will normally facilitate re-entry to Australia for persons holding valid travel documents issued by the Australian Passport Office, such as a Convention Travel Document.
If you travel overseas, with or without obtaining approval to travel, you do so at your own risk. Consular assistance is only available to Australian citizens, and only to permanent residents in crisis situations.
How do I update my details
You are required to tell us in writing of any change in your residential address within 28 days after the change occurs. You can update us via your ImmiAccount or by completing
Form 929 Change of address and/or passport details.
We recommend you also provide us with your email address and mobile phone number so we can send you important reminders about when your visa is going to cease.
We may provide your mobile phone number to a telecommunications provider in order to send you an SMS reminder of your visa expiry.
My Special Benefit payments from Centrelink have stopped. What do I do?
If you have made a valid application for a subsequent TPV or SHEV before your current TPV or SHEV ceases, your current visa will be extended to ensure your eligibility for Special Benefit payments and family tax benefit payments from Centrelink continues until your subsequent application is finalised.
If you have lodged a valid application for a subsequent TPV or SHEV and your Centrelink payments have stopped, contact your Centrelink office and provide a copy of your ‘Acknowledgement of valid application letter’ and a copy of your VEVO check to seek further assistance. To access your visa details, see
VEVO, or download the free myVEVO mobile phone application.
Further information on Special Benefit payments is available on the
Department of Human Services website.
If you have not lodged a valid application for a subsequent protection visa and your current TPV or SHEV has ceased, you are no longer eligible to receive payments through Centrelink. Contact the Department of Home Affairs Status Resolution Service by calling 1300 853 773 for advice and assistance.
Will my eligibility for Medicare continue when I apply for another TPV or SHEV?
If you have made a valid application for a subsequent temporary protection visa before your current TPV or SHEV ceases, your current TPV or SHEV will be extended to ensure your eligibility for Medicare will continue until your application is finalised.
You will need to renew your Medicare card after you apply for a subsequent TPV or SHEV and before your current visa cease date. To renew your Medicare card, you will need to complete a Medicare enrolment form (MS004) available from the
Department of Human Services website or obtained from your local Medicare service centre. You will need to attend a Medicare service centre and provide the following:
- your completed Medicare enrolment form (MS004);
- a copy of your ‘Acknowledgement of valid application letter’ for your subsequent application;
- identification (passport or
ImmiCard);
- your current Medicare card; and
- a copy of your VEVO check or a copy of your current Visa Grant notice.
What happens if I am refused a subsequent protection visa?
Your application for a TPV or SHEV will be refused if you do not meet the criteria for the visa. We will write to you to explain the reasons for refusing your subsequent protection visa.
If you do not engage Australia's protection obligations and you do not hold another visa, you do not have a lawful right to stay in Australia. You will be expected to return home or to another safe country where you have right of entry.
If you do not depart voluntarily and become unlawful in Australia, we will take steps to remove you from Australia.
For more information about refusal of a protection application visit
your protection visa has been refused or cancelled.
What if I want to depart Australia now?
There may be free assistance available to help you return home. Visit
help to leave to find out more.
