Eligibility
The CSP considers resettling people who are employable and able to support themselves by the end of their first year in Australia.
As a job-ready resettlement program, the CSP requires primary applicants to meet the following Commonwealth priorities:
- be aged between 18 and 50 years old
- have adequate English for independent daily living and employment and demonstrate this at a visa interview (see ‘CSP English language requirements’ below)
- be able to support themselves and their family within 12 months post-arrival, demonstrated by submitting a job offer or identified employment pathway.
Additionally, CSP applicants must:
- be outside their home country and outside Australia
- be subject to substantial discrimination in their home country
- satisfy all Class XB (subclass 202) criteria of the Global Special Humanitarian visa
- have people in Australia who are willing to financially support their visa application and settlement. Support may come from communities, businesses, friends or family.
Apply
To apply for the CSP you must apply through an Approved Proposing Organisation (APO).
An APO will:
- screen you against the eligibility requirements
- link you with secure employment
- help lodge your visa application
- support you throughout the application process
- ensure you receive settlement services once you arrive in Australia.
If you know Australians who want to support you, they should contact an APO.
If you do not know who can support you, but believe you meet all other CSP eligibility requirements, contact an APO directly.
APOs may be able to match you with members of the Australian community interested in supporting people in humanitarian need.
We only grant a certain number of visas under the CSP every year. The CSP is overcapacity and processing may take up to 8 years. All applicants should expect lengthy processing times.
To manage this, we have set a limit on how many applicants an APO can lodge from EOIs received before July 2025. We have also asked APOs to pause accepting EOIs from new applicants.
All applicants under the CSP must meet the visa criteria. They must also satisfy public interest criteria for character, security and health requirements.
CSP English language requirements
Primary applicants must demonstrate adequate English skills, which we will assess as part of the interview process. We will ask the primary applicant to answer several questions in English without help from the interpreter. These questions assess whether the primary applicant has adequate spoken English for independent daily living and employment, including workplace safety.
An interpreter will be available at the interview to help with answering all other interview questions.
After you apply
Once you have applied we will contact you via your APO when further information or action is required to progress your application. We cannot provide progress updates on your application.
If your application is refused, there is no merits review or reconsideration process for CSP applications.
