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Refugee and humanitarian program

The Special Humanitarian Program (SHP)

To be eligible to apply for a Global Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 202) through the Special Humanitarian Program you must be:

  • outside Australia (offshore)
  • living outside your home country
  • subject to substantial discrimination in your home country amounting to a gross violation of your human rights
  • proposed by an Australian citizen or Permanent resident, an Eligible New Zealand citizen, or an organisation based in Australia.

Apply

Apply for the Global Special Humanitarian (subclass 202) visa.

Proposer obligations

Before you arrive

The Australian Government does not fund travel costs for Special Humanitarian Program visa holders.

You, or your proposer, must pay for your travel to Australia. Assistance may be available under the International Organization for Migration (IOM) No-Interest Loan Scheme.

The Australian Government will pay for your medical and x-ray examinations.

When you arrive

Your proposer is expected to help you settle in Australia. Your proposer should:

  • meet you at the airport
  • provide your immediate accommodation needs
  • help you find permanent accommodation
  • help you with services and service providers such as:
  • Australia's social security agency, Centrelink
  • banks
  • public transport
  • translating and interpreting services
  • health care
  • education
  • employment
  • childcare

You may also be able to get help with your visa application and with settling in the community through our Community Support Program.