visas for people living in australian communities

This Explainer provides an overview of the different visas granted to people seeking protection in Australia. Refugees outside of Australia and subject to persecution in their home country may be granted a refugee visa (for more information, see our Explainer on Resettlement to Australia).

Our Statistics page provides the latest data available on the number of refugees and people seeking asylum on different visas in the Australian community.

This Explainer contains general information drawn from publicly available information. It is not legal advice.

Permanent protection visa

Asylum seekers granted a permanent Protection visa become permanent residents of Australia and have access to health, social security, education and employment services. People with Protection visas are able to apply for Australian citizenship and sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence (with some restrictions).

A person may be eligible for this visa if they:

  • are in Australia and engage Australia’s protection obligations,

  • did not arrive in Australia without a valid visa i.e. people characterised as “illegal maritime arrivals” or “unauthorised air arrival”

and meet other requirements, such as health and character checks.

Temporary and bridging visas

People who arrive in Australia on or after 13 August 2012 without a valid visa are not eligible for a permanent Protection visa and will face mandatory immigration detention. People who arrive without a valid visa are publicly referred to as ‘illegal’ or unauthorised maritime arrivals, despite not having broken any Australian nor international law, and will only be granted temporary or bridging visas.

Bridging visas

Bridging visas are temporary visas that allow for people to remain lawfully in Australia and live in the community while their substantive visa application is being assessed or while they make arrangements to leave Australia. Bridging visas can allow a person access to basic rights as guaranteed under international law such as healthcare, education and work rights. However, not all bridging visas guarantee these rights.

Asylum seekers with Bridging visas may be eligible for support and financial assistance under the Status Resolution Support Service (SRSS) program (bands 5 and 6), funded by the Department of Home Affairs and delivered by a range of service providers. The Australian government has drastically cut funding to the SRSS program over the past eight years.

The Bridging (Removal Pending) Visa

People who have been cooperating in their removal from Australia but whose removal is not reasonably practicable at the time may be released from immigration detention on a Removal Pending Bridging visa.

People holding this visa have access to some health and income benefits and are able to work, however they must make every effort to facilitate their departure from Australia.

Temporary Protection Visa

A Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) may be granted if asylum seekers who arrive in Australia without a valid visa have been assessed as engaging Australia's protection obligations and meet other requirements including health, security and character checks. The TPV is valid for up to three years. TPVs were first introduced in 1999 but abolished in August 2008. In December 2014, the Abbott government passed legislation to re-establish TPVs.

The TPV allows people to work and have access to Medicare, social security benefits (Centrelink), job matching and short-term counselling for torture or trauma. People under the age of 18 have access to education, adults do not have supported access to education apart from the Adult English Migrant Program (AMEP). Individuals with a TPV are unable to sponsor family members for a visa through the Australian Humanitarian or Family Migration Programs.

Safe Haven Enterprise Visa

The Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) is a form of temporary protection visa that lasts for up to five years. SHEV holders are allowed to work, study and have the same access and limits to support as TPV holders. Unlike TPV holders, however, if SHEV holders meet certain requirements, they are able to apply for other types of immigration visas, such as skilled or family visas (but not a permanent protection visa). In order to be eligible to apply for other types of visas, SHEV holders are required to work and/or study in regional Australia for 3.5 of the five years without receiving Special Benefit payments.

Resolution of Status Visa

On 13 February 2023, the Albanese government announced that it would provide a permanent visa pathway for certain temporary visa holders, enacting its election commitment to abolish TPVs and SHEVs. Under the new policy, existing TPV and SHEV visa holders who arrived in Australia prior to 2013 are eligible to apply for a Resolution of Status (RoS) visa which provides permanent protection. This process excludes approximately 9,000 people seeking asylum who were subjected to the Fast Track system and do not hold TPVs or SHEVs.

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Last updated 30 June 2025