AU Humanitarian Permanent

Refugee and Humanitarian Program (subclasses 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 866)

Australia's permanent protection program for refugees and others in humanitarian need, offshore and onshore.

Who this route is for

People subject to persecution or substantial human-rights abuse - resettled from offshore (Refugee and Special Humanitarian streams) or granted onshore protection after arriving in Australia.

Eligibility requirements

Offshore Refugee (200) / In-country (201) / Emergency Rescue (203) / Woman at Risk (204): be outside your home country, usually referred (e.g. by UNHCR), and meet the refugee definition.
Global Special Humanitarian (202): be outside your home country, subject to substantial discrimination amounting to gross human-rights violations, and have a proposer who is an Australian citizen/PR or an eligible organisation.
Onshore Protection (866): be in Australia lawfully and engage Australia's protection obligations (refugee or complementary protection).
Meet health, character and security/national-security checks.
No visa application charge for offshore humanitarian visas (free to apply).

Requirements reviewed June 2026. They change frequently — confirm the current rules on the official page before relying on them.

Recent changes & caveats

The program is capped and demand far exceeds places (around 16,000 of the 20,000 places are allocated to offshore resettlement). A Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP) community-sponsorship route is being made a permanent feature. Offshore humanitarian visas are free to lodge. Separately, the Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot offers an employer-sponsored (non-humanitarian) pathway for skilled displaced people.

Australia visa requirements on VisaGlance — Before the points test, check whether you need a visa just to enter Australia — and which one fits your passport — on our companion site VisaGlance.

Other Australia routes

Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) - Points-tested stream

Permanent

The flagship 'no sponsor needed' permanent visa: score enough points, get invited, then live and work anywhere in Australia.

Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)

Permanent

Points-tested permanent residence with a state/territory nomination that adds 5 points and can rescue a borderline score.

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

Provisional

A 5-year regional provisional visa worth a big +15 points, designed as a stepping stone to PR via subclass 191.

Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191)

Permanent

The permanent-residence finish line for 491 (and old 494) holders who have lived and earned in regional Australia for three years.

All Australia immigration routes