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In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: What this In-country Special Humanitarian visa lets you do
This is a permanent residence visa. It allows you to:
If you want to travel outside Australia, you will need to get a travel document. After five years, you will need a Resident Return Visa to re-enter Australia.
You must be outside Australia when you apply for an In-country Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 201). You must also be outside Australia when the visa is decided.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Cost
There are no costs associated with this In-country Special Humanitarian visa , unless you are applying under the Community pilot. The Australian Government pays for:
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Who could get this In-country Special Humanitarian visa
You might be able to get this In-country Special Humanitarian visa if:
If a member of your immediate family was granted this In-country Special Humanitarian visa in the past five years, they can propose you for this In-country Special Humanitarian visa under ‘split family’ provisions. You can find more information at Proposing an Immediate Family Member (‘Split Family’).
You must meet certain health requirements. The results are usually valid for 12 months. Do not arrange a health examination until we ask you to.
This applies to you and any dependent family members included in your application.
A waiver of the need to meet the health requirement is available if compassionate and compelling circumstances exist. You can find information at Health waivers.
You must meet certain character requirements. You must be prepared to provide a police certificate from each country you have lived in for 12 months or more during the past 10 years after you turned 16 years of age. Do not arrange for police certificates until we ask you to.
You do not need to provide a police certificate from your home country.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Debts to the Australian Government
You must have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government or have arranged to repay any outstanding debts to the Australian Government before this In-country Special Humanitarian visa can be granted.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Provide biometrics
You might be asked to provide biometrics (a scientific form of identification) as part of the application. Countries and visa subclasses included in the biometrics program has more information.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Including family in your application
You can include the following people in your visa application at the time of lodgement:
These family members must meet the requirements for including family members in your application, see Form 1497i Including family members in your refugee, humanitarian or protection visa application (110KB PDF). They could be asked to provide evidence of their relationship to you. This could include marriage certificates, birth certificates, joint bank accounts and other relevant documents.​​
Your family members must be able to show that they meet health and character requirements.​
Non-dependent children who want to apply for entry to Australia on humanitarian grounds must apply for this In-country Special Humanitarian visa separately.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: How to apply
This information explains what you need to do to apply for an In-country Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 201). You and anyone included in your application must be outside Australia when you apply and the visa is decided.
If you want to apply under the Community Proposal Pilot, further information is available under the Community pilot tab.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Prepare your documents
You need to provide documents to prove the claims you make in the application. The documents are listed in the Document checklist.
Some documents could take some time to obtain. You should have them ready when you lodge the application to reduce any delays in processing.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Lodge your application
You can apply for this In-country Special Humanitarian visa using this form:
Lodge your application form at an immigration office outside Australia.
If you have a proposer, they must lodge the application in Australia, using:
Your proposer should send your application form (Form 842) to you. Sign that form and return it to your proposer before they lodge the application. Your proposer should lodge the Form 681 and Form 842 together.
You can find more information at Lodging certain humanitarian applications in Australia.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: More information
Please refer to preparing your application, for information on:
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: After you have applied
After you apply for this In-country Special Humanitarian visa , we will let you and your proposer (if applicable) know that we have received your application.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Wait for a decision
We have visa processing times for each visa.
Your application could take longer if you need character or health checks (including x-rays), if you need to provide more information, or if your application is incomplete.
Processing times also vary according to individual and family circumstances, such as any health conditions that might require testing or treatment.
The decision process could take many months. We will contact you at key stages of processing and when a decision is made. Your proposer (if applicable) might be contacted to:
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Provide more information
You can provide more information to the department of immigration and border protection , at any time until a decision is made on the application. If you want to correct information you provided, use:
We could also ask you for more information. You will have to respond by a set date. After that date, we can make a decision about your application using the information that we have.
If another person gives the department of immigration and border protection information that could result in you being refused a visa, we will usually give you the opportunity to comment on the information.
You might also be interviewed. If you are asked to attend an interview in person, bring your passport or other identification and any requested documents to the interview.
At the interview, you will be asked about:
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Report changes in your circumstances
You must tell the department of immigration and border protection if your circumstances change. This includes a new residential address, a new passport, or a pregnancy, birth, divorce, separation, marriage, de facto relationship or death in your family.
Please report changes in your circumstances via ImmiAccount. If you are not able to use ImmiAccount, you can use the following forms:
If you do not provide the department of immigration and border protection with the details of any new passport issued to you, you could experience significant delays at the airport and may be denied permission to board your plane.​​
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Withdrawing your application
​You can withdraw the application at any time before we make a decision about it. To do this, send the department of immigration and border protection a letter or email to ask for the withdrawal. Your request must include your full name and date of birth. You should also include your file reference number, client ID, or a Transaction Reference Number.
​​​All applicants 18 years of age or older, wishing to withdraw, must sign the request for withdrawal.​​​​​​
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Visa decision
If the visa is granted, we will let you know:
If the visa is refused, we will send you a letter or email stating why it was refused.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Document checklist
You need to provide documents to support your application for this In-country Special Humanitarian visa . We can make a decision using the information you provide when you lodge your application. It is in your interest to provide as much information as possible with your application.
Provide certified copies of original documents. Do not include original documents unless we specifically ask for them. Police certificates should be original documents. Documents not in English must be accompanied by accredited English translations.
Use this checklist to make sure your application is complete.
​Visa application requirements differ from country to country. If you are applying outside Australia, your nearest immigrati​on office outside Australia will tell you exactly how to lodge your application and what documents to provide.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Forms
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Receiving assistance
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Your humanitarian circumstances
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Visas or residence permits
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Your identity
or
A statement explaining why you have no travel or identity documents.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Your relationships
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Your children
or
A written statement that explains the circumstances of adoption.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Proposer documents
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Character documents​
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Support for humanitarian visa holders
You can find information about ways the Australian Government helps you prepare to travel to Australia at Refugee and Humanitarian Entry to Australia.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: What this In-country Special Humanitarian visa lets you do
This is a permanent residence visa. It allows you to:
If you want to travel outside Australia, you will need to get a travel document. After five years, you will need a Resident Return Visa to re-enter Australia.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Your obligations
You and your family must:
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: What you need after your visa is granted but before you come to Australia
When your visa is granted, we will issue you with a document for travel to Australia. This document is valid one time only for travel and entry to Australia.
You need to have a departure health check from an approved immigration panel physician no more than 72 hours before your confirmed departure for Australia. This is to reduce your post-arrival health issues and make resettlement easier.
You must:
The departure health check includes:
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Report changes in circumstances
You must tell the department of immigration and border protection if your circumstances change. This includes a new residential address, a new passport, or a pregnancy, birth, divorce, separation, marriage, de facto relationship or death in your family.
Please report changes in your circumstances via ImmiAccount. If you are not able to use ImmiAccount, you can use the following forms:
If you do not provide the department of immigration and border protection with the details of any new passport issued to you, you could experience significant delays at the airport and may be denied permission to board your plane.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Who can propose a person
​​You can propose a person for this In-country Special Humanitarian visa if you meet all of the following:
You can also Propose an imm​ediate family member (‘split family’) for this In-country Special Humanitarian visa if:
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: How to propose
This information explains what you need to propose someone for an In-country Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 201).
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Lodge your application by mail
​​To propose someone for this In-country Special Humanitarian visa , complete and lodge the following forms:
You must provide all relevant documents when you lodge the application.
Send ​ Form 842 (586 kB pdf) to the person you are proposing for this In-country Special Humanitarian visa . That person should sign the form and return it to you before you lodge the application.
Lodge the application at the:
You can find further information at Lodging certain humanitarian applications in Australia.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Proposer obligations
If your immediate family members are granted this In-country Special Humanitarian visa , you should be prepared to:
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Support for proposers
You can apply for proposer support to better help you to:
A Humanitarian Settlement Services provider in your state or territory will contact you if the visa application is approved. The service provider will give you initial information and tell you what support could be available.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Report changes in circumstances
Tell the department of immigration and border protection if your circumstances change, for example:
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: What is the Community Proposal Pilot?
The Community Proposal Pilot is a program of up to 500 visa places under Australia’s Humanitarian Program. It allows approved proposing organisations to propose someone in a humanitarian situation outside of Australia for a Refugee and Humanitarian (Class XB) visa.
These organisations would usually work with supporting community organisations to identify people to propose, support their visa application process, and if successful, help them to settle in Australia.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Who are the approved proposing organisations?
They are community organisations that we have invited to participate in the Community Proposer Pilot. They are:
The approved proposing organisations:
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: What do approved proposing organisations need to do?
Approved proposing organisations must:
If we grant the visa, the approved proposing organisation must also support the people who were proposed for up to 12 months after they arrive in Australia. This means the approved proposing organisation must:
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: What are supporting community organisations?
Supporting community organisations work with an approved proposing organisation to identify people who could apply for the visa and, if the visa is granted, help them settle in Australia.
The organisations work together under an agreement. A supporting community organisation must provide any or all of the support and services someone needs after they arrive in Australia, as agreed with the approved proposing organisation.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Who can be proposed for a refugee visa?
People being proposed under the Community Proposal Pilot must:
Please note that the Community Proposal Pilot is not a family reunion visa.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: How do I propose someone for a refugee visa?
You cannot propose an application by yourself. To propose someone through the Community Proposal Pilot, approach an approved proposing organisation. You can contact the approved proposing organisation yourself, or you can ask a supporting community organisation to contact them for you.
To apply for a visa under the Community Proposal Pilot, you must:
The approved proposing organisation will decide which applications they can support.
You do not have to propose someone through the Community Proposal Pilot. You can still propose your family members directly through the normal visa application process if you meet the requirements of the visa.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: What forms need to be completed?
The people being proposed complete:
The approved proposing organisation completes:
The approved proposing organisation lodges these forms and documents at the Melbourne office in Victoria – attention Melbourne Offshore Humanitarian Processing Centre.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: What happens after the application is lodged?
After the application is lodged, we will:
The people being proposed can provide more information about their visa application to the department of immigration and border protection in writing at any time until a decision is made on the application. If they want to correct their information they have provided, they can use Form 1023 Notification of incorrect answer(s) (99 kB pdf).
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: How long will the decision process take?
The decision process could take many months.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: What happens if more information is needed?
If we ask for more information, the people being proposed will have to respond by a set date. After that date, we can make a decision about the application using the information we have.
If another person gives the department of immigration and border protection information that could result in the visa being refused, we will usually give the people being proposed the opportunity to comment on the information.
The people being proposed might also be interviewed. They will need to bring their passport or other identification and any requested documents to the interview.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: What is a Deed of Agreement?
Under the Deed of Agreement, an Approved Proposing Organisation agrees to provide a range of services and support to people being proposed. The Deed is not an agreement for an Approved Proposing Organisation to provide services on behalf of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth is not funding Approved Proposing Organisations to provide these services.
The Deed of Agreement is a legally binding document.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: What are the costs?
Approved proposing organisations are responsible for ensuring the following costs are paid:
Approved proposing organisations can ask the supporting community organisation or the people proposing someone to pay for these costs. Approved proposing organisations can also ask for a contribution to cover administrative costs related to the application.
Visa holders must not be asked to pay back any of the costs associated with their proposal. We would consider that to be in breach of the Deed of Agreement and apply sanctions.
The visa application charges are listed in Fees and charges.
In-country Special Humanitarian Visa subclass 201: Where can I get more information?
For more information about the Community Proposal Pilot or to seek help getting in touch with an approved proposing organisation, send an email to the Community Proposal Pilot mailbox: [email protected]
Source: The Australian Department of Home Affairs (www.homeaffairs.gov.au). Please visit www.border.gov.au to get updated information.