What type of visa do I have?
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If you entered Australia on a humanitarian visa, you are a humanitarian entrant. You may be a refugee and a permanent resident. The visa you hold will determine what government settlement services are available to you.
I got my visa outside Australia
The table below explains the sort of humanitarian visa you hold if you applied for your visa outside Australia:
| Visa Subclass | Visa Category | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 200 | Refugee | Permanent Resident |
| 201 | Refugee (In country special humanitarian) | Permanent Resident |
| 202 | Special Humanitarian Programme | Permanent Resident |
| 203 | Refugee (Emergency Rescue) | Permanent Resident |
| 204 | Refugee (Woman at Risk) | Permanent Resident |
I got my visa in Australia
The table below explains the sort of humanitarian visa you hold if you applied for your visa in Australia :
| Visa Subclass | Visa Category | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 866 | Permanent Protection | Permanent Resident |
| *785 | Temporary Protection | Temporary |
| 851 | Resolution of Status | Permanent Resident |
| * this visa subclass was repealed in August 2008 and replaced by visa subclass 851 | ||
Refugees
If you hold a subclass 200, 201, 203 or 204 visa, you are a permanent resident. You are able to access government services available to citizens and permanent residents, including income support payments through Centrelink.
Special Humanitarian Program
If you hold a subclass 202 visa, you are a permanent resident. Some person or organisation proposed you to come to Australia. Your proposer will be able to help you settle in Australia. Your proposer may be able to seek assistance from IHSS service providers to help you settle.
Temporary visas
If you hold a subclass 447 or 451 visa, you are a temporary resident and not able to access the majority of services available to Australian permanent residents. You may still be eligible for other government services. These visa subclasses are no longer available as they were repealed in August 2008 and will be replaced by visa subclass 851 Resolution of Status (permanent)
Protection visas
If you hold a subclass 886 visa, you are a permanent resident. If you hold a subclass 785* visas, you may now be eligible for a subclass 851 visa. You will not be able to access all services available to Australian permanent residents, but you may be eligible for some government services, such as short term torture and trauma counselling and income support payments through Centrelink.
* this visa subclass was repealed in August 2008 and replaced by visa subclass 851
For more information about settlement services
See: Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy