Global Special Humanitarian Visa (Subclass 202)
About this Visa
The Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) category is for people who, while not being refugees, are subject to substantial discrimination and human rights abuses in their home country. People who wish to be considered for a SHP visa must be proposed for entry by an Australian citizen or permanent resident over the age of 18, an eligible New Zealand citizen or an organisation operating in Australia.
Who is this visa for?
To be eligible for this visa a person must:
- be subject to substantial discrimination amounting to gross violation of their human rights in their home country; and
- be living outside their home country; and
- have their application supported by a ‘proposer’ who is one of the following:
- an Australian citizen or permanent resident over the age of 18
- an eligible New Zealand citizen
- an organisation operating in Australia.
The following family members may be included in the application:
- the applicant’s partner
- dependent children of the applicant and the applicant’s partner
- certain dependent relatives living with the applicant.
See: Eligibility
How much will this visa cost?
There is no charge for this visa.
Successful applicants under the Special Humanitarian Program or their proposer must pay for the applicant to travel to Australia.
What does this visa let me do?
This visa allows an eligible person and any dependent family members included in the visa application to live as permanent residents in Australia.
Australian permanent residents can:
- live and work in Australia permanently
- study in Australian schools and universities
- access subsidised healthcare through Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods)
- be eligible for Australian citizenship (subject to the residence eligibility criteria)
- propose or sponsor people for permanent residence.
The visa holder and accompanying family members must, however, comply with Australian laws. Failure to do so may affect the ability to remain in Australia.