Information on Travelling to Australia

Information that may be useful on travelling to Australia for humanitarian visa holders.

Cost of airfares

For entrants who hold a Refugee visa (subclass 200, 201, 203 or 204), the Australian Government pays the travel costs.

For entrants who hold a Special Humanitarian Program visa (subclass 202), the proposer or the applicant must pay for their travel to Australia. Assistance may be available under the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Refugee Travel Loan Fund.
See: International Organization for Migration (IOM) > Refugee Travel Loan Fund

Travel documents

Persons granted visas under the offshore component of the Refugee and Humanitarian Program are issued with a Document for Travel to Australia (DFTTA). The DFTTA is an important document that is valid for travel and entry to Australia once only.
See: Humanitarian Entrants – What documents do I need to travel to Australia?

Pre-departure medical screening

Pre-departure Medical Screening (PDMS) is a voluntary health check for humanitarian visa holders. These checks are conducted within 72 hours of departure for Australia. Depending on the location, this may involve:

• a physical examination
• tuberculosis (TB) evaluation for clients with a history of TB
• malaria and parasites testing and treatment
• mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) immunisations for people aged from nine months to 30 years.

If the visa holder is found not 'fit to fly', the health condition is treated offshore and their travel rescheduled. The department covers any costs associated with treatment.
See: Fact sheet 67a – Pre-departure Medical Screening (PDMS)

Arrival in Australia

Most refugee and humanitarian entrants are met at the airport by a Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS) case worker. Proposers of Special Humanitarian Program entrants must meet the entrant at the airport.

Entrants are then assisted by the HSS program to rebuild their lives in Australia.
See:
Humanitarian Settlement Services
Travelling to Australia