Proposing a Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) Applicant
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The following information is for people who wish to propose someone for entry to Australia under the Special Humanitarian Program (SHP).
The SHP visa is designed to help persons who, while not being refugees, are subject to substantial discrimination amounting to a gross violation of their human rights in their home country. People who wish to be considered for an SHP visa must be living outside their home country and have a 'proposer' in Australia.
Who may propose an applicant?
A proposer must be one of the following:
- an Australian citizen
- an Australian permanent resident
- an Australian organisation
- an eligible New Zealand citizen.
New Zealand citizens who arrived in Australia on or after 27 February 2001 on a Special Category visa cannot qualify as an eligible New Zealand citizen and must hold a permanent residence visa in order to propose SHP applicants.
See: Fact Sheet 17 – New Zealanders in Australia
See also: General Skilled Migration Definitions
Lodging an application
A proposer is required for a person to be considered for an SHP visa.
Applications under the SHP must include an Application for an Offshore Humanitarian Visa (Form 842) and a Refugee and Special Humanitarian Proposal (Form 681).
They must be submitted at the appropriate departmental office:
| If the applicant lives in: | The application must be lodged at: |
|---|---|
| Africa (any country) | The department's Offshore Humanitarian Processing Centre in Sydney. See: Lodging Certain Humanitarian Applications in Australia from applicants in Africa ( 27KB PDF file) |
The Middle East and |
The department's Offshore Humanitarian Processing Centre in Melbourne. See: Lodging Certain Humanitarian Applications in Australia from applicants in the Middle East and parts of South West Asia ( 28KB PDF file) |
| All Other Countries | The nearest Australian mission overseas. See: Immigration Offices Outside Australia |
Application forms
The forms to apply for a Refugee and Humanitarian (Class XB) visa are listed below.
See:
Form 681 – Refugee and Special Humanitarian Proposal (242KB PDF file)
Form 842 – Application for an Offshore Humanitarian Visa (592KB PDF file)
After an application is lodged
For information on what happens after you lodge your application.
See: After an Application is Lodged
Proposer responsibilities
The Australian Government does not fund travel costs for SHP visas holders. Successful applicants or their proposer must pay for their travel to Australia. Assistance may be available under the IOM Refugee Travel Loan Fund. The costs of medical and x-ray examinations are met by the Australian Government.
See: International Organization for Migration (IOM) > Refugee Travel Loan Fund
On arrival in Australia, the proposer is expected to assist in the settlement of the applicant⁄entrant (the applicant becomes an entrant on arrival in Australia). The proposer should:
- meet the entrant at the airport
- provide for the entrant's immediate accommodation needs
- assist the entrant to find permanent accommodation
- familiarise the entrant with services and service providers such as:
- Centrelink
- banks
- public transport
- translating and interpreting services
- health care
- permanent housing
- education
- employment services
- childcare.
Support for proposers
Support is provided to all proposers to assist them to understand their responsibilities and to respond to the needs of their entrants. This support includes information and guidance on how to assist the entrant to settle in Australia, gain access to available services and obtain further assistance if required after the entrant’s arrival.
A Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS) provider, in the proposer's state or territory, will contact the proposer after the applicant's visa application is approved. The service provider will give initial information and advise the proposer of further support that may be available.
If the proposer changes address, or their circumstances change and they are no longer able to provide support to their entrants, they must contact their nearest departmental office immediately. This information is essential to ensure that both proposers and entrants receive the services for which they are eligible.
See: Help for proposers
Support for humanitarian visa holders
The Australian Government helps humanitarian visa holders to prepare for travel to and life in Australia and settle into the Australian community.
The Australian Cultural Orientation (AUSCO) Program
The Australian Cultural Orientation (AUSCO) Program is offered to humanitarian visa holders who are preparing to settle in Australia. It is delivered overseas, before the entrants begin their journey to Australia.
AUSCO is designed to provide an initial introduction to aspects of Australian life, aiming to enhance participants' settlement prospects, create realistic expectations for their life in Australia, and help them acquire information concerning Australian culture prior to arrival. It is the beginning of the settlement process.
AUSCO is available to all humanitarian visa holders over the age of five, and is delivered over five days to ensure AUSCO adequately covers all topics in sufficient detail.
See: Fact Sheet 67 – The Australian Cultural Orientation (AUSCO) Program
The IOM Refugee Travel Loan Fund
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Refugee Travel Loan Fund is an interest-free loan program which helps meet the travel costs of Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) visa holders.
Loans are available to assist SHP visa holders or their Australian proposers who do not have enough money to pay for the expense of travelling to Australia. Loans are provided on a needs basis and loan recipients have their travel organised by IOM.
Details of the fund and application forms are available from IOM at:
Email: travel.loan.canberra@iom.int
Telephone: 02 6267 6634
Website: International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Settling in Australia
Australia provides settlement assistance for refugees and humanitarian entrants on arrival in Australia.
See: Fact Sheet 66 – Humanitarian Settlement Services
The Beginning a Life in Australia booklets are designed to assist newly arrived migrants to settle in Australia. There is a booklet produced for each state and territory and they are available in English and 37 community languages.
See: Beginning a Life in Australia
The Life in Australia book is a resource to help migrants understand Australian history, culture, society and the values we share before they sign the Australian values statement.
See: Life in Australia book