Protection Visa

• Live in Australia: Under a Protection Visa (subclass 866), you can stay in Australia permanently. You have legal protection and the right to live safely in Australia.
• Access Medicare & Centrelink: You can access Australia's public healthcare (Medicare) and may be eligible to access social support services through Centrelink.
• Sponsor Family: You can sponsor eligible family members to join and live with you in Australia.
• Pathway to Citizenship: This visa provides a pathway to permanent residency and Australian citizenship.
• Protection of Human Rights: You benefit from international human rights law protection and have support as you rebuild your life in a safe and inclusive environment.

• The protection visa subclass 866 is the main subclass for applicants in Australia (known as onshore applicants) who are applying for asylum whilst presently holding a valid visa in Australia.
• It is different from offshore humanitarian visas, as they are processed outside of Australia. This visa is for people who fulfill Australia's protection obligations under the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, or the basis for complementary protection.
• It is a permanent visa, yet the procedure for granting one is very strict. Whether one will be given one depends on the individual facts, supporting documentation, and how strong the claim is that it is unsafe to return to the home country.

To apply for a subclass 866 visa, you must:

• Be in Australia and hold a valid visa (not in immigration detention or unlawful).
• Establish that you are a refugee under the Refugee Convention or that you are otherwise eligible for complementary protection (a real risk of harm, for instance, torture or inhuman treatment, or death).
• Successfully fulfill your health, character, and security checks, which include a biometric collection and character assessment.
• Be not excluded based on section 48 of the Migration Act (i.e., you cannot have an existing protection visa refusal).
• Provide a comprehensive written account of your claims along with supporting information (news articles, documentation), and attend an interview with a case officer.
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• Show that you can not return home safely due to political, religious, ethnic, social, or other protected reasons.
• Apply within time restraints, as some bridging visa requirements or appeal timelines may affect whether you are eligible to apply.

The accuracy, credibility, and honesty of your application are very important.