The Temporary Protection Visa (TPV, subclass 785) and Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV, subclass 790) are temporary protection visas for persons who are found to engage Australia's protection obligations (i.e., found to be refugees or complementary protection cases) but who arrived in Australia unlawfully — by boat without a valid visa or in a manner that triggered the unlawful non-citizen provisions of the Migration Act. They were introduced in 2014 as part of Australia's border protection policy response. TPV/SHEV holders receive temporary protection rather than the permanent Protection Visa (subclass 866) that onshore applicants who arrived lawfully may be eligible for.

As of 2026, a significant policy change allows TPV and SHEV holders who first arrived in Australia before 14 February 2023 to apply for a permanent Resolution of Status (RoS) visa (subclass 851). For current eligibility requirements and application procedures, refer to the DHA onshore protection page.

• Migration Act 1958, s 36 — protection visa eligibility grounds
• Migration Regulations 1994 — Subclass 785 (Temporary Protection) and Subclass 790 (Safe Haven Enterprise)
• Migration Regulations 1994 — Subclass 851 (Resolution of Status)
• DHA: Onshore protection — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/onshore-protection
• DHA: TPV and SHEV holders information — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/tpv-shev-holders

Who is eligible for TPV and SHEV

TPV and SHEV are issued to persons who:

• Are found to be a refugee (meet the Convention Refugee definition) or to engage complementary protection (face a real risk of serious harm if returned)
• Arrived in Australia as an unlawful non-citizen — by boat without a valid visa, or in other circumstances triggering unlawful entry provisions
• Are not subject to section 46A or 46B bars (which apply to certain boat arrivals and prevent them from applying for any visa)

Persons who arrived lawfully (with a valid visa) and are found to be refugees are generally eligible for the permanent Protection visa (subclass 866) rather than a TPV/SHEV.

Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) — subclass 785

The TPV is a 3-year temporary visa. Key features:

• Allows the holder to live and work in Australia
• Work rights: full work rights — no restriction on employer or occupation
• Medicare access: TPV holders are eligible for Medicare
• Cannot travel outside Australia and return on the TPV — leaving Australia with the intent to return requires a different travel document arrangement; if the holder leaves Australia, they generally lose their TPV
• Cannot sponsor family members to join them in Australia under most circumstances
• Must re-apply for a subsequent TPV or SHEV before the current visa expires to maintain lawful status

Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) — subclass 790

The SHEV is a 5-year temporary visa with additional pathway features. Key features:

• Allows the holder to live and work in Australia
• Full work rights
• Medicare access
• Regional work/study condition: SHEV holders who live and work or study in a specified regional area for 3.5 years of the 5-year visa period may become eligible to apply for certain other visa subclasses (including some temporary work visas) — this is the "pathway" feature of the SHEV
• Similar travel restrictions as the TPV — leaving Australia generally means losing the visa
• Must apply for subsequent visa before expiry

Resolution of Status (RoS) visa — subclass 851 — 2026 pathway

As of 2026, a major policy development now allows TPV and SHEV holders who first arrived in Australia before 14 February 2023 to apply for a permanent Resolution of Status (RoS) visa (subclass 851). Key features of the RoS pathway:

• No visa application charge — the application is free
• Applications are lodged through ImmiAccount online
• The Australian Government has committed $9.4 million over two years for free visa application assistance for eligible TPV/SHEV holders
• If granted, the RoS visa is a permanent visa — the holder can stay in Australia permanently, travel, and sponsor eligible family members

For current RoS eligibility requirements and application procedures, refer to the DHA onshore protection page.

Post-14 February 2023 arrivals

Persons who first arrived in Australia on or after 14 February 2023 and who are found to engage protection obligations can apply for a TPV or SHEV — but cannot apply for the Resolution of Status visa. They are subject to the ongoing temporary protection framework and must apply for subsequent TPV or SHEV visas to maintain lawful status. For current processing and subsequent TPV/SHEV application requirements, refer to the DHA subsequent TPV/SHEV page.

TPV/SHEV and family reunion

TPV and SHEV holders face significant restrictions on family reunion — they generally cannot sponsor family members who remain overseas to join them in Australia while on a temporary protection visa. This is one of the most significant hardships associated with the temporary protection framework for affected families.

The temporary protection framework — TPV and SHEV — was highly contested on human rights and policy grounds from its introduction. The 2026 Resolution of Status pathway for pre-February 2023 arrivals represents a significant change for that cohort of long-term temporary protection visa holders who have been in Australia for many years. For persons currently on TPV or SHEV (or whose visa is expiring), the most time-sensitive action is applying before the visa expires to avoid becoming unlawful. For current eligibility for the RoS pathway, subsequent TPV/SHEV applications, and free legal assistance, refer to the DHA onshore protection page.