Subclass 202 — Global Special Humanitarian Visa — Australia — immi.wiki

The Subclass 202 Global Special Humanitarian visa is an offshore permanent humanitarian visa for persons who are outside their home country and are subject to substantial discrimination amounting to a gross violation of human rights. It is the primary visa under the Special Humanitarian Programme (SHP) component of Australia's Humanitarian Programme.

The Subclass 202 differs from the Refugee category visas (Subclass 200 and related) in two key respects: (1) the applicant does not need to hold formal UNHCR refugee status — they must be subject to substantial discrimination amounting to a gross violation of human rights, which is a broader humanitarian standard; and (2) the application must be proposed by an eligible person or organisation in Australia who has a genuine link to the applicant.

The Subclass 202 is the most commonly granted visa in the Special Humanitarian Programme and is a key pathway for families and communities to reunite in Australia after one family member has been resettled. Australia's Humanitarian Programme has 20,000 places for 2025–26 across all visa subclasses in both the Refugee category and the Special Humanitarian Programme.

The applicant must:

• Be outside their country of nationality or habitual residence at the time of application — the Subclass 202 is an offshore-only visa
• Be subject to substantial discrimination amounting to a gross violation of human rights in their home country — this is a lower threshold than refugee status under the 1951 Convention but still requires serious human rights violations
• Be proposed by an eligible proposer in Australia (see below)
• Meet health and character requirements

The proposer must be:

• An Australian citizen, or
• An Australian permanent resident, or
• An eligible New Zealand citizen, or
• An organisation based in Australia

The proposer must have a genuine link to the applicant — typically a family relationship or close personal connection — and must be willing to support the applicant's arrival and settlement in Australia. The proposer does not need to provide financial support in the same formal way as an assurance of support under the family migration program, but the Department assesses the relationship between proposer and applicant as part of the humanitarian assessment.

Proposers who are themselves humanitarian entrants (holders of the Subclass 202 or a Refugee category visa, or Subclass 866 or 851) may propose family members or close associates still facing persecution or human rights violations in their home country. This is a common pathway for split-family reunification in the humanitarian program.

Applications are lodged using Form 842 (Application for Offshore Humanitarian Visa). For Special Humanitarian Programme applications, the proposer must also complete Form 681 (Refugee and Special Humanitarian Proposal), which provides the Department with information about the proposer–applicant relationship and the nature of the humanitarian circumstances. There is no fee for Form 681.

Applications may be lodged online via ImmiAccount or at an Australian Embassy or High Commission. The Department of Home Affairs assesses the humanitarian claim and verifies the proposer–applicant relationship. Processing is subject to the annual Humanitarian Programme planning ceiling — when places for the year are exhausted, remaining applications are held for the next programme year.

Health examinations and character checks (police certificates) are required for the applicant and all secondary applicants (family members included in the application). For current processing information, refer to the DHA Subclass 202 page.

The Subclass 202 is a permanent visa. Holders are permanent residents of Australia from the date of grant and have unlimited work and study rights.

Holders access resettlement support through the Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP), which provides initial orientation, practical assistance with housing and essential services, and referrals to employment, education, and community services.

The visa includes a 5-year travel facility. Holders may apply for Australian citizenship after meeting the residence requirements under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007.

Holders of the Subclass 202 may themselves become proposers for other family members or associates who remain in the home country and face human rights violations, using the same SHP pathway to extend family reunification in Australia.