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Permanent Protection Visa
(subclass 866)

 

Who Can Apply For A Protection (subclass 866) Visa in Australia?

You can apply for this visa if you claim to be an asylum seeker (refugee) in Australia. An asylum seeker is a person who has left his/her home country to flee from persecution and has applied for protection in a third country, such as Australia. This is a permanent visa that allows you to live in Australia permanently if you arrived in Australia on a valid visa (for example, a visitor or student visa, etc.).

Main Benefits of A Protection Subclass 866 Visa

Once you are granted this visa, you can:

  1. Sponsor eligible family members for permanent residence through Australia’s offshore Humanitarian Program or a Partner visa;

  2. live, work, and study in Australia in peace and security.

  3. You may benefit from free English language classes provided by the Adult Migrant English Program for up to 510 hours.

  4. Travel to and from Australia without any obstacles and as many times as you want. However, there may be some restrictions upon you with regard to travelling to the country against which you sought asylum in Australia.

  5. Enroll in Australia’s world-class public health care scheme, which is designed to ensure the best treatment with minimum costs to you.

What Do You Need For A Protection Visa 866?

  • You must be inside Australia when you make your Protection Visa (subclass 866) application;

  • You must make specific claims that can satisfy the Visa Officer that you (or any of your close family members) face the risk of severe persecution, inhumane or degrading treatment, torture, or loss of life or liberty upon return to your country;

    • There may be various reasons for persecution. For example, you may face persecution because of your race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or because of your political opinion.

  • You must not have a right to enter and reside in any other country where you can live without fear of persecution, etc.

  • You must claim that you are unable to relocate anywhere in your home country to avoid persecution;

  • You must satisfy the Visa Officer that you are unable, or unwilling to avail the protection of the government in your country or any other body or authority against the above-mentioned risks;

  • You must claim and provide evidence that your risks are genuine and you have a well-founded fear of persecution, etc. if you are returned to your country.

Further:

  • You must satisfy the Visa Officer that you do not pose any security risk to the Australian community;

  • You have not committed any war crimes or crimes against humanity, etc.

Consider This

  • If you fail to get your Australian Protection Visa application right from the start, it can protract for a long time. Further, you must understand that if your Protection Visa is ultimately refused, then your chances to apply for any other visa will shrink to a great extent. That means you may not be able to apply for any other visa.

  • If you fail to provide all the relevant information in your Protection Visa application, you may be unable to Sponsor certain close family member(s). Also, your visa may be cancelled if that relevant information comes into light after you are granted a Protection Visa.

Practical Tips

  • Securing a Protection Visa (subclass 866) in Australia is generally a daunting task. Satisfying a Visa Officer that you are a genuine asylum seeker requires careful planning. You should collect all the information and evidence that may support your claims of persecution or significant harm in your home country.

  • When completing the application, you must think about why you are expected to make a particular statement?  (Remember: most of the statements and questions in the application are for a reason).

Cost of This Visa

Main Applicant AUD$40

 

See Our Blog(s) To Learn More About Onshore Protection Visa Australia

  • Use the search terms 'visa 866' or '866 visa' or 'Australian Protection Visa subclass 866' to read more about this visa on our website and in our Blogs.

If you need help with your Protection visa application, please contact us.

Warning! Please note that Australian immigration laws and policies are highly complex and dynamic. Therefore, no information provided on this website in relation to Australian immigration laws and policies (or on any other matter) is intended to be legal advice. Please read our Terms and Conditions.

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