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AustraliaAsylum & protectionLast checked October 30, 2026

Community Support Program (CSP) - over capacity, new expressions of interest paused; and CRISP community settlement

Official name: Community Support Program (CSP); Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Program (CRISP)

The CSP is a job-ready, community-funded pathway under the Global Special Humanitarian visa (subclass 202): an Approved Proposing Organisation (APO) proposes the applicant, and people, businesses or community groups in Australia fund the visa and settlement. Primary applicants must be 18 to 50, have adequate English and show they can support their family within 12 months (a job offer or employment pathway). Home Affairs says the CSP is over capacity, processing may take up to 8 years, APOs can lodge only a limited number of applicants from expressions of interest received before July 2025, and APOs have been asked to pause accepting expressions of interest from new applicants. The primary applicant's visa application charge is $7,805. Separately, CRISP is now a permanent program in which trained community groups settle UNHCR-referred refugees with no family in Australia; refugees cannot apply for it.

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1 entry rule for Australia based on recent travel

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Life in Australia

Finance

3

Currency

Australian Dollar

AUD

Australian Dollar

Cost of living

94

Price level · US = 100

World Bank price levels, 2025

Tax

15–45%

Income tax (national)

GST 10%

2026-27: first AUD 18,200 tax-free; 45% above AUD 190,000. Plus 2% Medicare levy.

Official rates, 2026/27 · headline only

Living

1

Happiness

6.9

#15 of 145 countries

World Happiness Report 2025

Who it’s for

People outside their home country and Australia who face substantial discrimination, are 18 to 50, speak adequate English, can work, and have supporters in Australia willing to fund them (CSP). CRISP is for UNHCR-referred refugees without family links in Australia and for Australians who want to form a supporter group.

Eligibility

  • CSP over capacity: new expressions of interest paused

    The CSP is over capacity, and Home Affairs says processing may take up to 8 years.

    up to 8 years

    Processing time stated by Home Affairs · CSP is overcapacity

    • APOs have limited lodgements from expressions of interest received before July 2025
    • APOs were asked to pause accepting expressions of interest from new applicants
    • Home Affairs pages updated 2 Jul 2026 and 7 Oct 2026
    Official wording

    Home Affairs states: "The CSP is overcapacity and processing may take up to 8 years." It has limited how many applicants an APO can lodge from expressions of interest received before July 2025 and asked APOs to pause accepting expressions of interest from new applicants (pages updated 2 Jul 2026 and 7 Oct 2026).

  • Commonwealth priorities (primary applicant)Primary applicant

    You need to be aged 18 to 50, have adequate English, and be able to support yourself within 12 months of arrival.

    Key limits for the primary applicant

    Age
    18 to 50
    Self-support
    within 12 months
    • English is tested at the visa interview, without an interpreter
    • You answer several questions in English
    • Show self-support with a job offer or identified employment pathway
    Official wording

    Be aged between 18 and 50; have adequate English for independent daily living and employment, tested at the visa interview by answering several questions in English without an interpreter; and be able to support yourself and your family within 12 months of arrival, shown by a job offer or identified employment pathway.

  • Humanitarian criteriaPrimary applicant

    Be outside your home country and outside Australia, be subject to substantial discrimination in your home country, and meet all Class XB (subclass 202) criteria, including health, character and security.

SourceCommunity Support Program: How to applyimmi.homeaffairs.gov.auChecked Oct 30, 2026

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  • 2 more requirements
  • 4 documents
  • 3 fees
  • 6 steps
  • Processing times and conditions
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