Protection visa
subclass 866
The subclass 866 Protection visa is a permanent visa for people in Australia who arrived on a valid visa and engage Australia's protection obligations as a refugee or under complementary protection. Applications are lodged online in ImmiAccount and assessed by the Department of Home Affairs, usually with an interview. Refusals can be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).
1 entry rule for Australia based on recent travel
These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.
Health screening after a stay in countries with risk of yellow fever transmission (WHO list) in the last 6 days
Travellers over 1 year entering Australia within 6 days of staying overnight or longer in a yellow fever risk country are asked for a valid yellow fever certificate; entry is not refused without one. Without one: not refused entry: may be referred to a biosecurity officer and given information/an action card; must promptly seek medical assessment if symptoms develop within 6 days of leaving the risk place.
Australian Government Department of Health: Yellow fever Australian Government: Yellow fever fact sheet (holds Australia's list of risk countries and areas) Australian Immunisation Handbook: Yellow fever WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1: Countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and countries requiring proof of vaccination against yellow fever (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) WHO ITH Country List: Vaccination requirements and WHO recommendations for international travellers, 2022 edition (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia): Human health – advice to travellers Checked October 19, 2026
Life in Australia
Money
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.
Living
1
Happiness
#15 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Who it’s for
People already in Australia who arrived holding a valid visa, were immigration cleared, and fear persecution or significant harm if returned.
Eligibility
Refugee or complementary protection
You must be a refugee under the Migration Act 1958, or meet the complementary protection criteria (a real risk of significant harm if returned), or be a member of the same family unit of someone who does.
Arrived on a valid visa and immigration cleared
You must have arrived in Australia holding a visa in effect and have been immigration cleared on your last entry. Unauthorised maritime arrivals and people not immigration cleared cannot make a valid application.
Apply from inside Australia
You must be in Australia when you apply. There is no way to apply from outside Australia.
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- 6 more requirements
- 11 documents
- 1 fee
- 7 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Official sources
- Home Affairs - Subclass 866 Protection visa
- Home Affairs - Protection visas are for asylum seekers
- Home Affairs - Australia's protection obligations
- Migration Regulations 1994 (compilation 1 Jul 2026), Schedule 1 item 1401
- Home Affairs - Monthly Update: Onshore Protection (866) Visa Processing, March 2026
Other routes to Australia
- Visit & tourismVisitor visa (subclass 600) – Tourist stream (apply outside Australia), with ETA (subclass 601) and eVisitor (subclass 651) for eligible passports
- StudyStudent visa
- Work permitsSkills in Demand visa (subclass 482) – Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams
- Skilled migrationSkilled Independent visa (subclass 189) – Points-tested stream
- CitizenshipAustralian citizenship by conferral