Refugee & Citizenship
5. Temporary Protection Visas
Authors: Staff Legal Eagle
Firm / Chambers:
Last updated: 04 Sep 2015
- This visa may be available if you arrived in Australia illegally without a valid visa.
- You must meet the definition of ‘refugee’ and pass health, security and character checks.
- If you are granted this visa you cannot sponsor family members for a visa unlike the Protection Visa above.
- Temporary protection visas are valid for up to 3 years.
- This means that once your 3 year protection finishes you must apply for and be granted a new Temporary Protection Visa, a Safe Haven Enterprise visa or leave the country.
- If you want to stay in Australia you must apply for one of these two visas before your Temporary Protection Visa expires.
- If you receive a Temporary Protection Visa you will be entitled to the following benefits:
- the right to work in Australia;
- access to Medicare which is a government program that reimburses you for part or all of certain medical expenses;
- social security benefits through Centrelink;
- job matching services;
- short-term counselling where required; and
- education for minors.
- Restrictions that apply to Temporary Protection Visa holders include:
- you will not be eligible for visas other than a further Temporary Protection Visa or Safe Haven Enterprise Visa;
- you will need written permission to travel outside Australia;
- to obtain this permission you will have to show compassionate or compelling circumstances such as the death of a loved one overseas;
- you cannot travel to the country from which you sought protection;
- you must inform the Department of Immigration and Border Protection of any change to your residential address within 28 days of moving; and
- you cannot sponsor family members for a visa.
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