Refugees and asylum seekers

To be a refugee in Australia, you must meet certain legal criteria. The Department of Home Affairs assesses whether you are a refugee. Until they make their assessment, you are an asylum seeker. Read more about who is a refugee on the Department of Home Affairs website.

If you’re a refugee or humanitarian entrant

Talk to us when you arrive

Your humanitarian settlement provider will tell us when you arrive. They do this by completing the notification of refugee arrival form.

After this, we’ll arrange an interview with you. We can get an interpreter if you need one.

If you don’t have someone helping you, call the multilingual phone service to speak to someone in your language. They will arrange the interview for you.

Use the claim for persons granted a Refugee, Humanitarian or Protection visa form to claim a payment. Your humanitarian settlement provider can help you complete this form before your interview.

Learn to speak English

You can join a free English language class to help you settle in Australia. Read about the Adult Migrant English Program.

If you’re a Ukrainian national

If you have been affected by the conflict in Ukraine, we can help you with payments and support while you’re in Australia.

Find out what support you can get while in Australia.

If you’re transitioning to a permanent subclass 851 visa

If you have moved onto a permanent Subclass 851 Resolution of Status (RoS) visa, we can help you with payments and support.

If you’re an asylum seeker

Apply for a visa

If you’re an asylum seeker, talk to the Department of Home Affairs to see if you’re eligible for a refugee or humanitarian visa. Read about refugee and humanitarian visas for Australia on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Check if you can get a payment

If you’re unable to support yourself while resolving your immigration status, you may be able to get Status Resolution Support Services payment.

Read about the Status Resolution Service on the Department of Home Affairs website. They will tell us if you’re eligible for this payment.

If you don’t have someone helping you, call the multilingual phone service to speak to someone in your language.