OFFICIAL
Back Pocket Brief Number: IG-48
BACK POCKET BRIEF
Home Affairs Portfolio
Department of Home Affairs
Budget Estimates Hearing – May 2023
BACK POCKET BRIEF
Topic: Offshore Humanitarian Program
Group: Immigration Group
Division: Refugee Humanitarian and Settlement Division
• Australia’s Humanitarian Program (the Program) intake has been drawn from a range of
nationalities, ethnic and religious groups, reflecting global displacement arising from
conflict and persecution.
• The 2022-23 Program is set at 17,875 places.
o 1,500 places have nominally been allocated to the Onshore Protection component;
o 12,250 places are allocated for the Offshore component (including 1,400 places
for the Community Support Program (CSP) and 325 resettlement places for the
Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP));
o Including an additional 4,125 places for Afghan nationals (commitment of 16,500
places over four years from 2022-23).
• The Department remains on track to deliver the full 2022-23 Program. As at
31 March 2023, 12,055 visas have been granted.
Emergency responses
• The cumulative impact from COVID-19 and the events in Afghanistan and Myanmar has
resulted in unprecedented demand for the Program.
• The Humanitarian Program operates flexibly to respond effectively to evolving
humanitarian emergencies and global resettlement needs.
• Consistent with the approach adopted by the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR), Australia will prioritise those cohorts who have the greatest
resettlement need. This will focus on:
o people outside their home country, assessed as refugees by the UNHCR and
referred to Australia for resettlement;
o applicants proposed by a close family member in Australia; and
o vulnerable cohorts within refugee populations, including women and children,
ethnic minorities, LGBTQI+ and other identified minority groups.
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Clearing Officer: Andrew Kiley, A/g First Assistant Secretary, Refugee, Humanitarian and Settlement Division
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• Any persons, who believe they meet the requirements for a Humanitarian visa and wishes
to seek Australia’s assistance can make an application.
o each case is assessed on its individual merits, with the safety in particular
countries being a factor of consideration.
o All Humanitarian visa grants are subject to mandatory visa requirements including
health, character and security checks.
• Australia is committed to its international obligations set out in the 1951
Convention
Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol and other international human
rights conventions to which it is a party.
• Australia does not return individuals to situations where they face persecution or a real
risk of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, arbitrary deprivation
of life or the application of the death penalty.
Sudan
• The Department of Home Affairs is continuing to receive and progress visa applications
for those impacted by the conflict in Sudan.
o The focus to date has been on facilitating travel for those Australian citizens and
permanent residents that need to leave urgently due to the crisis.
o The Department of Home Affairs continues to process complete applications for
temporary, skilled and family visas as a priority.
• In accordance with policy settings, Humanitarian visa applications from Sudanese
nationals living in-country generally do not meet the regional and global priorities for the
program; however, Sudanese nationals who have fled Sudan may be eligible.
o The Department and key resettlement partners are unable to operate in Sudan due
to the dangerous security situation.
o Displaced people (non-Sudanese nationals) currently located in Sudan are able to
make an application for a Humanitarian visa.
o Applications lodged under the Special Humanitarian Program will be prioritised
on a case by case basis and processed as quickly as possible.
• Sudanese nationals in Australia who wish to seek Australia’s protection, and are found to
engage Australia’s non-refoulement (non-return) obligations, may be granted permanent
protection, provided they are also able to fulfil the relevant visa criteria, which includes
the health, character and security requirements that apply to all Australian visas.
• Australia continues to closely monitor the situation in Sudan with the view to review our
humanitarian policy and program settings if needed.
• Questions relating to the evacuation of Australian citizens from Sudan should be directed
to DFAT.
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Clearing Officer: Andrew Kiley, A/g First Assistant Secretary, Refugee, Humanitarian and Settlement Division
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Afghanistan
• In recognition of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan an additional 16,500 places for
Afghan nationals will be delivered over four years (4,125 places each year between
2022-23 – 2025-26) in addition to the annual Program intake.
• As at 31 March 2023, there were around 160,000 Afghan citizens with an application for
an offshore Humanitarian visa onhand.
o Approximately 75 per cent (120,000) of the on hand number are Afghans living in
Afghanistan.
o The Department will progress in-country applications that meet program priorities
(for instance LEE and split family) and will grant visas once all criteria has been
met.
o Applications that do not meet Program priorities will be refused.
• At this time the Department has enough applications for Afghans residing outside of
Afghanistan to fulfil the Afghan allocation for the next 4-5 years, notwithstanding that
more applications are being lodged every day.
o The Department anticipates that the majority of Priority 1 (split-family) and
Priority 2 (close family) Special Humanitarian Program (SHP – where applicants
have a proposer in Australia) applications from Afghans outside Afghanistan will
be able to be progressed, while most other applications including in-country and
extended family, are expected to be refused.
• From 1 July 2022 to 31 March 2023, the Department has refused over 10,000 Afghan
Class XB visas for applicants that do not meet Program priorities, including for persons
not referred by UNHCR, residing in-country and those proposed by extended family
members and friends.
o The Department endeavours to ensure that people that meet program priorities
(outside home country, referred by UNHCR, proposed by close family, women
and LGBTI+) are referred to posts as soon as capacity allows.
• Australia’s humanitarian resettlement program for Afghans is concentrated in the
neighbouring countries of Pakistan and Iran. Australia also considers UNHCR-referred
Afghan applicants in Turkey, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.
• Australia’s Humanitarian Program has always prioritised applications from those outside
their home country. This is consistent with the UNHCR’s approach that resettlement is
not the only durable solution for refugee and displaced populations.
• Australia has limited capacity for humanitarian resettlement and cannot resettle all who
apply for a Refugee and Humanitarian visa. There are a very large number of applicants
who are subject to persecution or substantial discrimination, many with close family in
Australia.
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Clearing Officer: Andrew Kiley, A/g First Assistant Secretary, Refugee, Humanitarian and Settlement Division
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If asked: are subclass 449 visas continuing to be used to support Afghans?
• The Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) (subclass 449) visa was used to facilitate the safe
evacuation of Afghan Locally Engaged Employees (LEE) and other priority Afghan
nationals to Australia between August 2021 and October 2022.
o Additionally, in December 2022 by invitation of the Minister, the Department
granted Subclass 449 visas to a total of 121 Afghan nationals in particularly
compelling circumstances. Some of these applicants were in Afghanistan.
o Application for a subclass 449 visa is by acceptance of an offer of a subclass 449
visa made by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Applicants can be in
or outside Australia and must meet health, character, security and weapons of
mass destruction criteria.
• We will continue to closely monitor the situation in Afghanistan, and remain conscious of
the particular needs of vulnerable cohorts.
o The Government urges all people remaining in Afghanistan to prioritise their
safety. People remaining in Afghanistan must carefully consider the risks should
they attempt to leave by any route.
Number of 449 visas granted to Afghan nationals from August 2021 to 05 May 2023 by grant month
JAN
FEB
MAR APR
MAY JUN
JUL
AUG
SEPT OCT NOV DEC
TOTAL
2021
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3,961
690
246
828
365
6,090
2022
145
230
78
59
214
157
190
51
6
8
<5
121
1,264
(approx)
2023
<5
37
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
42
(approx)
*Includes applicants:
• who have a finalised or active application being processed for a Non-Humanitarian visa,
• who have a finalised or active application being processed for a Class XB visa,
• that may have continued traveling onto other countries (e.g. New Zealanders),
• whose subclass 449 visa expired prior to travel.
Myanmar
• In recognition of the grave humanitarian and security situation in Myanmar, the
Australian Government has designated Myanmar nationals in Australia as a priority
caseload in our onshore humanitarian visa program.
• Departmental officers continue to work closely with the UNHCR in Bangkok, as well as
other governments, to coordinate response efforts to the crisis in Myanmar.
• Australia has not regularly resettled Rohingya since 2014 due to Operation Sovereign
Borders (OBS) related risks.
• A small provision for Rohingya resettlement is included in the Asia-region allocation in
the 2022-2023 Humanitarian Program. The regional allocation approach in the offshore
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Clearing Officer: Andrew Kiley, A/g First Assistant Secretary, Refugee, Humanitarian and Settlement Division
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Program gives greater flexibility to respond to emerging and ongoing global humanitarian
needs.
o Any resettlement of Rohingya will be undertaken as part of internationally
coordinated resettlement efforts.
o Over the years, a small number of Rohingya people with close family links have
been resettled in Australia through the Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) as
well as very small numbers of individual refugees referred by UNHCR.
Iran
• There are no specific visa programs or pathways for Iranian nationals, however they are
able to pursue a range of migration pathways to Australia, including Family and Skilled
migration program visa options.
• Iranian nationals have consistently been in the top ten offshore resettlement caseloads
over the last five program years.
• The Government is working closely with the UNHCR, the community, and stakeholders
to deliver Australia’s Humanitarian Program intake.
o Any person, including Iranian nationals, who believe they meet the requirements
for a humanitarian visa and wishes to seek Australia’s assistance can make an
application.
Uyghur
• The Government is working closely with the UNHCR, the community, and stakeholders
to deliver Australia’s Humanitarian Program intake.
o Any persons, including Uyghurs, who believe they meet the requirements for a
humanitarian visa and wishes to seek Australia’s assistance can make an
application.
Exit permits
• Offshore Humanitarian visa applicants may be subject to exit permission requirements by
the country they are residing in.
• This may impact an individual’s ability to travel to Australia regardless of whether they
are granted a humanitarian visa.
o The requirements for an exit permit are different in each country and may change
at any time.
• We continue to engage with host countries, international stakeholders, including with the
UNHCR, about exit permits.
India
• We are continuing to work with the Government of India to resolve the exit permit issue
to enable departures of affected Australian visa holders from India.
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Clearing Officer: Andrew Kiley, A/g First Assistant Secretary, Refugee, Humanitarian and Settlement Division
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Country
Exit Requirement
Egyptian authorities do not recognise Immicards as a valid travel
Egypt
document and Home Affairs relies on the International Red Cross to
provide travel documents within Egypt. Without these, visa holders
are unable to depart.
Historically, Ethiopian authorities would not issue exit permits,
Ethiopia
however this issue has been resolved and permits can now be
obtained within a month.
Asylum seekers must be arrive in country by lawful means.
India
There are a number of refugees residing in India who have
successfully obtained an Australian visa, but are unable to depart as
they entered the country illegally.
Iran
Afghan nationals must be residing lawfully.
Kenya
Approval times can be lengthy and can delay departure for
Humanitarian visa holders.
Malaysia
Myanmarese and Afghan nationals must be registered with
UNHCR.
Sudan
The current security situation has impacted departures.
Thailand
Myanmarese nationals must be registered with UNHCR.
Turkiye
Afghan, Iraqi and Syrian nationals must be residing lawfully and
registered with Turkiye authorities.
Community Sponsorship
Reforms
• The Government is considering how to further harness the considerable expertise and
goodwill in the community to support refugee and humanitarian entrants.
• The Community Support Program (CSP) is designed to provide a sustainable model for
private sponsorship of refugees that complements the existing Refugee and Special
Humanitarian Program categories.
o It enables communities and businesses, as well as families and individuals, to
propose humanitarian visa applicants with employment prospects and to support
new humanitarian arrivals.
o It was designed to harness community support for refugees and increase the
chances of strong integration and settlement outcomes.
• A review into the CSP (the Review) was undertaken in 2020-21 by the Commonwealth
Coordinator-General for Migrant Services, which included a series of consultations with a
range of stakeholders, including CSP participants, refugee-led groups, NGOs, faith
groups and industry peak bodies.
o The Review found that community support models can improve economic, social
and language learning outcomes for refugees, particularly through building social
capital.
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Clearing Officer: Andrew Kiley, A/g First Assistant Secretary, Refugee, Humanitarian and Settlement Division
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o The findings of the Review were released on 4 August 2021 and are available on
the Department’s website.
• Stemming from the Review, changes to the CSP commenced on 19 August 2022, which
aim to make the program more accessible. These include:
o reducing the visa application charge (VAC) for primary applicants by
approximately 60 per cent (from $19,449 to $7,760); and
o removing the VAC for secondary applicants.
• While no nationality is excluded from consideration under the CSP, priority in the CSP,
like the broader Humanitarian Program, is given to applicants who fall within the
Government’s global, regional and settlement priorities.
• Also in response to the Review, the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot
(CRISP) was established, which aims to settle up to 1,500 refugees up until 30 June 2025.
The first refugee families participating in CRISP arrived in Australia in August 2022. As
at 31 March 2023, a total of 107 refugees (25 family groups), primarily from Afghanistan
and Syria have settled in new and traditional settlement locations.
• CRISP operates as a dedicated settlement pathway for refugees who do not have family
links in Australia and are UNHCR referred.
• Visa holders arriving through CRISP have access to the same government services as
other refugees, however settlement support is provided by trained volunteers for
12 months from the date of their arrival.
International Engagement
• Australia will continue to contribute to responsibility sharing, growing meaningful
refugee participation, and looking beyond traditional responses to champion
complementary pathways, including community sponsorship models, labour mobility and
family reunion opportunities, including through:
o Taking on the 2024 Chair of the Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement
(ATCR), the most important multilateral forum for UNHCR, States, private
sector, academia, NGOs and refugees to discuss and advance global resettlement
issues ;
o 2023 Global Refugee Forum (GRF) in Geneva on 13-15 December 2023; and
o As a founding member and incoming Chair (from April 2024) of the Global Task
Force on Refugee Labour Mobility (GTF).
• Work has commenced to develop options for impactful and credible new pledges at the
2023 GRF, in addition to actively shaping refugee labour mobility pledges by the GTF.
If asked: Special envoy for refugee and asylum seeker issues
• The Government is considering options for the establishment of this role.
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Clearing Officer: Andrew Kiley, A/g First Assistant Secretary, Refugee, Humanitarian and Settlement Division
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If asked: Why has the Government cut $65 million for refugee, humanitarian settlement and
migrant services?
• The Government did not make a decision to cut the refugee, humanitarian settlement and
migrant services program by $65 million in the 2023-24 Budget.
• Funding for Program 2.3 – Refugee, Humanitarian Settlement and Migrant Services in the
Home Affairs Portfolio Budget Statement, is based on current baseline funding, previous
measures and estimates variations.
• Budgeted expenses for Program 2.3 in the 2023-24 Budget are higher than forecast in the
2022-23 October Budget.
o According to the Portfolio Budget Statements, for the 2023-24 financial year:
the 2022-23 budget forecast was $712,494; and
the 2023-24 budget forecast was $735,017.
• The impacts of COVID-19 reduced the number of refugee movements in 2021-22.
o This resulted in a transfer of associated funding from 2021-22 into 2022-23 to
cater for the additional refugees expected in 2022-23 with the re-opening of the
borders.
• As we progress to a post-COVID environment, the funding has returned to a more
normalised level.
• In addition, a one off increase in funding to cater for additional demand in the Adult
Migrant English Program was received in 2022-23, this will be reassessed in 2023-24 as
per usual budget processes.
o The additional funding ($20m over four years from 2022-23) is to support
individual learners with flexible delivery and case management.
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Key Statistics
Table 1: Average processing times* (in weeks) of granted Offshore Humanitarian cases,
2017–18 to 2022–23 (as at 05 May 2023)
Subclass
2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23
Refugee (subclass 200)
65.4
56.6
55.4
76.0
76.4
96.6
In-country Special
Humanitarian (subclass 201)
36.3
53.2
44.1
58.0
10.7
22.9
Global Special Humanitarian
(subclass 202)
86.2
79.7
69.5
103.4
130.6
125.7
Emergency Rescue (subclass
203)
2.0
2.0
5.4
5.6
25.1
20.6
Woman At Risk (subclass 204)
51.7
64.6
45.5
73.5
86.7
93.3
Total
72.7
68.0
59.7
87.8
74.1
88.1
*Visa grants are subject to rigorous assessment, including health, character and security checks,
which are conducted before individuals are granted a visa. Consequently, processing times and the
Department’s ability to process applications for Humanitarian visas can vary according to the
particular circumstances of the applicant, their location (be it inside or outside their home country),
their ability to travel, provide documents, biometrics, medical checks, and access to Australian
government officials.
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Clearing Officer: Andrew Kiley, A/g First Assistant Secretary, Refugee, Humanitarian and Settlement Division
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Table 2: Global Special Humanitarian (subclass 202 visa) lodgements and grants by processing
priority*, 2019–20 to 2022–23 (to 05 May 2023)
2019–20
2020–21
2021–22
2022–23
(to 05 May 2023)
Priority Lodgement Grant Lodgement
Grant Lodgement
Grant Lodgement
Grant
1
98
64
67
13
20
35
33
80
2
15,575 3,062
10,512
1,451
23,874
2,746
6,989
2,338
3
8,576 1,298
3,759
639
13,836
1,157
6,791
997
4
550
849
7,687
542
12,546
812
8,210
1460
5
68
<5
17
7
283
8
679
0
Refugee
code/Not
Yet
-
-
-
-
6,678
-
5,416
<5
Recorded
* Priority groups within the SHP are:
Priority 1: Applicant is proposed by an immediate family member (partner, dependent child or, if the
proposer is not 18 or more years of age, the proposer's parent) who was granted a Class XB visa.
Priority 2: Applicant is proposed by
a close family member (partner, child, parent or sibling who
does not meet the split-family eligibility criteria) who does not hold a Protection or Resolution of
Status visa.
Priority 3: Applicant is proposed by an extended family member (grandparent, grandchild, cousin,
aunt, uncle, niece or nephew) who does not hold a Protection or Resolution of Status visa.
Priority 4: Applicant is proposed by a friend or distant relative and does not hold a Protection or
Resolution of Status visa, or is a community organisation.
Priority 5: Applicant is proposed by a person holding a Protection or Resolution of Status visa. Note
if these proposers become Australian citizens, then applications they propose become priority 1-4
according to their relationship.
Note; former UMA’s, even those holding a Permanent visa (including a RoS) or those who become
Australian citizens, are unable to propose under the SHP.
Table 3: Offshore Humanitarian visa grants under the Community Proposal Pilot (CPP) or the
Community Support Program (CSP), 2019–20 to 2022–23 (to 05 May 2023)
Program Year
Allocation
CPP
CSP
2019–20
750
<5
417
2020–21
750
0
207
2021–22
750
0
423
2022–23 (to 05 May 2023)
1,400
0
1,073
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Clearing Officer: Andrew Kiley, A/g First Assistant Secretary, Refugee, Humanitarian and Settlement Division
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Table 4: Top nationalities granted within the offshore component 2016–17 to 2021–22
2016–17
2017–18
2018–19
2019–20
2020–21
2021–22
Iraq
7,478
Iraq
4,630
Iraq
7,095
Iraq
5,785
Iraq
1,585
Afghanistan 5,326
Syria
6,261
Syria
3,227
Congo
(DRC)
2,114
Congo
(DRC)
1,165
Myanmar
656
Iraq
2,111
Afghanistan 1,958
Myanmar
2,043
Myanmar
1,995
Syria
947
Afghanistan
562
Myanmar
1,645
Myanmar
1,747
Congo
(DRC)
1,355
Syria
1,836
Myanmar
796
Syria
450
Syria
1,268
Bhutan
555
Afghanistan 1,130
Afghanistan 1,323
Afghanistan
619
Eritrea
241
Congo
(DRC)
455
Congo
(DRC)
336
Eritrea
494
Ethiopia
635
Eritrea
434
Pakistan
213
Pakistan
134
Eritrea
323
Ethiopia
481
Eritrea
555
Ethiopia
360
Iran
188
Eritrea
99
Central
Ethiopia
323
Bhutan
308
Iran
367
African
333
Congo
Republic
(DRC)
154
Ethiopia
94
South
Central
Sudan
316
Iran
218
Bhutan
254
Iran
317
Stateless
144
African
84
Republic
Somalia
162
Tibet
200
Tibet
189
Stateless
204
Venezuela
104
Iran
70
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Clearing Officer: Andrew Kiley, A/g First Assistant Secretary, Refugee, Humanitarian and Settlement Division
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Consultation
• The Chief Statistician has cleared the statistics contained within this brief.
Additional References
• Nil
Media
• Nil
Attachments
• ATT A – Humanitarian Dashboard as at 30 April 2023
• ATT B – Offshore Humanitarian Afghan Key Statistics as at 12 May 2023
• ATT C – Summary of HSP, CRISP and CSP Programs
• ATT D – PBS Budgeted Expenses for Outcome 2 (2022-23 and 2023-24)
Additional Information
Statistics Date Ranges – 2023 May Budget Estimates
Since last hearing
1 January 2023 – 05 May 2023
Financial Year
1 July 2022 – 05 May 2023
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Clearing Officer: Andrew Kiley, A/g First Assistant Secretary, Refugee, Humanitarian and Settlement Division
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