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A Protection visa (subclass 866) is a permanent visa for people in Australia who are refugees or who need complementary protection because they fear persecution or serious harm in their home country. If it is granted, you can live in Australia permanently. Australian Migration Agents can guide you through the application process, from your first consultation to lodgement and any further requests from the Department of Home Affairs. Book a consultation to discuss your situation.
Our expertise in migration visas means we can help you prepare and submit your application quickly and efficiently.
Our experienced agents will give you regular updates and clear explanations of your visa options.
Our services are focused on achieving the best possible outcome for you, which means you’re always in safe hands.
Our fixed-fee quotes outline all costs prior to engaging our services.
A Protection visa (subclass 866) is a permanent visa for people in Australia who meet the criteria for refugee status or complementary protection under Australian law.
It offers refuge to people who have a “well-founded fear of persecution” in their home country because of factors such as their race, religion, nationality or political opinion.
The visa also applies to people who, if they return to their home country, might suffer:
Once granted, 866 visa holders can live and work in Australia permanently. Our registered migration agents can assess whether you may meet the criteria. Book a consultation to discuss your situation.
Applying for the Protection visa (subclass 866) takes three steps: a consultation, preparation and lodgement of your application, and a decision from the Department of Home Affairs. The process can be challenging, and our registered migration agents guide you through each step.
Book a consultation to speak with one of our migration agents. You can meet with us in person, via Zoom or by telephone. Following this, we will send you paperwork that confirms our engagement to represent you.
We will prepare submissions in support of your Protection visa 866 application, based on your individual circumstances and supported by evidence where appropriate. We then lodge your application with the Department of Home Affairs.
We’ll contact you as soon as the Department of Home Affairs makes a decision. If your application is not granted, we can assess your options, which may include seeking a review of the decision, for example by the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), depending on your circumstances.
A registered migration agent can help you prepare a complete, well-supported Protection visa 866 application. The application is complex, and our team can handle the preparation and lodgement for you. After your initial consultation with one of our Protection visa agents, we’ll advise you on your best path forward, provide a fixed-fee quote, and support you at every step.
The Department of Home Affairs visa application charge for the Protection visa (subclass 866) is currently AUD 50 as at 1 July 2026. This is the government fee, and it is separate from our professional fees.
Visa application charges can change, so check the current Protection visa fee on the Department of Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator before you apply.
Our professional fees depend on the complexity of your case and are quoted as a fixed fee before we start any work. Book a consultation to receive a quote.
Australian Migration Agents (MARN 2217744) is a team of registered migration agents that helps people in Australia prepare and lodge Protection visa applications. We care about your situation and work to support you on your visa journey, drawing on our knowledge of Protection visa law and requirements.
Our skilled team offers in-person and virtual appointments, which means we can provide immigration assistance and advice regardless of where you live in Australia.
To apply for a Protection visa (subclass 866), you must be in Australia and be a refugee or meet the complementary protection criteria, and you must meet the other requirements below. These requirements are subject to change but currently include:
Our registered migration agents can assess whether you meet the Protection visa requirements. Contact us to discuss your situation.
We offer migration agent services across Australia.
Find your nearest location.
Protection visa (866) processing times vary from applicant to applicant, and the Department of Home Affairs does not set a definitive timeline. We cannot control how quickly your application is reviewed, but a complete application with enough evidence helps reduce delays and requests for further information.
A Protection visa (subclass 866) is a permanent visa, so once it is granted you can remain in Australia indefinitely.
The Protection visa (subclass 866) is itself a permanent visa, so you become an Australian permanent resident on the day it is granted. You do not always need a temporary protection visa first.
If you want to move from a Protection visa to citizenship, you may be eligible to apply after living in Australia for four years of lawful residence in Australia, including at least 12 months as a permanent resident. Other eligibility requirements may apply, and your migration agent can explain them.
The Protection visa 866 lets you stay in Australia permanently, as well as work and study. It also gives you the ability to:
Review your submitted application closely and ask your migration agent to help you prepare. Some applicants are invited to an interview with the Department of Home Affairs, where you may be asked about your circumstances, your family and why you are applying for the Protection visa. You may also be asked to clarify information in your application.
You generally cannot apply for another Protection visa if you have previously held a temporary protection visa, or if you applied and the permanent visa was refused or cancelled. In some circumstances, the Minister can intervene under the Migration Act and allow you to submit a subsequent Protection visa application if you have genuine claims that were not included in your initial application. Other visa options may be available depending on your circumstances, and a migration agent can advise you.
Yes, you can withdraw your Protection visa application through the Department of Home Affairs’ online platform (ImmiAccount) while the application is still pending. One of our migration agents can assist if you decide to withdraw.
Yes, the Temporary Protection visa (subclass 785) lets you remain in Australia for three years, where you can work, study and access Australian government services. You and all eligible family members included in your application (such as the spouse of the family head, a dependent child of the family head, and other dependent relatives of the family head) must be in Australia when you apply.
Tell us a little about your situation, and one of our agents will get back to you as soon as possible.
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Australian Migration Agents - MARN 2217744
