People waiting for a decision on their Australian Protection visa applications will no longer be able to obtain a Bridging visa B to travel overseas from 1 November, under new travel arrangements announced by the Department of Home Affairs.
The change means applicants who leave Australia while their Protection visa application is being processed, or while they are waiting for a review outcome, may not be able to return.
The department said Bridging visa B applications lodged before 1 November would continue to be processed. However, people who already hold a Bridging visa B but whose travel facility has expired will not be able to apply for another one to travel.
Protection visa applicants are generally granted a Bridging visa A, C or E, depending on their substantive visa and lawful status when they apply. These bridging visas do not allow holders to return to Australia if they leave the country.
The changes apply to people seeking a Protection (subclass 866) visa, which allows eligible refugees and people facing significant harm or persecution in their home countries to live permanently in Australia.
The department has stressed that the visa is intended for people who genuinely need Australia’s protection, not those seeking to extend their stay to work.
Department warns against unsuitable applications
The Department of Home Affairs said Protection visa applications were being processed more quickly than in previous years, allowing decisions to be made sooner.
It said approximately 85 per cent of applications were refused because applicants did not meet the visa requirements, with refusal rates for some nationalities approaching 100 per cent.
The department has used examples to illustrate the potential consequences of applying for a Protection visa without meeting the eligibility criteria.
In one case, Jone arrived in Australia in 2024 on a Temporary Work (International Relations) visa under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme to work on a Queensland farm. After four months, he moved to Brisbane to look for another job without informing his employer. Following a friend’s suggestion, he applied for a Protection visa as a way to remain in Australia and continue working.
The department refused his application within a few months, finding that he did not meet the visa criteria. His temporary work visa was also cancelled after he stopped working for his PALM scheme employer. He subsequently remained in Australia and continued working without a visa, before being detained by the Australian Border Force and removed from the country. The department said he now owed the Australian Government thousands of dollars in removal costs and that his son could face difficulties obtaining a visa to work in Australia in the future.
Another example involved Gabriella, an international student who arrived in Sydney in 2022. The department said she trusted a person advertising migration services on TikTok, who applied for a Protection visa on her behalf using bogus documents and false information without her knowledge.
The application was refused after the department identified the documents and information as false. The department warned that Gabriella could face a substantial fine and up to 10 years in prison for providing false or misleading information.
The department also described the case of Ahn, who arrived in Australia on a visitor visa in 2024 after an overseas agent allegedly misled her about her work rights and visa options. She was directed to a job on a Victorian citrus farm and later discovered that a Protection visa application had been lodged on her behalf. After it was refused and her visitor visa expired, she was detained and removed from Australia.
A further example involved Qian, a visitor who was offered Australian permanent residency through a business advertising on social media. The business proposed lodging a Protection visa application based on a fabricated account of persecution in his home country. After researching the visa requirements and possible consequences, Qian withdrew his application, although he did not recover the money he had paid.
The department said a refused Protection visa application remains on a person’s immigration record for life and can affect future visa applications for both the applicant and their family.
Applicants urged to seek legal advice
The department has urged anyone considering a Protection visa application to obtain professional advice from a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner before lodging an application.
It warned applicants to be cautious of unregistered advisers and social media operators who promise permanent residency or encourage people to submit false information or documents.
Providing false or misleading information, or submitting bogus documents, can lead to substantial fines and imprisonment of up to 10 years. A visa granted on the basis of false information may also be cancelled.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all information submitted on their behalf is accurate, even when another person prepares or lodges the application.
The department also encouraged people to use free and confidential advice services provided by specialist refugee and immigration legal organisations in their state or territory.
The department’s guidance further states that a person granted a Protection visa cannot travel to the country from which they sought protection without permission from the Australian Government, including to visit family members.
The new travel arrangements take effect on 1 November. People affected by the changes should check their visa conditions and seek advice from an appropriately qualified professional before making overseas travel plans.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
