How can I bring my refugee family here?

You need:

• One passport style photograph of each family member who isincluded in the application.
• Certified copies of any identity documents your family has. For example:
  • Passports
  • Birth certificates
  • Identity cards
  • Citizenship documents
  • Marriage certificates
  • Death certificates

A certified copy means that a lawyer or another person who is authorised must look at the original document and then write on the photocopied document that it is a true copy. The documents can be certified overseas or in Australia. If it is hard to get this done, don’t worry. Just include a copy of the document.

Documents that are not in English must be translated. Documents can be translated overseas or in Australia.

If a family member has no documents, they need to explain why they don’t have any documents. They might have lost them, or had them stolen, or maybe they were never issued any documents in their own country. Even if they do not have documents, you can still make the application for the visa.

If your family is registered with an organisation like the UNHCR, Red Cross, Red Crescent, or International Organisation for Migration (IOM), you should get a copy of that registration as well and include it with the application.

The forms you need are:

You can get these forms from:

• immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-listing/forms/842.pdf
• immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-listing/forms/681.pdf

Do not use old forms.

You must complete the forms in English. If your family writes their answers in their own language you must have the answers translated. If your English is good enough, you can do this yourself. You don't need to get an official translation. 

If only one person has a problem, then just that person needs to write a statement. The written statement is the story of the problems your family had in their home country, what they are afraid of in their country, and why they cannot return safely.

It may seem obvious why they would not be safe. But it is important to give details because Home Affairs uses the statement to work out how quickly to decide the application and whether to give your family a visa.

They can write the statement in their own language and then get it translated into English. You can translate it yourself. You don’t need an official translation.

The statement should say:

If you can, get at least the statements checked by an immigration lawyer before you send the forms to the Department of Home Affairs.

The Refugee Service at Legal Aid NSW can give you free and private legal advice but we cannot check your forms.

We can talk to you about what you need to put into the statement to be included with the application (Step 3) to make sure you include everything that is relevant. See below for our contact details and how to make an appointment with the Refugee Service..

Keep a copy of the application and all the documents that go with it.

Send the application and documents to:

Department of Home Affairs
Special Humanitarian Processing Centre
GPO Box 9984
SYDNEY NSW 2001

You can also apply for this visa online but only if everyone included in the application has a passport photograph that they can electronically attach to the application.

Go to https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au

If you do decide to apply online, follow the instructions to complete the online application form and upload your completed forms, documents and photographs. Then click the ‘Submit’ button.

You can ask to bring your husband, wife, partner or dependent children (or if you are under 18, your parents) to Australia through the split family program if you were given a refugee, humanitarian or protection visa in the last five years, and:

1. your husband, wife, partner, children, or parent (if you’re under 18) are still living in their home country, or living outside their home
2. You told the Department of Home Affairs about your family BEFORE you got your own visa.

To apply for this type of visa, you use the same forms (681 and 842), but you need to say it is a ‘split family’ application on the Form 842.

There is a question on the form that asks if this is a split family application and you need to tick ‘Yes’.

For these applications, your family does not have to write their statement about what might happen to them and why they are a refugee. They do not have to prove that they are a refugee. They just need to prove they are related to you, and you told Home Affairs about them BEFORE you got your own visa.

How much will it cost?

There is no application fee for a visa. If your family get a visa, you may have to pay for the airplane tickets if you have sponsored them.

What will happen when the Department of Home Affairs gets the application?

They will send you a letter saying they have the application. That letter will have a file number. It is important to keep this file number because if you have to follow up Home Affairs you need to use this file number so they can find the application.

If you don’t get a letter within six weeks, send an email to SHP.enquiries@homeaffairs.gov.au asking what is happening with the application. Give the name and date of birth of the applicant in the email so that they can find the application.

How long will it take?

Applications can take many years – generally about two years

Will my family get a visa?

Not everyone will get a visa. The Government only gives a small number of visas each year. Your family might not get a visa. Ask a lawyer if there are other ways to bring your family to Australia.

If you are worried about how long it is taking

You can:

• ask the Department of Home Affairs if the application is still in Australia or if they have sent it to the embassy nearest to your family for further processing.
• contact your local Federal Member of Parliament (MP) if it has been more than 12 months since you sent the forms. You can look up your local MP by putting in the postcode where you live at www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Members

You can call Home Affairs on 13 18 81 or email them at shp.enquiries@homeaffairs.gov.au. You will need the file number so that they can find the application. 

You will need to tell the Department of Home Affairs if anything changes

If any answers to the questions you gave on the forms change, you need to tell the Department of Home Affairs.

Some changes might be if:

• you or your family overseas change address
• someone included in the application has a baby, or
• your family receive new threats from people or groups who wish to harm them.

You can tell Home Affairs about any changes by emailing them at shp.enquiries@homeaffairs.gov.au.

You can get free help from a lawyer at the Refugee Service.

Phone: 02 8713 6725
Email: refugeeservice@legalaid.nsw.gov.au

We can make a time to speak to you either face to face or over the phone. 

If you need an interpreter, call 13 14 50, ask for the language you want and then give them the Refugee Service number. This is a free service.

What to bring to the appointment

• Passport, ImmiCard or travel document
• Centrelink health care card or pension card
• NSW photo identity card
• Any letters from the Department of Home Affairs
• Copies of any visa applications you have made for your family

If you need to cancel your appointment

If you can’t come to the appointment, contact the Refugee Service on 02 8713 6725 to let us know as soon as you can.

January 2024