Australian Immigration Daily News

The Department of Home Affairs has introduced a new legislative instrument titled Migration (Arrangements for Protection, Refugee and Humanitarian Visas) Amendment (Internet Lodgement) Instrument 2025, which comes into effect on 1 July 2025.

The instrument facilitates a significant procedural change by allowing internet-based lodgement of Subclass 202 (Global Special Humanitarian) visa applications under the Special Humanitarian Program (SHP). Specifically:

• Applicants using Form 842 (Application for an SHP visa) and proposers using Form 681 (Refugee and Special Humanitarian Proposal) will now be able to lodge online via the Department’s ImmiAccount portal.

• The new arrangements apply only where both forms are completed electronically.

• Existing arrangements under the Community Support Program (CSP) remain unaffected.

The measure is part of the Department’s broader digital transformation strategy and is aimed at streamlining application processes and improving efficiency.

Commencement: 1 July 2025
Legislative Basis: Migration Act 1958 – Section 46; Migration Regulations 1994 – Schedule 1

Source: Migration-Arrangements-for-Protection-Refugee-and-Humanitarian-Visas-Amendment-Internet-Lodgement-Instrument-2025.pdf and 

Migration-Arrangements-for-Protection-Refugee-and-Humanitarian-Visas-Amendment-Internet-Lodgement-Instrument-2025---Explanatory-Statement.pdf