Introduction

Contributed by Philippa Martin and Mary-Anne Kenney and current to 1 September 2005

There are around 13,000 places in the Australian refugee and humanitarian program. The program is for:

• refugees and others in humanitarian need who are granted visas overseas; and

• refugees granted visas after arriving in Australia.

Over the past four years there have been significant changes in this program. There is now a two-tiered system of permanent and temporary visas, with only those seen as most deserving obtaining permanent residence.

People who are initially granted temporary visas will be able to apply for further protection in Australia but, depending on their circumstances, may never have access to permanent visas in Australia. People holding temporary visas cannot return to Australia if they leave and cannot sponsor family members to join them in Australia.