On 21st January 2022 the Australian Government, through the Humanitarian and Family Visa Program, will provide 15,000 visas for Afghans over four years. This increased allocation includes 10,000 places for Afghan nationals within Australia’s existing Humanitarian Program and at least 5,000 visas within the Family stream.
Since the evacuations from Kabul in August more than 4,000 Afghans have been evacuated to Australia and are in the process of securing permanent visas.
The Government confirms Australia will give priority in the Humanitarian Program to:
- former Locally Engaged Employees (LEE) and their immediate family members.
- subclass 449 holders (current and former) and their immediate family members.
- those with enduring links to Australia, such as Afghans who were employed by Australian non-government organisations or who worked on Australian Government funded projects, and Coalition partner LEE and their immediate family; and
- Women and girls, ethnic minorities, LGBTQI+ and other identified minority groups.
Australia is working closely with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to identify and progress cases for those most in need of resettlement.
The Australian Government says that Afghan nationals are also able to pursue other migration pathways to Australia depending on their circumstances, including through the Community Support Program, the Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot, the Family stream, and skilled visa categories.
Further information is available on the Department of Home Affairs website:
https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-and-support/afghanistan-update