Author: Lucinda Lim – Immigration Lawyer & Business Development
A major shift for Protection and Humanitarian visa applicants
If you or someone you support is preparing a Protection, Refugee or Humanitarian visa application, an important change may affect how you lodge the application and how quickly it can be processed.
For the first time, many applicants can now apply online through ImmiAccount, rather than relying solely on paper forms. For some, this will make the process faster and more accessible. For others, especially applicants without reliable internet access or those facing safety or logistical barriers, it raises new questions:
Do you have to apply online? Can you still use a paper form? What if you’re overseas with limited internet access?
These are the types of issues that can affect the success of a Protection or Humanitarian visa, and where clear legal guidance becomes critical.
What has changed?
The Australian Government has introduced a new legislative instrument LIN 25/121, which allows Class XB visa applicants to lodge online using Form 842.
This is the first time Protection and Humanitarian visas have been formally brought into the online lodgement system used for most other Australian visas.
For many applicants, this could mean:
- Faster submission
- Fewer delays caused by lost paperwork
- Clearer tracking through ImmiAccount
- More accessible lodgement options
However, online lodgement is not the only pathway, and not everyone can use it.
Can you still lodge a paper application?
Yes, but only in specific circumstances.
Paper Form 842 is still permitted if:
- You genuinely cannot lodge online
- The Department of Home Affairs gives you written authorisation.
This may apply to people who:
- Have limited or unsafe access to the internet
- Are in remote or high-risk locations
- Cannot use ImmiAccount due to technical or personal barriers
- Are supported by organisations that rely on paper workflows
With approval, your paper application can be lodged:
- By post
- By email
- At an overseas Australian embassy, consulate or migration office
If you are unsure whether you qualify for paper lodgement, legal advice is strongly recommended, as choosing the wrong method could lead to delays or complications.
Why this change matters
Protection and Humanitarian visas are among the most complex and sensitive areas of Australian migration law. Applicants often have urgent needs, limited resources, or traumatic experiences that make the process overwhelming.
Because these visa types often have life-altering consequences, it is critical to ensure that applications are complete, accurate, and lodged through the correct pathway. Accessing Legal advice is a guarantee that this will happen.
How Absolute Immigration Legal can help
At Absolute Immigration Legal, we work with some of the most complex and sensitive immigration cases, including Protection, Humanitarian, and Refugee visa matters.
We can help you understand:
- Whether you must lodge online or qualify for paper lodgement
- How to prepare a complete, decision-ready application
- What supporting evidence is required
- How to respond if the Department requests further information
- How these changes affect applicants who are overseas or in vulnerable circumstances
- How community organisations can adjust their support processes
Our team ensures that every application is structured clearly, legally sound, and supported by the strongest possible evidence.
If you or someone you support is preparing a Protection, Refugee, or Humanitarian visa application, especially an urgent or complex one, contact Absolute Immigration Legal for tailored legal assistance at admin@absoluteimmigrationlegal.com.