Common types of Australian visas 005-02030010

Customers may have documents, such as their passport, showing the visa subclass they hold. However, some visas are not displayed in a person's passport, for example, New Zealand (NZ) Special Category Visa (SCV).

If the customer does not provide proof of their visa subclass or there are other queries regarding the customer's residence requirements for payment, there are several ways to obtain assistance:

The References page contains links to Chapter 9 of the Social Security Guide, which details entitlements for holders of each visa subclass

If the customer's visa has been granted since 1 September 1994:

• Details of the customer's subclass can be obtained by completing the Immigration Enquiry (RSIMME) screen to populate visa information to the Legal Residence Details (RSLEG) screen
• If the information is not available, or the customer's last travel was before 1 September 1994, Centrelink International Services (CIS) can generally provide verification of a customer's arrival and their visa subclass
• Verification of whether a New Zealand citizen is a protected SCV holder will also generally be automatically assessed and recorded on the RSLEG screen
• Any movement information received from the Immigration Datalink will be on the Immigration Advised Movements (RSIM) screen

For more details, see:

• Activating the Department of Home Affairs datalink and contingency procedures if datalink is unavailable
• Referring inconsistencies in overseas departure and arrival information to Centrelink International Services (CIS)

See contact details for Centrelink International Services (CIS).

Permanent visas or resident visas are granted to migrants entering Australia to allow them to remain indefinitely. Note: generally, a customer will still need to satisfy a qualifying residence period or a Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period (NARWP) for most income support payments and concession cards. However, some visa subclasses will give the customer an exemption from this requirement.

The end date of a permanent resident visa is regarded to be the date the entry/re-entry rights into Australia expire and does not mean legal authority to remain in Australia has changed.

Permanent visa subclasses are 100-158, 175, 176, 186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 192, 200-217, 431, 800-819, 831-846, 851-866, 880-883 and 885-893.

A provisional visa is a temporary visa that may lead to the grant of a permanent visa, if the entrant meets the conditions required for the permanent visa they are applying for.

Provisional resident visas have the subclass of 309 or 820.

Holders of provisional visas are not considered to be permanent residents and do not qualify for most social security payments. However, may be entitled to Special Benefit (SpB), Crisis Payment (CrP), Family Tax Benefit (FTB), Child Care Subsidy (CCS), Stillborn Baby Payment (SBP), Parental Leave Pay (PPL), Dad and Partner Pay (DAP), Double Orphan Pension (DOP), Low Income Health Care Card (LIC) and emergency and disaster payments.

A visitor visa does not give permanent residence for the holder and therefore the holder is not entitled to any social security payments, family assistance payments or concession cards.

The current subclasses for visitors are Visitor subclass 600, 676, 679, 686; Medical Treatment subclass 602, 675 or 685; and eVisitor subclass 651.

Visitors may also have subclass 601 for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), but will not have a visa label in their passport.

Transit visas are issued for people in transit through Australia by air or sea travel. These visas are issued for single or multiple travel and allow for a maximum stay of up to three days

The current visa subclass for transit visas is 771.

Transit visa holders are not entitled to any social security payments, family payments or concession cards.

Temporary residents who do not have a multiple travel visa, and who leave Australia for a short period, require subclass 159 for re-entry into Australia for their remaining period of temporary residence. The holder is not entitled to any social security payments, family assistance payments and concession cards.

Resident return visa holders have already been granted permanent residence under a different visa subclass and may qualify for income support payments, family assistance payments and concession cards.

The current visa subclass used for returning residents is between 154 and 158.

Bridging visas are issued when a person's temporary visa has, or is likely to expire before a decision can be reached on the person's application for a permanent visa. The holder of a bridging visa is generally not entitled to any income support payments.

The visa subclasses used for bridging visas are between 010 and 051 as well as subclasses 060 and 070.

Note: visa subclass 060 Bridging Visa F and subclass 070 (Removal Pending Bridging Visa (RPBV)) are special bridging visas which give some entitlements to income support payments. For more information on Temporary Protection Visa (TPV), Secondary Movement Visa, Return Pending Visa (RPV) and Removal Pending Bridging Visa (RPBV), see Table 2, Item 2.

Cable visas were issued before 1 September 1994 when a person was unable to obtain a standard visa due to emergency, the absence of an Australian visa issuing office and where no alternative arrangement could be made.

Upon arrival into Australia, their visa was surrendered and the entrant was referred to Department of Home Affairs to have their residence status determined.

Holders of approved Refugee or permanent special humanitarian visas are granted permanent residence status and may qualify for social security payments, family assistance payments and concession cards.

Permanent refugee visas offer a qualifying residence exemption for certain payments.

There are several subclasses of Temporary Protection, Humanitarian, Safe Haven and Return Pending Visas.

• TPV subclass 785 and THV subclass 786 are issued to people who claim refugee status after arriving in Australia and are printed as being valid for a period of up to 36 months. The 785 initially ceased to be issued from 9 August 2008. It was then re-issued between 18 October and 2 December 2013 and TPVs issued in that period remain valid while the customer holds that visa. The TPV 785 was re-introduced on 16 December 2014
• THV subclass 449
• Before 24 June 2014, visa subclass 449 holders did not qualify for any social security payments or family assistance payments (other than Child Care Benefit under the hardship residence exemption)
• From 24 June 2014, visa subclass 449 was given the status of a Temporary Humanitarian Stay Visa, giving holders residential qualification for limited payments
• RPBV subclass 070 allows its holders to remain in Australia from date of grant until removal from Australia becomes practicable

Although all of these visa subclasses are temporary, their holders are not subject to the NARWP and they are residentially qualified for the following payments as long as they are physically in and residing in Australia:

• Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
• Crisis Payment (CrP) under general provisions and not under humanitarian provisions
• Dad and Partner Pay (DAP)
• Double Orphan Pension (DOP)
• Family Tax Benefit (FTB)
• Low Income Health Care Card (LIC)
• Parental Leave Pay (PPL)
• Rent Assistance (RA)
• Special Benefit (SpB)
• Stillborn Baby Payment (SBP)
• Emergency and disaster payments

They can also access employment assistance services through Workforce Australia.

If the person leaves Australia, most payments received will stop on departure, except for SBP, which may continue as long as they are qualified and were granted before departure.

TPV 785 granted after 16 December 2014 may be eligible for payment overseas for an approved reason. The portability of payments will be assessed by Centrelink International Services (CIS) when the customer notifies Services Australia of their intention to travel. Any TPVs granted prior to 16 December 2014 are not eligible for portability of payments, due to the visa conditions at that time.

• Secondary Movement subclasses 447 and 451 Subclasses 447 (Secondary Movement Offshore Location) and 451 (Secondary Movement Relocation) were issued to people who claimed refugee status upon arrival in Australia. They were issued for periods between 3-5 years. These visas were closed to new applicants from 9 August 2008, and from 1 October 2015 ceased to qualify for any payments or concessions or provide a NARWP exemption
• Return Pending Visa (RPV) subclass 695 was issued to TPV and THV holders who were unsuccessful in obtaining a further protection visa. The RPV was also issued to previous TPV and THV holders. The 695 visa allowed the holder to stay in Australia under the same conditions as the TPV and THV for up to 18 months from grant. The 695 was closed to new applicants from 9 August 2008, and from 1 October 2015 ceased to qualify for any payments or concessions or provide a NARWP exemption
• Witness Protection (Trafficking) subclass 787 was issued from 1 January 2004 to former holders of a criminal justice stay visa for the purpose of assisting in the administration of criminal justice in relation to the offence of people trafficking, sexual servitude or deceptive recruiting. It was closed to new applicants from 1 July 2009. It ceased to qualify for any payments or concessions or provide a NARWP exemption from 1 October 2015. Subclass 787 is also coded as a workaround on the RSLEG screen when a person holds a 951 visa

Note: former holders of subclasses 447, 451 and 695 generally applied for a CD 851 Resolution of Status visa.

A Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) subclass 790 is in the class of visa known as Safe Haven Enterprise (Class XE) that was created on 16 December 2014. The SHEV 790 commenced on 18 April 2015.

Applications for this visa can only be made by the same category of persons who apply for a temporary protection visa, including a THV subclass 449, TPV subclass 785, THV subclass 786 or SHEV 790. A requirement of an applicant for the SHEV subclass 790 is they must intend to work or study while accessing minimal social security benefits in a specified regional area.

The Human Trafficking Visas are issued for, or as a result of, the assisting in the administration of criminal justice arising from human trafficking.

• Bridging visa F (subclass 060) and Criminal Justice Stay Visa (subclass ZB 951). Holders are residentially qualified for the following payments and exempt from the NARWP as long as they are physically in and residing in Australia (if they leave Australia payments will stop on departure):
• Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
• Crisis Payment (CrP)
• Dad and Partner Pay (DAP)
• Double Orphan Pension (DOP)
• Family Tax Benefit (FTB)
• Low Income Health Care Card (LIC)
• Parental Leave Pay (PPL)
• Rent Assistance (RA)
• Special Benefit (SpB)
• Stillborn Baby Payment (SBP)
• Emergency and disaster payments
• Referred Stay visa (permanent) (subclass 852). Holders are residentially qualified for all payments as the subclass is a permanent visa and are exempt from the NARWP for all social security benefits (excluding SpB), Parenting Payment Single (PPS), Carer Payment (CP), Mobility Allowance (MOB), Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) and a Low Income Health Care Card (LIC)

A temporary visa to work in specific circumstances that improve Australia’s international relations.

Visa subclass 403 holders are residentially qualified for the following payments if they have been granted under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility stream and they have been approved for Family Accompaniment:

• Family Tax Benefit (FTB)
• Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
• Stillborn Baby Payment (SBP)
• Double Orphan Pension (DOP)

A person approved for Family Accompaniment will show 'FAA' in the Visa qualifier code field on the Legal Residence Details (RSLEG) screen.

With the introduction of ETAs on 23 March 2013, visa labels were no longer issued to short-term business or tourist entrants into Australia from certain countries.

Holders of ETAs are non-residents and are not entitled to any social security payments, family assistance payments or concession cards.

The Department of Home Affairs may issue entrants into Australia with a visa under a temporary visa subclass or secondary movement visa that have not been previously mentioned. As these are temporary visas, holders are not entitled to any social security payments, family assistance payments or concession cards.

Other temporary visa subclasses include: 300-305, 400, 410-436, 439-443, 445-499 (other than 447 and 451), 550-563 and 827-830.

These 2 visa subclasses are part of the Migration Reform - new visas to support regional Australia. These visas were introduced on 16 November 2019.

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) subclass 491

Holders of these visas are people who want to live, work and study in regional Australia.

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) subclass 494

Holders of these visas are people who want to:

• live, work and study in regional Australia, and
• are nominated by an Australian business in a 'regional' occupation

These are temporary visas and holders are not entitled to any social security payments, family assistance payments or concession cards.

SCVs (subclass 444) are issued automatically to New Zealand passport holders on arrival in Australia. There is no evidence of these visas in a person's NZ passport.

Although granting the holder permission to remain permanently in Australia and to be employed, they are not permanent visas and do not qualify as an Australian resident under the Social Security Act unless they are a protected SCV holder.

In most cases, the protected or not protected status will be automatically assessed and recorded on the Legal Residence Details (RSLEG) screen during a new claim activity. Where a status is not automatically generated, an activity will be created. CIS will automatically pick up this activity and record the correct status on the RSLEG screen. The new claim will not be able to be finalised until this assessment has been completed.

All SCV holders residing in Australia are residentially qualified for Family Tax Benefit (FTB), Stillborn Baby Payment (SBP), Parental Leave Pay (PPL), Dad and Partner Pay (DAP), Child Care Subsidy (CCS), Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC), Low Income Health Care Card (LIC) and emergency and disaster payments. Under the Agreement with New Zealand, they may also qualify for Age Pension, Disability Support Pension (DSP) or Carer Payment (CP).

The References page contains a link to more information on the visa issued to New Zealand citizens.

A Special Category Visa (SCV) is issued to people arriving in Australia on a New Zealand passport. It is categorised by the Department of Home Affairs as visa subclass 444.

Generally, a protected SCV holder is a person who was:

• physically in Australia on 26 February 2001, or
• in Australia for 12 months in the two years immediately before 26 February 2001, or
• assessed as 'protected' before 26 February 2004

From 26 February 2001, a 'protected SCV' holder meets the definition of an Australian resident under section 7 of the Social Security Act 1991 and can claim income support payments. They are subject to the Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period (NARWP). See the References page for a link to the Act.

A Special Category Visa (SCV) is issued to people arriving in Australia on a New Zealand passport. It is categorised by the Department of Home Affairs as visa subclass 444.

A non-protected SCV holder is a New Zealand citizen who was not in Australia on the 26 February 2001, or for 12 months in the 2 years immediately prior to this date nor assessed as 'protected' before 26 February 2004. A person under this category does not meet the definition of an Australian resident for social security purposes.

A non-protected SCV holder can claim family assistance payments (e.g. Family Tax Benefit (FTB) and Child Care Subsidy (CCS)), Parental Leave Pay (PPL), Dad and Partner Pay (DAP), Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC), Foster Child Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card (LIC) and emergency and disaster payments.

A non-protected SCV holder can access a one off payment of JobSeeker Payment (JSP), or Youth Allowance (YA) where they have lived in Australia continuously for a period of at least 10 years immediately before claiming under the New Zealand 10 year residence exemption.

From 1 July 2017, an additional pathway to permanent residence was introduced for New Zealand citizens who arrived in Australia after 26 February 2001, and on or before 19 February 2016. Allowing them to claim a permanent skilled migrant visa (subclass 189). The New Zealand stream of this visa closed to new applicants on 1 July 2023.

From 1 July 2023 a new pathway to Australian citizenship was introduced for non-protected SCV holders. The new pathway allows eligible people to apply for Australian citizenship without needing to be granted a permanent visa first.

The Department of Home Affairs is responsible for assessing whether an individual meets the criteria for a permanent visa or Australian citizenship. These individuals should go to the Department of Home Affairs to test their eligibility and submit an application.

Once granted a permanent visa or Australian citizenship a customer is eligible to claim social security payments. A permanent visa holder is subject to the NARWP. An Australian citizen has an exemption from NARWP. Both must meet the qualifying residence period for applicable payments.

Innocent Illegal Immigrants are people who became illegal immigrants (unlawful non-citizens) because of the actions of another person (usually a parent) and do not now reside with the family unit with which they first entered Australia.

They were granted a permanent visa when they turn 18 years of age. Visa subclasses were 832 and 833.

Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period (NARWP) did not apply until 1 January 2016. A holder, or former holder, of a subclass 832 or 833 had a qualifying residence exemption for all payments and cards except Age Pension and Disability Support Pension until 1 January 2016.

Because the waiting period did not apply to innocent illegals before 1 January 2016 and they could get a primary benefit, they were not offered Special Benefit.

A student visa does not give permanent residence for the holder and therefore the holder is not entitled to any income support payments.

The visa subclasses available to students are 500 and 590. These replace the previous pre-2016 subclasses for students which ranged from 570-576 and 580.

Where the student is in receipt of an Australian scholarship funded directly from the Australian government, they or their partner may qualify for Child Care Subsidy (CCS). This scholarship must be verified.

To be granted a Special Purpose visa a person must have a 'prescribed status'. A person cannot apply for a Special Purpose visa.

Reasons for a grant of a Special Purpose visa include but are not limited to a person being:

• a member of certain foreign armed forces
• on board a ship of a foreign armed forces
• an airline, or airline positioning crew member (generally subclass 942)
• the accompanying spouse or dependant of an eligible person with a prescribed status (in some cases)
• a person or group of persons who are granted the visa for a particular reason (for example they are not Australian citizens, do not qualify for another visa, but are granted the visa to allow them to be in Australia legally)

Depending on the 'prescribed status', the visa allows a holder to:

• enter and stay in Australia temporarily while holding the status (unless the visa is ceased for another reason)
• depart Australia as many times as they want as long as they hold the status
• undertake regular work while in Australia as part of military duties
• arrive as an airline crew member or join a flight as a member of a crew

A Special Purpose visa may not have a subclass.

A person holding a Special Purpose visa is not entitled to social security payments, family assistance payments or concession cards.