I arrived in Australia and I wish to claim asylum. Can UNHCR assist me?

The Government of Australia is a Contracting State to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol and has asylum systems in place to determine whether persons claiming asylum are refugees. UNHCR is not formally involved in determining whether a person is a refugee in Australia.

If you are in Australia and wish to claim asylum in Australia, you must approach the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP). Further information is available from DIBP’s website.

To assist you in making a visa application, you may find it useful to seek the assistance of a lawyer or a migration agent.

There is a directory of registered migration agents in Australia that may be accessed from the Australian Migration Agents Registration Authority.

I have applied for refugee status in Australia but my claim has not been successful. Can UNHCR assist me?

The Government of Australia has asylum systems to determine whether persons claiming asylum are refugees. These systems provide avenues for review and appeal. UNHCR is not formally involved in determining whether a person is a refugee in Australia. UNHCR does not review individual cases.

To assist you in the appeal process, you may find it useful to seek the assistance of a lawyer or a migration agent.