A new legislative instrument—LIN 25/121 Migration (Arrangements for Protection, Refugee and Humanitarian Visas) Amendment (Expanding Internet Lodgement) Instrument 2025—took effect on 29 November, making internet lodgement via ImmiAccount the default pathway for Class XB (Refugee and Special Humanitarian) visa applications.
The reform extends the department’s digital-first strategy, allowing applicants and their proposers to submit Forms 842 and 681 electronically, upload supporting evidence and pay fees in a single transaction. Paper lodgement remains possible only in limited hardship scenarios.
![Refugee and Humanitarian Applicants Can Now File Class XB Visas Entirely Online]()
For mobility programmes run by NGOs, corporate-sponsored community projects and relatives acting as proposers, the change promises faster application receipts, clearer document tracking and reduced courier costs. However, migration agents caution that system outages—such as the 15-hour maintenance window scheduled this weekend—could leave applicants unable to meet statutory time limits if contingency plans are not in place.
The digital shift also aligns Australia with comparable e-lodgement systems in Canada and New Zealand, underscoring a regional trend toward contact-less visa workflows. The Department of Home Affairs says the measure will free up staff for complex casework and improve transparency through real-time status updates.
Stakeholders have welcomed the move but are pressing for multilingual support and disability-accessible interfaces, warning that vulnerable applicants may still need assisted-digital channels to avoid exclusion.
The reform extends the department’s digital-first strategy, allowing applicants and their proposers to submit Forms 842 and 681 electronically, upload supporting evidence and pay fees in a single transaction. Paper lodgement remains possible only in limited hardship scenarios.
For mobility programmes run by NGOs, corporate-sponsored community projects and relatives acting as proposers, the change promises faster application receipts, clearer document tracking and reduced courier costs. However, migration agents caution that system outages—such as the 15-hour maintenance window scheduled this weekend—could leave applicants unable to meet statutory time limits if contingency plans are not in place.
The digital shift also aligns Australia with comparable e-lodgement systems in Canada and New Zealand, underscoring a regional trend toward contact-less visa workflows. The Department of Home Affairs says the measure will free up staff for complex casework and improve transparency through real-time status updates.
Stakeholders have welcomed the move but are pressing for multilingual support and disability-accessible interfaces, warning that vulnerable applicants may still need assisted-digital channels to avoid exclusion.
