The current escalation of war in Iran has meant that both Iranian citizens and refugees from the region residing in Iran face further displacement and uncertainty.
The Australian Government is working to find solutions for the thousands of Australian citizens and permanent residents who have registered to leave Iran and Israel and are unable to travel due to the flight restrictions.
We have written to Immigration Minister Tony Burke and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong regarding the urgent need to find solutions for refugees who’ve already been granted Australian Humanitarian XB sub-class visas but are unable to depart Iran because of the recent and substantial escalation of conflict.
Iran features regularly in the top three countries of Australian Humanitarian visas granted, with over 1,600 granted in 2023-24.
The following links provide resources for Australians and refugees seeking to flee the conflict, as well as people in Australia impacted by the crisis.
Advice about exiting Iran and visas to Australia
Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has an information page about exiting Gaza and applying for a visa to Australia. This is not legal advice, and those seeking a visa to Australia should consult a lawyer, with refugee community legal centres listed below.
Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members in Iran or Israel should register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) Crisis Portal.
Legal advice
A number of specialist refugee legal clinics are providing specialist advice for people who have fled the Iran/Israel conflict. We recommend that you contact a specialist refugee law service that has expertise in refugee law.
You can find a specialist legal service in your state here.
Factsheets:
- Refugee Advice and Casework Services have put together a factsheet for those attempting to leave Iran or support family members in their evacuation.
More support and services
Those living in Australia and affected by the crisis in Iran can use STARTTS’s Witness to War multilingual phone hotline for advice on services, mental health support and more.