Information for Ukrainian nationals who accepted the offer of temporary humanitarian stay before 31 July 2022

​​​​​​Following t​​​he grant of a subclass 786 visa

The subclass 786 visa will be granted for a three year period. During this time, you can work, study and access Medicare, Special Benefits and you will have full work rights. You may also be eligible for free English language tuition under the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP). For program or eligibility information see About the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP).

You will need to enrol in Medicare to receive access. We will provide details about enrolment in the 786 visa grant notification letter.

Ukrainian school students on the subclass 786 visa may be enrolled in their local school. They will attract Commonwealth school funding on the same basis as other Australian students.

Ukrainian nationals on subclass 786 visas may be eligible to receive a subsidy towards childcare expenses. The percentage of subsidy a family is entitled to is based on combined annual family income and their activity levels. For more information, visit Services Australia.​

Additionally, you will be eligible to access settlement support under the Government funded Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP). This is delivered through contracted service providers in each State/Territory​.

Ukrainian nationals holding a subclass 600, 449 or 786 visa who request settlement assistance should contact the HSP service provider in their State/Territory in the first instance. See the list of HSP contacts for each region in the table below. Please be assured that if you access HSP services, this will not have any impact on your current visa status or future visa applications.​​

Services available include:

• Airport reception, essential items and clothing where required and an initial food package
• Package of basic household goods
• Short-term accommodation, property induction and information on how to contact emergency services
• Support to enter into a lease
• Registrations for essential services such as Medicare, income support and opening a bank account if required
• Assistance with school enrolment
• Assistance to enter into long term accommodation
• Referrals to support services including health and family support services where the visa held entitles access to these services
• Recognition of pre-arrival skills and qualifications – where applicable
• Case Management Plans
• Employment support including establishing a business
• Registration for English language learning (for subclass 449 and 786 visa holders).​​​

HSP service providers are also expected to deliver any relevant settlement orientation content.

General settlement information is also available on the MyAus App.​ You can get this for free through the Apple Store and Google Play. It assist migrants and the broader community with systems and services in Australia. The App is now available in Ukrainian.

Employment Assistance

• Subclass 786 visas provide full work rights. HSP services may include employment orientation. This includes information about:
  • Australia’s competitive job market
  • jobs being awarded on merit
  • different pathways to jobs, and
  • employment services to assist in finding work or planning new careers or business enterprises. They can also assist with developing a job resume and completing job applications.
• As Ukrainian nationals holding a subclass 786 visa can access full HSP services, they can receive support to implement employment strategies and support services for establishing a business.

Departing Australia

Subclass 786 visa holders who wish to depart and re-enter Australia while maintaining their temporary humanitarian stay visa, can submit a request to the Department. Permission to depart and re-enter Australia may be approved in limited situations, where compelling and compassionate circumstances exist.

The travel request must detail the compelling and compassionate circumstances. Supporting evidence must also be provided. Travel requests containing all relevant information can be sent via email to ukraine.humanitarian@homeaffairs.gov.au. This mailbox is monitored for travel requests only.

Ukrainian nationals, who hold a subclass 786 visa, that do not have permission to re-enter Australia, can still depart Australia if they want to. However, the subclass 786 visas will cease upon departure. To re-enter Australia, Ukrainian nationals will need to apply for another visa. In these circumstances it will also not be possible to apply for or be granted a ​​subclass 786 visa. For information on other visa options, see Explore visa options.

Applying for another visa

Ukrainian subclass 786 visa holders who wish to apply for a further visa to remain in Australia can now do so.

We may lift the bar preventing lodgement of any further visa applications while they remain in Australia. This is in cases where exceptional circumstances exist. Exceptional circumstances may include, but are not limited to:

• where an individual can show that by applying for and being granted another visa they are contributing to the Australian economy or society, or
• that the visa they are proposing to apply for will ensure that they can maintain a family unity where Australian citizens are involved.

If you intend to apply for a further visa to remain in Australia and want to request an application bar lift, contact the relevant visa processing area via our website at Online forms. You must provide relevant information relating to your exceptional circumstances.

You had a baby

If you have had a child you must tell us as soon as possible.

Find more information at You had a baby.