Protection visa backlog and growing impact of temporary migrants
Australia’s protection visa system continues to face significant pressure, and international students are a major driver of the surge in claims and processing delays.
As of 31 July 2025:
- 98,979 people had their protection visas refused but remained in Australia.
- 27,100 applicants were still awaiting an initial decision.
Home Affairs data confirms a clear trend: an increasing number of student visa holders are turning to Australia’s asylum system, adding to a backlog that is already years long.
Application and grant snapshot
| Category | Metric | Figure |
| 2024–25 Financial Year | Applications lodged | 23,576 |
| Visas granted | 4,045 | |
| 2023–24 Financial Year | Applications lodged | 27,229 |
| Visas granted | 3,250 | |
| Current pipeline (as of September 2025) | Total applications on hand | 15,566 |
| Onshore permanent protection visa applications (subset of total) | 2,228 | |
| People awaiting a decision on their claim | 27,211 | |
| Refusals (2024–25) | Protection visas refused | 24,924 |
| Refused applicants still in Australia (including those seeking review) | 98,310 |
In total, some 98,310 refused applicants remain in Australia, including those pursuing review avenues.
From the numbers it is clear, and as the Department reports, an overall refusal rate above 85%, with some nationalities facing significantly higher refusal outcomes.
The surge in applications means decisions can take years. As of May, the ART queue sat at 42,759 cases, with estimates of around 51,000 people who have exhausted appeals and remain unlawfully in Australia.
Where the claims are coming from
A growing share of protection visa applications now come from:
– International students
– PALM visa workers (Pacific Australia Labour Mobility)
– Visitor visa holders
Should temporary visa holders be allowed to apply for protection while onshore?
The Canadian government has also moved to tighten its own protection system. Under its border and immigration reform package, asylum claims would become ineligible for a full IRB (Immigration and Refugee Board) hearing if the claimant entered Canada after June 24, 2020 and files their claim more than one year after arrival.
In addition, individuals who cross into Canada between ports of entry from (the United States) and wait more than 14 days before lodging their claim would also be deemed ineligible. While the proposals are not yet law, they demonstrate that other major destination countries are facing the same pressures and are looking for ways to discourage the use of asylum systems as a pathway to extend temporary stays.
It’s a debate that should now sit at the centre of Australia’s migration integrity and border management conversation.
#AustraliaMigration #ProtectionVisas #MigrationIntegrity #StudentVisas #InternationalStudents #HomeAffairs #VisaProcessing #Edtech #Educli
Application and grant snapshot
2024–25 Financial Year
- Applications lodged: 23,576
- Visas granted: 4,045
2023–24 Financial Year
- Applications lodged: 27,229
- Visas granted: 3,250
Current pipeline (as of September 2025):
- Total applications on hand: 15,566
- Onshore permanent protection visa applications: 2,228 (subset of the 15,566 total)
- People awaiting a decision: 27,211
Refusals (2024–25):
- 24,924 refused
- 98,310 refused applicants remain in Australia, including those pursuing review avenues
The Department reports an overall refusal rate above 85%, with some nationalities facing significantly higher refusal outcomes.
#AustraliaMigration hashtag#ProtectionVisas hashtag#MigrationIntegrity hashtag#StudentVisas hashtag#InternationalStudents hashtag#HomeAffairs hashtag#VisaProcessing hashtag#Edtech hashtag#Educli