Do I Need a New Application for the Resolution of Status Visa in 2026?
If you applied for an initial Temporary Protection visa (subclass 785) or Safe Haven Enterprise visa (subclass 790) before 14 February 2023 — or you held one of those visas and lodged a subsequent TPV or SHEV before that same date — you do not need to lodge anything new. The Australian Department of Home Affairs handles your case without a second application. If neither situation describes you, and you currently hold a TPV or SHEV, you must lodge the Resolution of Status (Subclass 851) yourself, online, through ImmiAccount. This follows the Department's official Resolution of Status (Subclass 851) visa page, as at August 2026.
Which TPV and SHEV holders do not apply at all?
Two situations remove the need for a new application. The practical test is 14 February 2023, and the second question is whether the application you had lodged was your first TPV or SHEV or a later one.
| Your situation before 14 February 2023 | Do you lodge a new Subclass 851? | What the Department does |
|---|---|---|
| You lodged an initial TPV or SHEV application | No | If it finds you meet the criteria for the TPV or SHEV, it converts that application to a RoS visa application and notifies you if a RoS visa is granted |
| You held a TPV or SHEV and lodged a subsequent TPV or SHEV | No | It has already converted that application, and notifies you if a RoS visa has been granted |
| You held a TPV or SHEV but had no TPV or SHEV application lodged | Yes | You apply online via ImmiAccount before your current TPV or SHEV ceases to be lawful |
The wording of the first two rows differs in a way that matters. An initial application is your first TPV or SHEV application; a subsequent application is a later TPV or SHEV lodged while you already held one. For the initial group, conversion follows only once the Department is satisfied you meet the criteria for the underlying TPV or SHEV. For the subsequent group, the Department describes the conversion as already done. Either way, the outcome arrives by notification rather than by you filing anything.
Who has to lodge their own Subclass 851?
Current TPV and SHEV holders who had not put in a subsequent TPV or SHEV application before 14 February 2023 lodge their own RoS visa. Before filing, three baseline conditions apply, drawn from the eligibility section of the same Department page:
- You must be a holder or former holder of a Temporary Protection visa (subclass 785) or a Safe Haven Enterprise visa (subclass 790).
- You must have first arrived in Australia before 14 February 2023.
- The Department must not have cancelled that visa.
You also need to be in Australia at the moment you apply, since the visa cannot be applied for from outside the country. Standard health, character and security requirements apply, anyone aged 18 or over must sign the Australian Values Statement, and you may be asked for further identity information — in some cases including biometrics, or an interview.
Is there anyone who cannot apply even if they want to?
Yes. If the Department cancelled your most recent TPV or SHEV, or your TPV or SHEV application was refused and finally determined, you cannot make a valid RoS visa application. Separately, you cannot make a valid application while an application bar applies to you — this includes the section 46A bar affecting Unauthorised Maritime Arrivals — but the online RoS form itself carries notification of that bar being lifted, which is why the Department directs applicants to the online route.
How do you lodge it, and what does it cost?
File online through ImmiAccount: create or log in to an ImmiAccount, attach documents if they are requested, and keep the Transaction reference number. A paper form is available only in limited circumstances, mainly where ImmiAccount has a verified systems issue, and only where the Department has authorised it.
There is no cost. The page states there is no visa application charge for the RoS visa. The Department also states that it charges no fee to fast-track a visa, and treats offers of paid fast-tracking as scams.
You generally do not need to resend claims, information or documents you already supplied with a previous TPV or SHEV application. Do not arrange police certificates unless and until the Department asks for them. If you lodge a valid application, the Department will extend your current TPV or SHEV until it decides the RoS visa, which is why lodging before your visa ceases is important.
What if my visa has already ceased?
Timing is the pressure point. Current TPV and SHEV holders must apply for a RoS visa before their TPV or SHEV ceases. The Department notes that where a person is already an unlawful non-citizen because their TPV or SHEV expired before 14 February 2023, an application for a RoS visa also operates as an application for a bridging visa. Because the effect of a late or borderline lodgement turns on individual facts — including whether you are currently unlawful — this article is general information only and is not personalised migration or legal advice; check your own position against the Department's published requirements or with a qualified professional, and treat the Department's current page as authoritative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to file a separate Subclass 851 if my first TPV application went in before 14 February 2023?
No. If the Department finds you meet the criteria for the TPV or SHEV, it converts that pending application into a RoS visa application. You will be notified if a RoS visa is granted, rather than needing to start a fresh one.
My subsequent TPV was lodged before February 2023. Has that already been handled?
Yes. The Department states it has already converted that application to a RoS visa application. No separate filing is required, and you wait to be notified of the grant decision.
I hold a SHEV but never lodged another application. What must I do?
You lodge the RoS visa yourself online via ImmiAccount. Critically, you must do it before your current SHEV ceases to be lawful; a valid application then extends your SHEV until the Department decides.
What is the difference between an initial and a subsequent TPV or SHEV application here?
An initial application is the first TPV or SHEV you ever lodged. A subsequent application is a later TPV or SHEV lodged when you already held one. Both count toward the automatic-conversion exemption if lodged before 14 February 2023.
Does applying for the RoS visa cost anything, and can I pay to speed it up?
There is no visa application charge for the RoS visa. The Department charges no fee to fast-track a visa and warns that offers of paid fast-tracking are scams.
Can I still apply if my last TPV was cancelled, or my SHEV application was refused and finally determined?
No, you cannot make a valid RoS visa application in those circumstances. The Department expects people whose claims were finally determined to depart, and may assist with departure.
Do I need to be inside Australia when I apply and when the visa is granted?
You must be in Australia when you apply. You must also be in Australia for the grant — if you are overseas when the RoS visa is ready to be granted, you will be contacted and asked to return within 28 days.
Should I re-send the documents I already gave the Department for my TPV or SHEV?
No. It is not necessary to supply claims, information or documents already provided with a previous TPV or SHEV application. Only provide extra material if the Department invites it.