Can I get my SHEV application fee back if my visa is refused in 2026?
No. According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs official page for the Safe Haven Enterprise visa (subclass 790), as of the August 2026 version of that page, "We will not refund the application fee if we refuse your application." The charge is payment for the Department assessing your protection claims, not a deposit that returns when the answer is negative. This article is general information only and is not personalised advice about your case; the outcome for any individual depends on their own circumstances and on the official information current at the time.
When is the SHEV application fee paid?
Protection visa applications for this subclass are lodged online through ImmiAccount, and payment happens as part of that lodgement. The official page states plainly that the Department will not process the application until the fee is paid. You then keep a record of the Transaction Reference Number (TRN) so the payment can be traced to your file.
That sequencing matters for the refund question: the fee is what puts the application into the assessment queue. Once the Department has considered your claims, issued a written decision and given reasons, the work the charge paid for has already been done — whether the answer is a grant or a refusal.
Is there any situation where no fee is payable?
Yes, one, and it is narrow. The official page notes that if you are in immigration detention when you apply for this visa and have not been immigration cleared, you do not have to pay the application fee.
In that scenario there is nothing to refund later, because no payment was made to begin with. Any applicant outside that specific circumstance should expect to pay to have the application processed.
What else does the refusal letter tell you?
The refusal notification letter does two jobs. It explains why the visa was refused, and it sets out your review right with the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), including the timeframes to apply for review.
The same section of the official page also flags what follows once the matter is final. If the application has been finally determined, you do not engage Australia's protection obligations, and you do not hold another visa, you have no lawful right to stay in Australia; you would need to return to your home country or another country where you have a right of entry, and if you become unlawful and do not depart voluntarily, steps may be taken to remove you. If your SHEV is refused or later cancelled and you have exhausted all appeal rights, you can ask the Minister for Home Affairs to intervene — but the Minister does not have to consider the request.
Does asking the ART to review the refusal change the fee position?
It changes the status of the decision, not the payment. The official page ties its refund statement to the refusal decision itself and makes no provision for the fee to be returned because a review is on foot. Review is the mechanism for testing whether the refusal was correctly made; it is not a route to recovering the charge.
| Situation | What the official page says about the fee |
|---|---|
| Application refused | The application fee is not refunded |
| Refused and review sought at the ART | No refund provision is stated; review does not reopen the payment |
| Applied while in immigration detention and not immigration cleared | No application fee is payable at all |
| Withdrawn before a decision | No refund statement is given for withdrawal; see below |
What if I withdraw instead of waiting for a refusal?
You may withdraw the application in writing at any time before a decision is made, giving your full name, date of birth and details of the application; any additional applicants aged 18 or over must sign the withdrawal or send their own.
The official page's refund statement covers refusal, and it does not say that withdrawing produces a refund. Withdrawal also carries consequences of its own that are worth weighing: if you hold a bridging visa and withdraw before a decision, that bridging visa expires 35 days after the withdrawal, and you may be prevented from applying for a SHEV or a Temporary Protection visa later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Safe Haven Enterprise visa application fee refunded if my visa is refused?
No. The Department of Home Affairs official page for subclass 790 states that the application fee will not be refunded if the application is refused. The fee pays for the assessment of your claims, and that assessment is complete once a decision with reasons is issued.
Do I get my money back if I withdraw my SHEV application before a decision?
The official page does not say that withdrawal leads to a refund; its refund statement is specifically about refusal. Withdrawal also has other effects, including the expiry of a bridging visa 35 days later and possible restrictions on applying for a SHEV or TPV again.
Is there any case where no SHEV application fee has to be paid?
Yes. If you are in immigration detention when you apply and have not been immigration cleared, the official page says you do not have to pay the application fee. Otherwise, the Department will not process the application until the fee is paid.
What information comes with a SHEV refusal letter?
The refusal notification letter tells you why the visa was refused and sets out your review right with the Administrative Review Tribunal, including the timeframes for applying. It is the document that defines both the reasons against you and the deadline for challenging them.
If my SHEV is refused, do I have to leave Australia immediately?
The official page links departure consequences to the application being finally determined, not to the refusal itself. Once finally determined, if you do not engage Australia's protection obligations and hold no other visa, you have no lawful right to stay and would need to return to your home country or another country where you have a right of entry.
Can I ask the Minister to intervene after a SHEV refusal?
Yes, you can ask the Minister for Home Affairs to intervene in your case once you have exhausted all appeal rights. The official page is explicit that the Minister does not have to consider the request, so it is not a guarantee of any further assessment.