Appeals & Reviews
Visa refused or cancelled? Understand your review options.
We help you examine the decision, check whether a review is available and prepare the right evidence for your next step.
Your Home Affairs decision notice should explain any review rights and timeframe. Migration review deadlines are strict and generally cannot be extended.
What happens after a visa refusal?
The Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) is an independent body that can review certain migration decisions made by the Department of Home Affairs. It replaced the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in October 2024.
In an eligible merits review, the ART examines the decision under the relevant law and considers the information it is permitted to use. The Tribunal—not the Department or your adviser—makes the review decision.
Visit the official ART websiteIndependent review
A fresh assessment of an eligible government decision.
Evidence matters
Information and submissions should address the specific reasons for refusal or cancellation.
No automatic result
A review can have different outcomes, depending on the law and facts.
Can your visa decision be reviewed?
Review rights are not the same for every visa or every applicant. Before paying a fee or preparing lengthy submissions, establish these three points from the decision notice and your circumstances.
Discuss your review optionsIs this decision reviewable?
The notification letter should state whether the ART can review it.
Who is entitled to apply?
The review applicant may be the visa applicant or another eligible person, depending on the decision.
What is the exact deadline?
The timeframe depends on the decision type and circumstances. The ART cannot extend a statutory migration review deadline.
Five practical steps
A clear process starts with the decision itself—not with a generic appeal letter.
- 01
Read the decision
Identify the refusal or cancellation grounds, the review applicant and the deadline in the Home Affairs notice.
- 02
Check review rights
Confirm whether the ART can review that decision and what is required for a valid application.
- 03
Lodge in time
Submit the correct application and pay the applicable fee within the statutory timeframe.
- 04
Prepare your case
Organise evidence and written submissions that respond directly to the decision reasons.
- 05
Respond to the ART
Follow requests for documents or a hearing and await the Tribunal’s written outcome.
Prepare a case that answers the refusal reasons.
More paperwork is not necessarily better. Start by identifying the concern raised by Home Affairs, then gather documents that help the Tribunal assess that concern.
Documents commonly worth checking
- Home Affairs decision record and notification letter
- Passport, identity details and relevant visa history
- Documents responding to the stated refusal grounds
- Study, employment, financial or relationship evidence where relevant
- Clear written submissions explaining the key facts and supporting documents
The relevant documents will differ from case to case. Follow any directions issued by the ART.
Review fees and financial hardship
The ART sets different fees for different decision types. Check the category before lodging, and remember that an adviser’s professional fees are separate from government charges.
The published migration-review amount below applies to most Part 5 migration decisions from 1 July 2026. Protection and character-related matters may have different fee rules.
Check current ART fees and payment rulesPublished fee effective 1 July 2026
Financial hardship?
A 50% fee reduction may be available when payment would cause hardship. The ART has specific application and payment deadlines; supporting financial evidence is required.
Clear advice before you decide what to do.
Think Higher’s registered migration team can examine the decision, identify evidence gaps and help prepare submissions and follow-up responses. We will also discuss other potential visa pathways where relevant.
What people ask after a refusal
Your notice and personal circumstances matter more than generic online timelines.
Can I ask the ART to review every visa refusal?
No. Whether a decision is reviewable, and who can apply, depends on the visa decision and the law. Check the review-rights information in your Home Affairs notification letter.
What if I have very little time left?
Check the exact lodgement deadline immediately. For migration reviews the ART cannot extend the statutory application time limit. Do not wait for every supporting document before checking how to lodge a valid review.
Will lodging a review automatically give me a bridging visa?
No. An ART review and your immigration status are separate matters. Whether you hold, can apply for, or can continue on a bridging visa depends on your particular circumstances and visa history.
Can I provide new evidence after the refusal?
In many merits reviews the ART can consider relevant additional evidence, subject to the law and the directions for your review. The documents should address the actual reasons for the decision.
Will I have to attend a hearing?
Not every case involves an oral hearing. The process can differ by review type and circumstances; the ART will advise you about the procedure for your case.
Can Think Higher guarantee an appeal result?
No. Outcomes are determined by the Tribunal and depend on the applicable law and evidence. A registered migration agent can help you understand the decision, prepare submissions and respond to procedural steps.