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Administrative Review Tribunal (ART)
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Administrative Review Tribunal (ART)
Independent review of visa and citizenship decisions
The ART is an independent body that reviews certain immigration and citizenship decisions made by the Department or the Minister, including visa refusals, visa cancellations, and citizenship refusals.
Merits review (a fresh look at your case)
The Tribunal reassesses the facts, evidence, and relevant law to determine the correct and preferable decision, rather than simply checking for errors.
Who can apply
Only decisions that are reviewable under migration law can be taken to the ART. Eligibility depends on the type of decision and the applicant’s circumstances.
How the process works
After an application is lodged, the ART may request additional information, review documents from all parties, and conduct a conference or hearing if required.
Possible outcomes
The ART can confirm the original decision, change it, set it aside and make a new decision, or send it back for reconsideration.
Support and guidance
Applicants can access ART resources to understand the process, prepare evidence, and know what to expect at a hearing.
Administrative Review Tribunal (ART)
The decision must be one the ART is legally allowed to review. Not all government decisions are reviewable. Your decision letter should state whether the decision is reviewable.
You must be the person or entity whose interests are affected by the decision. In migration matters, this is commonly the visa applicant, and in some cases may include the sponsor or nominator (depending on the decision type).
You must lodge within the timeframe stated in the decision letter. Time limits are strict and vary by decision type. Common examples include:
• 28 days (many migration/visa decisions)
• as little as 7 days (some character-related matters)
• 14 days (some matters involving immigration detention)
If you miss the deadline, the ART may not accept the application. Extensions are uncommon in migration-related matters.
You must lodge a complete application (online or by an accepted written method) in the required form.
A fee generally applies. A commonly referenced fee for many migration-related reviews is AUD $3,580, with possible concessions for financial hardship.
You should provide the decision details (and ideally the decision letter), your identifying information, and the grounds/reasons you are seeking review.
Depending on the case type: visa refusals/cancellations, sponsorship or nomination refusals, bridging visa decisions, and some citizenship decisions.
Decisions that the ART has no power to review, including certain decisions made personally by the relevant Minister.
The Department’s decision letter should specify whether ART review is available and the exact deadline to lodge.
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The Knowbal Visa Application Process
Frequently Asked Questions
The ART can review certain decisions made under the Migration Act 1958 to refuse or cancel visas (and some visa-related decisions). Whether your decision is reviewable depends on the law and your specific decision type.
Your Department of Home Affairs decision letter will state whether the decision is reviewable and who is entitled to apply. If the letter doesn’t clearly confirm review rights, get help quickly because time limits are strict.
The ART generally cannot review:
- a visa cancellation decision made personally by the Minister, or
- a decision if you’re not entitled to apply.
Also, the ART’s process differs for protection (refugee) matters, character-related decisions, and some business visa cancellations (these aren’t covered by the general information you shared).
Applying online is usually the easiest and safest option. It also lets you upload documents during the review, receive confirmations, and access what you’ve already submitted.
Yes. If you can’t apply online, you can apply using the relevant paper form (for example, different forms may apply depending on detention status or specific bridging visa condition matters) or apply by written request.
Ideally, include a copy of the Home Affairs decision letter. If you don’t have it, you must provide enough identifying information and decision details (such as your name, contact details, decision date/description, and passport or identity details) so the ART can treat the application as valid.
What if I’m applying for someone else’s visa decision?
If the decision is about a visa applicant and you are not the visa applicant, you’ll need to include the visa applicant’s details (name, contact details, and identity details such as passport information) as part of the application.
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