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ART Protection Visa Review 2026: Evidence, Hearings, Fees and Country Information
The Administrative Review Tribunal can review many decisions to refuse or cancel a Protection visa. A protection review is a merits review: the Tribunal can reconsider the evidence, claims and applicable law within its jurisdiction.
Strict time limits
ART states that strict statutory time limits apply and that it has no power to extend the migration or protection review deadline. The Department's decision letter should be checked immediately to identify the exact review right and deadline.
Official review information: ART — Immigration and citizenship.
Protection review fees
For most reviews of a Protection visa refusal or cancellation, ART does not require a fee when the application is lodged. If the review is unsuccessful, the current 2026 fee is generally $2,293 after invoicing, subject to the detailed fee rules and exceptions.
Evidence and country information
Applicants can provide documents and information during the review. Protection cases often involve personal evidence, corroborative documents, identity material and country information. The weight and relevance of each item depend on the issues in dispute and the applicable statutory test.
Will there be a hearing?
Most protection reviews can involve Tribunal case management and a hearing before a member, although ART has powers to decide some matters without a hearing in circumstances allowed by law. Applicants should follow Tribunal directions and the current Migration, Protection and Character Practice Direction.
Current procedural source: ART Migration, Protection and Character Practice Direction 2026.
Current processing data
For protection reviews finalised between 1 February and 31 July 2026, ART reported that 50% were finalised within 2 years and 2 months and 95% within 5 years and 1 month. These are historical statistics rather than a prediction for an individual review.
See our general ART Migration and Protection Review 2026 guide.
For court review after a legally affected decision, see Migration Judicial Review Australia 2026.
