Domestic and Family Violence Support for Visa Holders in Australia

Domestic and family violence (DFV) is a crime in Australia and is never acceptable. If you are a visa holder experiencing DFV, support is available to you regardless of your visa status, including if you are a secondary applicant, and regardless of the visa status or citizenship of the person causing harm.

If there is a threat to your life or you are at immediate risk of harm, please call 000 now.

You should not remain in a violent or abusive relationship because of a visa outcome. Your safety, and the safety of your children, matters more than any application.

Your visa is safer than you may have been told. People who use violence or control sometimes misrepresent a partner's visa status to make threats. Only the Department of Home Affairs or the Minister can cancel a visa, and cancellation is never automatic. If you're experiencing DFV, you can inform the Department to get guidance specific to your circumstances. If you applied for a permanent visa as a family member, you may still be granted a visa under the Family Violence Provisions, even if you leave the relationship.

A few practical steps that help: keep your contact details current with the Department, have your own ImmiAccount that only you can access, and check your visa status anytime through VEVO. Only a registered migration agent or legal practitioner can give immigration advice — Legal Aid, Community Legal Centres, or Women's Legal Services are good starting points for free legal advice.

Where to get support If you're in immediate danger, call 000.

• 1800RESPECT — free, confidential support 24/7. Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or chat at 1800respect.org.au. An interpreter is available.

• Department of Home Affairs family violence support — visa-specific guidance in 16 languages at homeaffairs.gov.au/familyviolence, including access to a Visa Support Officer.

• Leaving Violence Program — up to $5,000 in financial support, risk assessments, and referrals, regardless of visa status, gender, or sexuality. leavingviolenceprogram.org.au.

• MyAUS App — settlement information in 20 languages, on iOS and Android.

• Return and Reintegration Assistance Program (RRAP) — Homeward (assistedreturns.com.au) and IRARA (irara.org/australia) for support returning home.

You don't have to figure this out alone. If you have questions about how a change in your relationship might affect your visa, our team at Cornerstone Consulting is here to listen and help you understand your options, in confidence and at your own pace.