Iranian refugees waiting years to receive asylum in Australia

A handful of Iranian women this week accepted the government's offer to take refuge in Australia, but scores more people have been waiting years to be granted asylum.

The members of Iran's female football team were granted protection visas after their refusal to sing the national anthem before a match sparked fears for their safety if they were to return home.

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Meanwhile, Nader, whose name has been changed due to fears for his and his family's safety, is yet to receive a decision on the protection visa application he lodged three years ago.

He was forced to flee Iran over threats to his life.

"'We will find you, and we will kill you'," Nader said he was told during one run-in with the Islamic regime.

Nader has been living in Australia under a bridging visa, which is subject to a number of conditions.

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'What about us?'

Nader applauded the courage of the Iranian women who defected this week, but said it prompted him to question whether he, too, would ever be granted asylum.

"I've been in that situation and I know that [the Iranian footballers] are brave, and it takes courage to seek asylum and leave everything behind," he said.

"But we're still thinking, what about us? Is anyone hearing our voice, or just the footballers because they're famous?"

Nader said he was grateful for the opportunities and safety he had found in Australia, but said the wait for a decision on his visa application had started to feel like a "punishment".

"I'm always trying to move forward and plan for my future … but I cannot fully do that.

"[Being granted asylum] would mean peace for me … I would feel I can engage in the community more and plan more for my future and rebuild my life in Australia."

Protection (subclass 866) visas allow refugees to live and work in Australia permanently, with more than 24,000 applications lodged in 2024-25.

Of the 4,000 applicants who were approved in 2024-25, 462 were of Iranian citizenship.

The Department of Home Affairs was contacted for comment.

Community distressed

Asylum Seeker Centre CEO Elijah Buol said the Sydney not-for-profit provided support to more than 100 Iranian immigrants stuck in visa limbo.

"We have received reports of distress and uncertainty among the community members who we support, not only because they are navigating a confusing and punitive system that leaves them trapped in limbo for years, but also because they are deeply worried about the safety of their family members back in Iran," he said.

Mr Buol said the Iranian footballers being granted asylum had been bittersweet.

"While granting visas to the footballers is a positive and a sign of putting compassion into action by Australian government … it also underscores that protection is often contingent on visibility or media attention," he said.

"Many people who we support from the Iranian community seeking asylum, they are now calling us and saying, 'Do I need to go to the media so that I can get a visa?'

"I call upon all Australians and the government to really provide safety to those people who have been trapped in limbo for many years because living in constant uncertainty is damaging the opportunity for them to live their lives and contribute to Australia," Mr Buol said.

A complex process

The median processing time for a decision on a protection (subclass 866) visa in 2024-25 was 189 days, down significantly from the five-year peak of 739 days in 2021-22.

But Refugee Council of Australia advocacy coordinator Graham Thom said that did not account for the additional time it took for rejected applicants to contest decisions.

"If you're rejected you then can appeal to the tribunal, and that can still take a number of years," he said.

"We've seen [cases] in the past take 10 years to go through the process."

Dr Thom said some in the Iranian community have questioned why they have been on the visa waitlist for years, while the women granted asylum this week appeared to go through the process within a matter of days.

"There are people from Iran who are sort of saying … 'Why can you do this so quickly, for one group who are clearly fleeing the same regime that we're fleeing from, who clearly face the same level of persecution we will face?'" he said.

Dr Thom said there were concerns amendments passed this week to the Migration Bill would further complicate the process of being granted asylum from places like Iran.

The amended legislation allows the government to stop some people from nominated countries entering Australia for up to six months if they were on a temporary visa.

Assistant Minister for Citizenship Julian Hill said the changes would protect the "integrity and sustainability" of Australia's immigration system.

"The current situation in the Middle East demonstrates how quickly circumstances can change. That may impact whether those temporary visa holders could fulfil that temporary purpose in Australia, including whether they would leave Australia," he told parliament.

Those holding a temporary protection, refugee or humanitarian visa would still be allowed to travel to Australia.

It would not affect anyone already in Australia before the determination was made.

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