Ministerial Intervention

When standard avenues are exhausted

Who this pathway is for

• Applicants who have received a final decision from the ART (or previously the AAT) against them.
• Cases involving exceptional or compassionate circumstances.
• Long-term Australian residents facing removal.
• Families facing separation as a result of a visa decision.
• People whose earlier Ministerial Intervention request was finalised without referral, who want to make a new request under the current criteria.

Important updates you should know

• New Ministerial Instructions took effect in September 2025 (with an amendment later that month), replacing the previous 2016 guidelines these now govern exactly which requests get referred to the Minister.
• The Minister also issued Personal Procedural Decisions in September 2025 affecting many older and pending requests some historic requests lodged before April 2023 have already been finalised by the Department rather than referred to the Minister, unless specifically listed for continued consideration.
• You must remain a lawful non-citizen (hold a valid visa) for your entire request to be considered if you become unlawful and could have applied for a bridging visa but didn't, your request will be finalised without ever reaching the Minister.
• Making a request does not pause or prevent removal action the Department is still required to remove anyone liable for removal as soon as reasonably practicable, unless the Minister has personally decided to consider the case.
• If you leave Australia without a valid return visa while your request is still pending, it will generally be finalised without referral to the Minister.
• Requests can be lodged online via the "Contact the Minister" form or by post, and must clearly specify which power you're relying on, your tribunal decision, and which referral criteria apply to you supporting documents should be certified copies, with NAATI accredited translations for anything not in English.