Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (subclass 790)

Temporary Protection for Asylum Seekers Willing to Work or Study in Regional Australia

The Subclass 790 Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) is a five-year temporary visa for individuals who arrived in Australia without a valid visa and seek protection due to persecution or significant harm in their home country. It encourages asylum seekers to contribute to regional communities through work or study and may offer a pathway to permanent residency.

Key Benefits

• Stay in Australia for 5 Years
  Live, work, and study temporarily in Australia
• Access to Government Services
  Includes Medicare, Centrelink, and settlement support
• Work and Study Rights
  Full access to employment and education opportunities.
• Pathway to Permanent Residency
  Eligible SHEV holders may apply for permanent visas (e.g., Subclass 851) after meeting specific regional work/study requirements
• Family Inclusion
  You may include family members in your application.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for Subclass 790, you must meet the following:

General Requirements

• Be in Australia and have arrived without a valid visa.
• Engage Australia’s protection obligations as a refugee or under complementary protection
• Meet health, character, identity, and security
• Sign a declaration that you intend to work or study in regional Australia

SHEV Pathway to Permanent Residency

You may be eligible to apply for a permanent visa if you:

• Work without receiving Special Benefit payments, and/or
• Study full-time in a SHEV regional area for 42 months (3.5 years) during your visa period

Note: The 42 months do not need to be continuous and can be accumulated over time.

Eligible permanent visas include:

• Skilled visas (e.g., Subclass 189, 190, 491)
• Employer-sponsored visas (e.g., Subclass 186, 494)
• Family visas (e.g., Subclass 801, 820)
• Resolution of Status Visa (Subclass 851)

Visa Conditions

• Temporary Stay
  Valid for 5 years from the date of grant
• Travel Restrictions
  You must not travel to the country from which you sought protection without written approval from the Minister
• Apply for Subsequent Visa Before Expiry
  You must apply for a new SHEV or TPV before your current visa expires
• No Automatic PR
  Meeting SHEV pathway requirements does not guarantee permanent residency — you must apply and meet criteria for the chosen visa

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)