Community Support Program and Subclass 202 in 2026: Form 842 and APO proposals

Under the Community Support Program (CSP), an applicant for a Global Special Humanitarian visa (Subclass 202) is proposed by an Approved Proposing Organisation (APO), and the CSP pathway requires both Form 842 Application for an Offshore Humanitarian Visa and a proposal form specific to APOs, rather than the ImmiAccount proposal used in other cases. This follows the Australian Department of Home Affairs official page for the Global Special Humanitarian visa (Subclass 202), as of the official page in October 2026, together with the Migration Regulations 1994 criteria for Subclass 202. This article is general reference only and does not give personalised advice or act as legal representation, so any individual matter should be checked against the Department's current published information or by a qualified professional.

How is the CSP proposal route different from a standard Subclass 202 proposal?

Outside the CSP, your proposer must use ImmiAccount to submit a proposal and then give you the transaction reference number (TRN). You then apply online, and the application must be lodged within 60 days of the proposal; after 60 days the proposal expires and the proposer must submit a new proposal and you must use the new TRN. CSP is expressly excluded from that ImmiAccount proposal step. Instead, the official instructions say proposers under the CSP must submit Form 842 Application for an Offshore Humanitarian Visa and a proposal form specific to Approved Proposing Organisations, and your APO will explain the full process for submitting the application forms.

Requirement	Proposal by an Approved Proposing Organisation (CSP)	Proposal without an APO
Proposal method	A proposal form specific to APOs; the APO explains the submission process	ImmiAccount electronic proposal, which generates a TRN
Application instrument	Form 842 Application for an Offshore Humanitarian Visa	Online application in ImmiAccount using the TRN
Who submits	Proposers under CSP must submit both forms	Proposer submits the proposal online; the applicant submits the online application
Timing	The APO explains the CSP submission process	Application due within 60 days of the proposal; the proposal expires after 60 days
Visa application charge	A charge may be payable — CSP is the stated exception	No visa application charge

What is Form 842 used for under CSP?

Form 842 is the Application for an Offshore Humanitarian Visa, so it is the visa application instrument in the CSP pathway rather than a proposal. The APO-specific proposal form is the separate instrument that carries the APO's proposal; both are required, and lodging one without the other does not complete the CSP route. The applicant must still be outside Australia and outside their country of origin when applying, and the Migration Regulations 1994 require the applicant to continue to be proposed by that organisation while the application is on foot.

What is an Approved Proposing Organisation, and what must the proposal satisfy?

For the APO pathway, the Migration Regulations 1994 require the applicant to be subject to substantial discrimination amounting to gross violation of human rights in their home country and to be living in a country other than that home country. The proposing organisation must not be a person described in the regulations, and the applicant must continue to be proposed by that organisation. At the decision stage, the subclass still requires compelling reasons to give special consideration, taking into account the degree of discrimination, the applicant's connection with Australia, whether another suitable country is available, and the capacity of the Australian community or organisation to provide for permanent settlement.

Does Subclass 202 cost anything under the CSP?

Yes, CSP is the only stated exception to the no-charge rule. The official visa page says there is no visa application charge for Subclass 202 unless you are proposed under the CSP by an Approved Proposing Organisation. Because that page does not set out an amount, the payable charge should be confirmed against the Department's current published charges. If a second instalment is required, the Department says it will send an invoice after all other requirements are met, and the applicant should pay only after receiving that invoice.

What happens after the CSP forms are lodged?

The applicant and proposer should expect a lengthy process. The visa page states that the department receives more resettlement applications than available visas, so the decision process may take many years and most applications will be unsuccessful; no processing updates are given. Health examinations, biometrics and interviews may be requested, and family members included in the application must meet health and character requirements.

Travel and settlement obligations also begin before grant:

Do not arrange travel to Australia until the applicant is told in writing that the visa has been granted.
The applicant and proposer are responsible for paying for travel to Australia, and the visa holder together with the proposer or APO arrange the travel.
Toll Remote Logistics Pty Ltd delivers Assisted Passage services, including help with health appointments and, on grant, travel to Australia; IOM may also offer help under its prepaid migration travel program.
The applicant must enter Australia before the initial arrival date specified in the grant letter; if that date has passed, another medical examination and a travel facilitation letter may be involved.
The applicant must declare all family members, even those not applying, because a family member who is not declared may not later be proposed for a Humanitarian visa after the applicant arrives in Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Form 842 the CSP proposal form?

No. Form 842 is the Application for an Offshore Humanitarian Visa, used as the visa application instrument under CSP. The proposal itself is made on a separate form specific to Approved Proposing Organisations, and the CSP route requires both.

Do I still use ImmiAccount for a CSP application?

The ImmiAccount proposal method applies unless you are applying under the CSP, so a CSP applicant does not follow that electronic proposal route. Under CSP the APO submits the APO-specific proposal form together with Form 842, and the APO explains the full submission process.

Is there a visa application charge for Subclass 202 under CSP?

The official page states there is no visa application charge for Subclass 202 unless the applicant is proposed under the CSP by an APO, so a charge can apply in CSP cases. The page does not list an amount, so the current figure should be taken from the Department's published charges. If a second instalment is required, the Department issues an invoice after other requirements are met.

How long is a Subclass 202 proposal valid?

For the ImmiAccount route, the application must be submitted within 60 days of the proposal. The proposal expires after 60 days, after which the proposer must submit a new proposal and the new TRN must be used. For CSP, the APO will explain the applicable submission process.

Where must the applicant be when applying and when decided?

The applicant must be outside Australia and outside their country of origin when applying for Subclass 202. The applicant must also remain outside Australia when the Department makes its decision on the visa.

Who pays for travel to Australia?

The applicant and the proposer are responsible for paying for travel to Australia, and the visa holder and proposer or APO arrange travel. Toll delivers Assisted Passage health-screening and travel assistance services, and IOM may offer help under its prepaid travel program, but these do not remove the cost responsibility.

Must family members be declared even if they are not applying?

Yes. The applicant must declare all family members, even those not joining the application. The visa page warns that failing to declare a family member may mean that person cannot later be proposed for a Humanitarian visa after the applicant arrives in Australia.