By June Ramli
Perth, Aug 17: The next time your Australian tourist visa takes months to come through, consider this: in the last financial year, 844 Malaysian nationals were granted Permanent Protection visas in Australia, more than nationals from conflict-affected Myanmar and Iran.
Australian government figures show Malaysia topped the list of Permanent Protection visa grants in 2024–25, ahead of Myanmar with 756 grants and Iran with 462.
Malaysia recorded a 51.8 per cent final grant rate, compared with 99.3 per cent for Myanmar and 82.1 per cent for Iran.
The figures are contained in the Department of Home Affairs’ Australia’s Migration Trends 2024–25 report.
The report states that 4,001 Permanent Protection visas were granted in 2024–25 under the onshore component of the Humanitarian Program.
It also shows 24,451 Protection visa applications were lodged in 2024–25, a 5.2 per cent decrease from 25,790 in 2023–24.
Of those applications, 23,576 were Protection visa applications, while 875 were Temporary Protection and Safe Haven Enterprise visa applications.
The Malaysian figures raise questions about why more Permanent Protection visas were granted to Malaysian nationals than to people from Myanmar and Iran.
The published figures do not provide a breakdown of the reasons behind the Malaysian grants.
DailyStraits.com has sought further information from the Department of Home Affairs about the Malaysian figures and the circumstances behind successful Malaysian protection claims.
Separately, the Department has responded to questions from DailyStraits.com about people living in Australia without valid visas.
A Department of Home Affairs spokesperson said non-citizens without a valid visa should engage with authorities to resolve their immigration status or leave Australia.
“Non-citizens, who do not hold a valid visa, are encouraged to engage with the Department of Home Affairs to regularise their visa status or depart Australia,” the spokesperson said.
The Department said more people depart voluntarily than are removed from detention.
Home Affairs said people whose visas have expired or been cancelled can request an appointment with a Status Resolution Officer for assistance to depart Australia.
Support may also be available through the Return and Reintegration Assistance Program for eligible people who can demonstrate that they cannot support their own return.
According to the Department, assistance may include travel logistics, flight bookings, help obtaining travel documents and associated costs.
Non-citizens who have exhausted all outstanding avenues to remain in Australia are expected to leave.
“Those who do not depart are liable for detention and removal from Australia as soon as reasonably practicable, pending resolution of any ongoing migration matters,” the spokesperson said.
Home Affairs did not provide answers to several Malaysian-specific questions from DailyStraits.com, including how long Malaysian unlawful non-citizens typically remain in Australia, the industries or occupations in which they are detected working and how many have voluntarily departed, been detained or removed in recent years.
The Department said voluntary departure remained its preferred approach.
“Voluntary departure, self-funded or with RRAP support, is preferred in all cases,” the spokesperson said.
What is a Permanent Protection visa?
A Permanent Protection visa (subclass 866) is an Australian visa for people who are found to engage Australia’s protection obligations.
A person granted the visa can remain permanently in Australia.
Protection can apply where a person has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons including race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.
Australia’s protection framework also covers certain circumstances where a person faces a real risk of significant harm if returned to their home country.
A Permanent Protection visa allows a successful applicant to live, work and study permanently in Australia.
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