Visa Refusal and Review in Canberra: the Administrative Review Tribunal
The Administrative Review Tribunal reviews decisions of Australian Government agencies on the merits, taking a fresh look at the facts, law and policy, and its Canberra Registry is on level 8, 14 Moore Street, Canberra City.
For a visa refusal, start with the decision letter and its time limit.
Where is the Canberra Registry?
Level 8, 14 Moore Street, Canberra City, near the intersection of Barry Drive and Northbourne Avenue. The tribunal’s offices are open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, and closed on public holidays. The postal address is GPO Box 9955, Canberra ACT 2601. The Light Rail stops 350 metres away, on the corner of Northbourne Avenue and Alinga Street.
What should happen after a visa refusal?
- Read the decision letter. The Home Affairs letter says whether the decision can be reviewed and who may apply.
- Find the time limit. The tribunal states the limits are very strict, depend on the decision type, and that it has no power to extend them.
- Apply. The tribunal calls applying online the easiest and safest way.
- Gather the records. Keep the decision, the application and the evidence that supports your case.
Which decisions can the tribunal review?
| Decision | Tribunal review |
|---|---|
| Refusal or cancellation of a migration visa | Yes for decisions it is allowed to review. The Migration Act and Migration Regulations set which. Not a cancellation made personally by the Minister. |
| Refusal of an employer’s nomination of an occupation, activity or position | Yes, under the Migration Act. This is a Home Affairs nomination. |
| Refusal of ACT Government nomination | The tribunal pages read do not list it. The ACT Government decides it. Read the refusal notice. |
Protection visa and character-related decisions have separate rules and time limits.
What does review cost?
The application fee for review of most migration decisions is A$3,727 (page copy dated 29 August 2026). There is no fee for a bridging visa decision that resulted in immigration detention.
How does a lawyer fit in?
Review looks again at the facts, law and policy, so the case is built on evidence. An application prepared by an Australian migration lawyer is more likely to succeed: the lawyer reads the reasons for refusal against the criteria, and the time limit is short. An immigration lawyer in Canberra for a refused visa acts on a refusal. A Canberra immigration lawyer for 190 and 491 applications handles the nomination and visa that come before one.
Sources and dates
Administrative Review Tribunal: locations · page copy dated 20 August 2026
Administrative Review Tribunal: immigration and citizenship · page copy dated 29 August 2026
Administrative Review Tribunal: applying for review · page copy dated 21 September 2026