Understand the Migration and Refugee Division, now part of the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). Learn what decisions are reviewable, appeal deadlines, and processing times. Get expert guidance from Australian Immigration Consultants for your visa review today.
If your visa was refused or cancelled, you may have come across the term Migration and Refugee Division (MRD) while researching your appeal options. This guide explains what the MRD was, how its functions now sit within the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), and what current Department of Home Affairs and ART guidance means for your case.
The Migration and Refugee Division was previously a specialist division of the former Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), responsible for merits review of visa refusal, cancellation, and protection (refugee) decisions made by the Department of Home Affairs. It formed by amalgamating the former Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal into a single division of the AAT.
The Administrative Review Tribunal replaced the AAT (and the Immigration Assessment Authority) in October 2024, absorbing the functions previously carried out by the Migration and Refugee Division. Today, migration and protection review applications are lodged and heard through the ART, rather than a standalone MRD — though many people still search using the older terminology.
The ART can review most, but not all, migration and citizenship decisions made under the Migration Act 1958, including:
Some decisions — such as cancellations made while the visa holder was outside Australia, or those made on character grounds under section 501 — generally fall outside the ART's migration and protection jurisdiction and follow a different review pathway.
The general process for lodging and progressing an ART migration or protection review typically involves:
Speak directly with registered migration professionals to evaluate your visa pathways.
Since May 2026, amendments under the Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Act have expanded the Tribunal's power to decide certain straightforward migration matters entirely "on the papers," without a hearing, under a new Division 4A of the Migration Act. These reforms followed recommendations from the Rapid Review into the Exploitation of Australia's Visa System, aimed at improving review efficiency amid ongoing case backlogs.
Figures based on ART data for reviews finalised between 1 February 2026 and 31 July 2026; individual case timeframes vary.
Navigating the ART's migration and protection review process without guidance can be overwhelming, especially under tight deadlines. Australian Immigration Consultants supports applicants by:
Is the Migration and Refugee Division still operating? No — its functions are now carried out by the Administrative Review Tribunal, which replaced the AAT in October 2024.
How long do I have to lodge an appeal? Time limits vary by decision type and can be as short as a few days, so check your refusal or cancellation letter carefully.
Can the Tribunal grant me a visa directly? The Tribunal reviews whether the decision was correct and can affirm, vary, or set aside the original decision, but it must apply the same legal requirements as the Department.
Expert guidance tailored to your unique journey. Get a personalized roadmap from a Registered Migration Agent today.
