Administrative Review Tribunal
A second decision on your visa
Applications to the Administrative Review Tribunal against visa refusals and cancellations, sponsorship and nomination decisions, and citizenship refusals. The Tribunal looks at the case again on the evidence before it, which makes the application and the evidence everything.
What we do
Tribunal review, step by step
The Administrative Review Tribunal replaced the AAT on 14 October 2024. It can affirm a decision, substitute its own decision, or send the matter back to the Department with directions. Unlike a court, it decides the merits: whether you meet the criteria now. Most reviews are won on evidence the Department never saw and on how well the case is put at the hearing.
Deadlines
Short, strict and usually final
Most visa reviews must be lodged within 28 days of notification, and often cannot be extended.
Evidence
The case the Department never saw
Most reviews turn on new evidence and how well it answers the reasons for refusal.
Hearing
Prepared, not caught out
We prepare you and your witnesses, attend the hearing and make the submissions.
01
Deadlines
Short, strict and usually final
Most visa reviews must be lodged within 28 days of being notified of the decision, and the time is shorter for people in immigration detention and for character decisions. For most migration decisions the Tribunal has no power to extend the deadline, and an application lodged without the fee or the required information may not be valid. We confirm the notification date and the deadline before anything else.
02
Which decisions can be reviewed
Visas, sponsorship, cancellation and citizenship
Whether a decision can be reviewed, and by whom, depends on the visa, where you were when you applied and who made the decision. We confirm that first; some decisions can only go to court.
03
Building the case
Evidence and submissions the Tribunal can rely on
We obtain the Department’s file, work out exactly why the application was refused, and gather the evidence that answers each reason. Written submissions then take the member through every criterion, so the case is clear before the hearing starts.
04
The hearing
Prepared, so you are not caught out
Most hearings are before a single member, who will question you and any witnesses directly, with an interpreter where needed. We prepare you for the questions that matter, attend with you and make the submissions. Waiting times for a hearing can be long, so we also keep your bridging visa position under watch.
05
After the decision
Remittal, ministerial requests and judicial review
If the Tribunal sets the decision aside, the Department finalises the application in line with its directions. If it affirms the refusal, the options narrow: judicial review in the Federal Circuit and Family Court within 35 days where there is a legal error, a request for ministerial intervention in limited cases, or a fresh application where the law allows one. We advise on each, honestly.
How we work
Three steps
01
Send us the decision
The refusal or cancellation letter and the date you were notified. We confirm the deadline and whether the Tribunal can review it.
02
An application that is complete
We lodge a valid application on time, then obtain the file and build the evidence and submissions.
03
Hearing and what follows
We prepare you, attend the hearing, and advise on the outcome and the next step either way.
Who you will work with
Principal
Tsungai Mukushi
Principal of the firm, admitted in 2008, with Federal Court and Supreme Court experience. Tsungai leads the firm’s court work, including judicial review of migration decisions, and reads every decision for the legal error that a court can actually act on.
Special Counsel
Lorraine Lim
Over 18 years as a solicitor in Malaysia and Australia, including as a partner of a boutique firm, with a practice spanning property and immigration law. Lorraine is known for steady, empathetic guidance through visa refusals and the reviews that follow.
Legal Consultant
Ishani Perera
Pragmatic and detail-focused, with extensive experience preparing documents and keeping complex matters moving. Ishani makes sure the evidence and submissions are complete and lodged on time, so a strong case is not lost on a missed requirement.
Special Counsel
Suekjin Park
Commercial and immigration law, with a background in international business that gives him a practical view of cross-border lives and businesses. Suekjin holds a Bachelor of Laws from Swinburne and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the College of Law.
Client feedback
Voices of excellence
Live rating and reviews from the firm’s Google Business Profile.
Common questions
Administrative Review Tribunal questions, answered
Can I stay in Australia while the review is decided?
Often, but not always. It depends on the visa you held when you applied and whether a bridging visa continues, so we confirm your position at the outset.
Can I give the Tribunal new evidence?
Yes. The Tribunal reviews the merits of the decision afresh, and new evidence that answers the reasons for refusal is often what decides the review.
Is there a fee?
Most migration reviews carry an application fee that must be paid by the deadline. A reduction is available on financial hardship grounds in some cases, and part of the fee is refunded if the review succeeds.
What if I have missed the deadline?
For most visa decisions the Tribunal cannot accept a late application. Other options may still exist, including a new visa application or, if the decision was legally flawed, judicial review, so speak to us before giving up.
Also relevant
Related services
Litigation & disputes
Court and tribunal work run at the lowest cost that still protects your position.
Related reading
Administrative Review Tribunal reading
Articles and briefings from the firm on this area. Plain English, no lecture.
Next step
A visa refused or cancelled?
Send us the decision and the date you were notified. We will confirm the deadline and your review options straight away.