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Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), now Home Affairs

Important: the DIBP is now the Department of Home Affairs

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) no longer exists under that name. Its immigration and citizenship functions have been part of the Department of Home Affairs since December 2017.

Global Service Centre

You can contact the DHA Global Service Centre (GSC) Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm your local time. DHA receive a high volume of telephone enquiries each day. GSC is closed on Australian National Public Holidays. Monday is the peak day and wait times may be longer. ​

In Australia
Phone: 131 881 ​​

Outside Australia
Phone: +61 2 6196 0196​

For offices outside Australia, see the list of offices and locations on the Department of Home Affairs website.

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) is now part of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). Home Affairs brings together Australia’s immigration, citizenship, border and related functions, working together to keep Australia safe.

The department was named the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) until September 2013, then the DIBP, and its immigration functions moved to the Department of Home Affairs in December 2017. Since the first immigration department was established in 1945, it has managed the arrival and settlement in Australia of migrants from all over the world, including refugees.

Department of Home Affairs immigration objectives

The Department’s key responsibilities and objectives are:

  • provides information regarding education and training in Australia for students from overseas
  • administer the Immigration Program
  • transforming Australia’s visa system
  • managing migration program planning levels for each program year;
  • managing the refugee and humanitarian program
  • introducing visa options to help fill jobs in regional Australia
  • managing the Skilled Migration program
  • resolving legal status issues through the Status Resolution Service
  • Promote Australian citizenship and a multicultural Australia.

Some of the visas processed by Home Affairs include:

Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) and Visitor Visa

  • The ETA is an electronic visa linked to your passport, with no visa label or stamp. If you hold an eligible passport, an ETA lets you visit Australia for up to 3 months at a time. Otherwise you need to obtain a Visitor visa before you travel.
  • The Visitor visa can grant you a stay of up to 12 months to visit friends and family, go on a cruise or have a holiday.

Working Holiday Maker Visa

  • The Australian Working Holiday Visa gives young people aged 18 to 30 (18 to 35 for citizens of some countries) the opportunity to work while travelling in Australia for 12 months, with up to two further years for eligible applicants.
    Check your eligibility for an Australian Working Holiday visa.

Skilled Independent

Related guides

Call the Department of Immigration on: 13 18 81

Book a video consultation with our Registered Migration Agents in Melbourne to find out more about your visa options.