The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has finalised decisions for Afghan LEE applicants, including requests for reassessment.
The DFAT Afghan LEE program is now closed. No applications will be accepted.
Information about the Australian Government's assistance to Afghans is available on the Department of Home Affairs' Afghanistan Update webpage.
Overview
Since 2013, the Australian Government has offered resettlement to Australia for certified Afghan LEE, and their immediate family members, who are at risk of harm as result of their employment with DFAT, the Australian Defence Force, the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), or the Australian Federal Police in support of Australia's whole‑of‑government mission in Afghanistan.
The Australian Federal Police and the Department of Defence also administer Afghan LEE programs.
Important Information for all certified Afghan LEE
You need a visa to come to Australia. Afghan LEE certification is not a visa.
The Department of Home Affairs is prioritising humanitarian visa applications from certified Afghan LEE.
If you have not already done so, you must apply to the Department of Home Affairs for a humanitarian visa to come to Australia.
Do not send your humanitarian visa application to DFAT. DFAT does not process applications for visas.
More information about the Australian Government's assistance to Afghans is available on the Afghanistan Update webpage.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions for certified Afghan LEE are available below:
- Frequently Asked Questions - Certified LEE [DOCX 709 KB]
- Frequently Asked Questions - Certified LEE [PDF 638 KB]
معلومات مهم برای تمام کارمندان تصدیق شده محلی مشغول
- Dari Translation: Frequently Asked Questions - Certified LEE [DOCX 78 KB]
- Dari Translation: Frequently Asked Questions - Certified LEE [PDF 583 KB]
د ټولو تصدیق شوي محلي بوخت کارمندانو لپاره مهم معلومات
- Pashto Translation: Frequently Asked Questions - Certified LEE [DOCX 82 KB]
- Pashto Translation: Frequently Asked Questions - Certified LEE [PDF 399 KB]
Applying for a humanitarian visa
You do not need to be certified as an Afghan LEE to apply for Australia's humanitarian and other visa pathways.
Not being certified has no adverse impact on your suitability to obtain an Australian visa.
Information on how to apply for humanitarian and other visas is available on the Department of Home Affairs' website at Resettle in Australia.
More information about the Australian Government's assistance to Afghans is available on the Afghanistan Update webpage.
Afghan LEE Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions
The DFAT Afghan LEE program is now closed. No applications will be accepted.
The applicant guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions about the program are available below:
- Guidelines for applicants [DOCX 34 KB]
- Guidelines for applicants [PDF 233 KB]
- Frequently Asked Questions [DOCX 23 KB]
- Frequently Asked Questions [PDF 156 KB]
Independent Review into the Afghan LEE program
In 2021, the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee Inquiry into Australia's Engagement in Afghanistan recommended a full and thorough whole-of-government review of the Afghan LEE program.
On 10 November 2022, the Government appointed Dr Vivienne Thom AM to lead the review. Dr Thom provided her report to the Government on 20 March 2023.
Independent review of the Afghan Locally Engaged Employee Program [PDF 2 MB]
The review made seven recommendations to improve the design and delivery of the Afghan LEE program. The review also made one recommendation to improve the design of any future, similar LEE programs.
The Government agreed to all eight recommendations.
- Australian Government response to the independent review [DOCX 28 KB]
- Australian Government response to the independent review [PDF 174 KB]