The application period for the Afghan LEE program closed at 11:59PM AEST 30 November 2023.
Late applications will not be accepted.
Overview
Since 2013, the Australian Government has offered resettlement to Australia for certified Afghan locally engaged employees (LEE) and their direct family members who are at risk of harm as result of their employment with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Defence Force, AusAID or the Australian Federal Police in support of Australia's operations in Afghanistan.
For existing applicants
DFAT has finalised decisions for Afghan LEE applicants and is no longer accepting applications.
DFAT is continuing to process requests for reassessment from applicants who were found to be ineligible for certification.
In addition to DFAT, the Australian Federal Police and the Department of Defence also administer Afghan LEE Programs.
Important Information for all certified locally engaged employees
LEE certification is not a visa. You need a visa to come to Australia.
The Department of Home Affairs is prioritising processing of visa applications received from certified Afghan LEE.
If you have not already done so, you must also apply to the Department of Home Affairs for a humanitarian visa to be able to migrate 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, including those currently in Pakistan, is available on the Afghanistan Update webpage.
- Frequently Asked Questions - Certified LEE [DOCX 709 KB]
- Frequently Asked Questions - Certified LEE [PDF 638 KB]
د ټولو تصدیق شوي محلي بوخت کارمندانو لپاره مهم معلومات
- Dari Translation: Frequently Asked Questions - Certified LEE [DOCX 78 KB]
- Dari Translation: Frequently Asked Questions - Certified LEE [PDF 583 KB]
معلومات مهم برای تمام کارمندان تصدیق شده محلی مشغول
- Pashto Translation: Frequently Asked Questions - Certified LEE [DOCX 82 KB]
- Pashto Translation: Frequently Asked Questions - Certified LEE [PDF 399 KB]
Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions
Guidelines for existing applicants and Frequently Asked Questions about the program are available below:
- Guidelines for existing applicants [DOCX 34 KB]
- Guidelines for existing applicants [PDF 233 KB]
- Frequently Asked Questions [DOCX 23 KB]
- Frequently Asked Questions [PDF 156 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.
Humanitarian and other visa options for Afghan people remain open. Not being certified has no adverse impact on your suitability to obtain an Australian visa.
Please follow the advice of the Department of Home Affairs, which is the agency responsible for visa applications. DFAT does not process applications for visas.
Information on how to apply for a humanitarian visa 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.
Independent Review into the Afghan Locally Engaged Employee Program
In 2021, the Senate Inquiry on 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]
Dr Thom made seven recommendations to improve the design and delivery of the Afghan LEE Program. The report also included an eighth 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]