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A violence-free Victoria.

It all starts with respect.

Visa abuse

Visa abuse is a form of coercive control that happens when a partner, ex-partner or family member uses a person’s visa status in a harmful way against them, to control how and when they can enter and leave the country. Using someone’s temporary visa status or lack of citizenship to control them is a form of family and gendered violence.

Visa abuse can describe a range of behaviours, including:

  • hiding or damaging someone’s passport or visa documentation
  • threatening to cancel a visa sponsorship
  • threatening to report someone to immigration authorities if they try to leave the relationship
  • lying about visa conditions to make someone stay in a relationship – for example, saying a visa is only valid if they remain in the relationship
  • restricting someone’s movements or controlling where they can go by threatening them with deportation – for example, telling someone if they leave the house, their visa will be cancelled
  • threatening someone with losing custody of their children if they try to leave the relationship because they have a temporary visa
  • entry trafficking – forcing someone to migrate within a country or overseas, or exit trafficking – coercing someone into leaving a country and stopping them from returning.

These harmful behaviours are used as a method of control and can create a sense of reliance or feeling ‘trapped’ in a relationship. This can cause mental, emotional, and physical stress. When our movements are restricted or we’re denied access to support services, it can stop us from living safely and looking after our wellbeing.

Visa abuse is a form of family and gendered violence

Family violence is any violent, threatening, coercive or controlling behaviour that occurs in current or past family, domestic or intimate relationships. It can be physical, sexual, and/or non-physical. 

Some people may seek to use their partner or family member's temporary visa status to control them. Women are more likely to experience this form of violence, while men are most likely to use this form of abuse and control against a partner. 

Migrant and refugee women may also face unique challenges, including:

  • being isolated from support networks and trusted people 
  • being unfamiliar with Australian laws and support services
  • limited access to family violence services that are culturally responsive or in-language
  • limited trust in services due to repeated experiences of discrimination and racism
  • other forms of racism and discrimination in relationships and society.

Systemic influences on visa abuse

Visa abuse is a complex issue, and like many other forms of gendered violence, laws and structural inequalities can sustain or prolong experiences of family violence. For example:

  • Leaving a dangerous environment where visa abuse occurs means that people need access to alternative housing and basic amenities, such as healthcare. However, for those on temporary visas, access to Centrelink, Medicare, crisis accommodation and social housing is limited. This can make it harder for victims of visa abuse to leave safely.
  • Migration laws can also enforce dependency on a violent partner if a woman is on a partner visa. In these situations, visa abuse may manifest as threats to withdraw sponsorship. More generally, women on partner visas may feel, or be made to feel that they have no option to live independently in Australia.
  • Visa conditions that limit a woman’s right to work or study may also increase dependency on a violent partner. In these situations, a woman experiencing visa abuse may have limited opportunities to earn independent income or develop protective local networks.

Recognising complex and intersecting forms of abuse helps us build a society where people can access culturally sensitive support, and challenges systems that entrench multiple forms of oppression.

Learn more

  • Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health is a national, community-based organisation working to advance health equity and promote the health, wellbeing, autonomy and safety of migrant and refugee women and gender-diverse people.
  • Harmony Alliance is the national alliance providing an inclusive and informed voice on issues affecting migrant and refugee women in Australia.
  • Women of Colour Australia champions women of colour through education programs, community support initiatives and advocacy.

Get support

If you or someone you know needs support, these services can help:

  • InTouch provides in-language and in-culture family violence support to migrant and refugee women and their families in Victora.
  • 1800 RESPECT is a national counselling and support service for anyone impacted by sexual, domestic or family violence, and can provide these services through an interpreter.
  • The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission provides free and confidential information regarding discrimination, sexual harassment, victimisation, racial or religious vilification.

This page was developed with support from Multicultural Centre for Women's Health.