Your ART appeal deadline is typically 21 days from the refusal letter. Contact us today. Book urgent consultation →
Flagship Practice · Time-Sensitive

Your visa was refused. You have 21 days.

That is the window to lodge an appeal to the Administrative Review Tribunal. Miss it, and in most cases you lose the right to appeal forever. Education Embassy has handled over 200 successful ART appeals since 2020, with a success rate above 90%. Many resolved through written submissions, without a tribunal hearing.

200+
Appeals won since 2020
90%+
Success rate
40%
ART average across all representation
5
MARN agents + lawyer
What the ART is

A fresh review of your case, by someone who does not work for Immigration.

The Administrative Review Tribunal replaced the AAT on 14 October 2024. It hears merit reviews of Department of Home Affairs decisions. Here is what that actually means for you.

The Tribunal looks at it fresh

The ART does not rubber-stamp the Department. A Tribunal member looks at the facts and the law independently, and can affirm the decision, vary it, or set it aside entirely. Sets aside usually means your visa should be granted.

New evidence is allowed

Unlike judicial review, the ART lets you bring new evidence. The documents, declarations, and records you did not know to include the first time can be put in front of the Tribunal. This is often the difference.

Most wins are on the papers

A well-drafted written submission can resolve many appeals before a hearing is ever scheduled. Our clients often do not need to attend the Tribunal in person. The outcome most clients prefer, and the one we aim for.

If your refusal letter says one of these

The refusal types we handle at the ART.

Every visa stream produces refusals. Different refusal grounds need different evidence, different arguments, and different strategy. Pick the one that matches your situation.

Student Visa Refusals

Genuine Student (formerly GTE) concerns, financial capacity, course change issues, prior visa history. One of our strongest areas.

See how we handle this →

Skilled Migration Appeals

Points test disputes, skills assessment challenges, English requirement arguments, occupation classification issues.

See how we handle this →

Employer Sponsored Appeals

Nomination refusals, sponsorship approval refusals, SID visa eligibility disputes, 186 refusals.

See how we handle this →

Visa Cancellation Appeals

Character cancellations, visa condition breaches, mandatory cancellations under Section 501.

See how we handle this →

Complex & High-Value Cases

Business migration appeals, Global Talent refusals, protection claims, high-stakes family cases.

Book consultation →
How the process works

From lodging your appeal to getting the decision.

Seven phases. Some cases move through all of them. Many settle on the papers before Step 5. Here is the full map so nothing is a surprise.

1

Lodge the appeal

Online via ART portal or paper form. Application fee paid. You are now the Applicant.

2

Acknowledgment

ART confirms receipt. Department provides the full case file (T-documents).

3

Preparation

Evidence gathered. Submissions drafted. Witnesses briefed. Most important phase.

4

Directions hearing

If needed. Short procedural meeting to set timelines and narrow the dispute.

5

Substantive hearing

Member hears evidence. In person, video, or phone. Many cases skip this on the papers.

6

Decision

Written decision issued. Affirm, vary, or set aside. Set aside usually means visa granted.

7

What happens next

Matter back to Department or, if affirmed, review in Federal Circuit Court on limited grounds.

Real outcomes

Four cases, anonymised.

It is one thing to quote a 90% success rate. It is another to show you what that looks like. These are real appeals we have run, names and identifying details altered for privacy but the facts and outcomes are accurate.

Won at ART
Student Visa 500·Refusal ground: GTE/GS·Resolved: 4 months

Student visa refusal overturned on the papers.

Client
Female, early 20s, from India. Applying for a Master of Business Administration in Brisbane.
Problem
Original GTE statement written in general terms. Did not address specific post-study return factors the Department looks for: Indian employment prospects, family ties, property, financial interests.
What we did
Three weeks of preparation. Comprehensive written submission addressing every factor in the refusal reasons. Evidence of family business, Indian employer letters, property inheritance, re-framed GTE narrative.
Outcome: ART set aside the Department's decision within four months, on written submissions alone, no hearing required. Student is now in her second year of study.
Cancellation reversed
Partner Visa 820·Type: Section 109 NOICC·Resolved: 14-day deadline

Partner visa cancellation defeated at the NOICC stage.

Client
Male, mid-30s, from Bangladesh. Held an 820 temporary partner visa for 18 months.
Problem
Received a Notice of Intention to Consider Cancellation. Anonymous report had alleged relationship had ended during a six-week period when sponsor was overseas for family reasons. Client unaware of obligation to notify Department of relationship changes.
What we did
Tight 14-day deadline. Immediate NOICC response. Joint photographs from the period in question. Evidence of daily communication, shared finances, shared lease, joint planning. Sworn statement from sponsor explaining the overseas trip.
Outcome: Department accepted the evidence and did not proceed with cancellation. Client retained his 820 and later progressed to the 801 permanent partner visa.
Won at ART
Employer Sponsored 186·Refusal ground: Nomination genuineness·Resolved: Granted 3 months after ART

Subclass 186 refusal reversed, ENS visa granted.

Client
Male, early 40s, from the Philippines. Senior manufacturing engineer, Australian medium-sized employer.
Problem
Nomination application lodged with thin supporting evidence. Department refused on grounds that the position was not genuinely ongoing and full-time, and that duties did not align with the occupation code.
What we did
Rebuilt the nomination evidence from scratch. Financial records showing business need. Project documentation. Organisational charts. Revised position description mapped against the occupation code. Expert industry declarations. Submission ran over 100 pages.
Outcome: ART set aside the refusal. Nomination approved. Visa granted three months after the ART decision. Client remains with the employer and is progressing toward citizenship.
Cancellation overturned
Section 501 cancellation·Type: Mandatory cancellation·Resolved: Reunited with family in 72 hours

Section 501 permanent residence cancellation set aside.

Client
Male, late 30s, European. Permanent resident of Australia for eight years. Wife and two Australian-citizen children.
Problem
Mandatory visa cancellation under Section 501 following a prison sentence of 12 months or more for a serious driving offence. Placed in immigration detention pending removal.
What we did
Prateek (immigration lawyer) and Sourabh working together. Comprehensive ART submission addressing every element of the public interest test: best interests of Australian-citizen children, ties to Australia, nature of the offending, conduct since, rehabilitation prospects. Psychological reports. Character references. Family life evidence.
Outcome: ART set aside the cancellation. Permanent residence restored. Released from detention and reunited with his family within 72 hours of the decision.
Why Education Embassy wins

We treat every appeal as a full case from day one.

Too many appeals are lodged just to preserve the right of review, with preparation as an afterthought. That is not what produces the 90% success rate. This is.

Full case preparation, not procedural complianceEvidence, legal submissions, and witness preparation are all completed before the hearing is scheduled, not drafted the week before.
Direct Tribunal experienceOur senior team appears at the ART regularly. We know the members, the procedural preferences, and the types of argument that work in different divisions.
Migration plus legal expertise under one roofFive Registered Migration Agents and a practising immigration lawyer in the same practice. The right person handles your case. We do not refer out.
Proactive evidence strategyWe do not just respond to what the Department said. We identify what the Tribunal will need to reach a different conclusion and build that evidence ahead of the hearing.
Full representation at the hearingOne of our senior team attends every hearing in person or by video. You are not alone at the Tribunal, no matter how it is conducted.
Who handles your ART appeal

Three people with a publicly verifiable record.

Every MARN and every practising certificate is on the public register. No paralegals pretending to be agents. The person who meets you at consultation is the person who handles your file.

Prateek Maan

Immigration Lawyer · Complex ART & Federal Circuit Court
Admitted VIC & QLD
Practising immigration lawyer. Speaks English, Hindi, Punjabi.

Prateek handles our most complex ART appeals and Federal Circuit Court matters. Legal submissions, Tribunal advocacy, judicial review. Section 501 cancellations, protection claims, and high-stakes family cases.

Sourabh Aggarwal

Principal Consultant · Senior ART Strategy
MARN 1462159
Registered Migration Agent. Speaks English, Hindi, Punjabi.

Principal Consultant with years of ART appeal experience. Oversees appeal strategy across every division. Known for carefully prepared written submissions, many of which resolve cases before any hearing takes place.

Neha Sharma

Registered Migration Agent · Partner & Family ART
MARN 2518998
Registered Migration Agent. Speaks English, Hindi, Punjabi.

Neha specialises in partner visa refusals and cancellations at the ART. Relationship evidence disputes, sponsor eligibility challenges, and family violence provision matters.

Fees and what is included

Fixed fees. Quoted in writing before you engage us.

Three categories depending on what your case needs. Government filing fees are separate and paid directly to the ART. We give you a full breakdown at the consultation after reviewing your file.

Refusal Review

From$950+ GST

One-off review of your refusal letter, Departmental file, and appeal prospects. For clients who want an honest assessment before committing to an appeal.

  • Full refusal letter analysis
  • Written opinion on prospects of success
  • Deadline check and lodgement advice
  • Credit applied if you proceed with appeal
Book a review →

Hearing Representation

From$7,500+ GST

Full appeal including Tribunal hearing advocacy. For complex matters, character-related cases, and where Prateek leads as immigration lawyer.

  • Everything in Written Submissions tier
  • Witness preparation sessions
  • Full hearing representation (in-person or video)
  • Lawyer-led for complex legal matters
  • Post-decision advice
Book a consultation →
A note on pricing: These are starting fees. Complex cases (Section 501 character matters, high-value business migration appeals, multiple applicants) may cost more. Government ART application fees are set by the Tribunal and paid separately. You get a fixed written quote at the consultation, before you commit to anything.
What clients say

Real clients, real ART appeals, real outcomes.

"
My employer sponsored visa was refused and I was completely lost. Prateek prepared a detailed written submission for the ART. Within four months my refusal was overturned. No hearing needed. This is a team that actually knows what they are doing.
Ahmed S.
Melbourne · ART Appeal Success (2025)
"
I was in immigration detention when my visa was cancelled under Section 501. Prateek and Sourabh worked together on the appeal. I was reunited with my wife and children within 72 hours of the decision. I owe them everything.
Amrit K.
Brisbane · Section 501 ART Appeal (2024)
"
Student visa refused on GTE grounds. I thought it was over. Neha walked me through what evidence was actually missing, built the submission, and four months later I had my visa. On the papers, no hearing.
Priyanka J.
Gold Coast · Student Visa 500 ART Appeal (2025)
Common questions about ART appeals

The questions we hear most on the first call.

If your question is not here, raise it at the consultation. We will give you an honest answer, even if the answer is "we do not take this kind of case".

How much does an ART appeal cost?
ART application fees are set by the Tribunal and vary by case type. Legal fees depend on the complexity of the appeal. Simple appeals can be handled on a fixed fee basis. Complex cases involving lawyer representation typically cost more. We give you a clear quote at the consultation after reviewing your file.
Can I stay in Australia during an appeal?
Usually yes, on a bridging visa. Lodging an ART appeal typically extends your lawful stay in Australia through a Bridging Visa A or Bridging Visa E. The specifics depend on your visa status at the time of refusal.
How long does an ART appeal take?
Processing times vary by division and complexity. Simple appeals may be resolved within 6 to 12 months. Complex cases can take 18 to 24 months or longer. The ART publishes current waiting times on its website. Many of our appeals settle on the papers before the 12-month mark.
My refusal was last week. Can you still help?
Almost certainly yes. Most ART appeal deadlines are 21 days from the refusal letter, so recent refusals are exactly the cases we handle. Contact us immediately. Waiting even a few days can significantly compress the preparation time we have for the appeal.
Does Education Embassy take every ART appeal?
No. We take on cases where we genuinely believe we can win. We tell people the honest answer if we do not think their case is strong enough. Declining a case we cannot win is a normal part of our practice.
What if I lose the ART appeal?
If the Tribunal affirms the Department's refusal, further review is sometimes available in the Federal Circuit Court on specific legal grounds (jurisdictional error). This is a different kind of review, on legal argument rather than fresh evidence. Our immigration lawyer Prateek handles these matters.
Your deadline is not negotiable

Your visa has been refused. What do you do now?

Contact us today. ART appeal deadlines are tight, usually 21 days from the refusal letter. We will tell you at the consultation whether your case is appealable and what the realistic prospects are. Honest answers, either way.

Some information on this page has been sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and has been interpreted and approved by Principal Migration Agent Sourabh Aggarwal (MARN 1462159). Last reviewed: May 2026.