There are two main categories within the offshore program:

• the refugee category is for people outside their country of nationality or usual residence who have suffered, or hold a well-founded fear of persecution, and who are in humanitarian need of resettlement.
   

• the Special Humanitarian Program provides help to those outside their country of nationality or usual residence, who have experienced substantial discrimination amounting to a gross violation of human rights, and for whom resettlement is an appropriate solution. Applications must be supported by people resident, or organisations based, in Australia.