WHAT WAS CLAIMED
The Albanese government is dedicating 26,500 immigration slots to Afghan nationals "every year forever".
OUR VERDICT
False. A total of 31,500 visa places have been reserved for Afghans from 2021/22 to 2025/26.
AAP FACTCHECK - The Albanese government has not allocated 26,500 visa places to Afghan nationals every year for the indefinite future, despite claims online.
The previous coalition government reserved 31,500 visa spots for Afghans over five years, from 2021/22 to 2025/26, amounting to 6300 per year.
This number does not appear to have expanded since the Labor government was elected in May 2022.
The claim appears in a Facebook post.
"It's just so comforting to know the Albanese government is dedicating 26500 immigration slots to Afghani nationals every year forever... Can we get a refund? A swap for someone else?" it reads.
The then-coalition government announced dedicated visa places for Afghans after the US and allies, including Australia, announced they would withdraw from Afghanistan in 2021.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke announced 3000 humanitarian places for Afghan nationals three days after the Taliban seized power in August 2021.
In January 2022, Mr Hawke announced that this initial intake would be expanded by an additional 15,000 places over four years, between 2021/22 and 2024/25.
This included 10,000 places for Afghan nationals within Australia's existing Humanitarian Program, which did not increase the number of visas granted under the program.
A further 5000 visas were also earmarked for family members.
The Morrison government soon expanded the program further.
The March 2022 budget announced an additional 16,500 places for Afghan refugees between 2022/23 and 2025/26, beyond the Humanitarian Program's annual cap.
This raised the total number of places reserved for Afghans over both visa programs to 31,500 over a five-year period, comprising 26,500 under the Humanitarian Program and 5000 under the family stream.
This amounts to 6300 each year, not 26,500 as claimed, and the program ends in June 2026.
The number of visas reserved for Afghan nationals does not appear to have increased since the Albanese government was elected in May 2022.
No further places for Afghans were included in a discussion paper on the 2025/26 Humanitarian Program.
Individuals who worked locally with Australian agencies and departments in Afghanistan and their immediate family members, women and girls, ethnic minorities, LGBTQI+ and other identified minority groups are being prioritised, a 2025 report on the program stated (page 23).
AAP FactCheck is an accredited member of the International Fact-Checking Network. To keep up with our latest fact checks, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, BlueSky, TikTok and YouTube.
