Head to head · Checked 30 October 2026
Tribunal review with a hearing vs Tribunal review on the papers
For most migration reviews the Administrative Review Tribunal holds a hearing, where the applicant gives evidence, answers the member’s questions and can be represented, and the hearing is where a thin file is rescued or a strong one confirmed. Since the 2026 amendments certain reviews of temporary visa refusals are decided on the papers, without a hearing, on one round of written submissions and evidence the Tribunal invites, while protection reviews and most others keep the hearing; the Tribunal can also decide without a hearing where the issues can be determined without the parties. An applicant who may not get a hearing prepares the written case as if it were the only chance, because for those reviews it is.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed 30 October 2026
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - The default
- A hearing for most reviewable migration decisions · Required for certain temporary visa refusal reviews under the 2026 amendments; possible where the issues can be decided without the parties
- What you provide
- Documents before, evidence and answers at the hearing, submissions after · One invited round of written submissions and evidence
- Representation
- An agent or lawyer can attend and assist · Written only; the quality of the submission is the case
- Interpreter
- Arranged by the Tribunal · Not applicable
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About the CPD →Side by side
| Tribunal review with a hearing | Tribunal review on the papers | |
|---|---|---|
| The default | A hearing for most reviewable migration decisions | Required for certain temporary visa refusal reviews under the 2026 amendments; possible where the issues can be decided without the parties |
| What you provide | Documents before, evidence and answers at the hearing, submissions after | One invited round of written submissions and evidence |
| Representation | An agent or lawyer can attend and assist | Written only; the quality of the submission is the case |
| Interpreter | Arranged by the Tribunal | Not applicable |
| Excluded | Nothing by default | Protection visa reviews cannot be decided on the papers |
| Watch out | A hearing missed is a review lost | There is no second round; what is not in the submission is not before the member |
Charges are the current government application charges (from 1 July 2026, main applicant) — see the fee calculator for your family's total. Checked 30 October 2026.
The honest verdict
For most migration reviews the Administrative Review Tribunal holds a hearing, where the applicant gives evidence, answers the member’s questions and can be represented, and the hearing is where a thin file is rescued or a strong one confirmed. Since the 2026 amendments certain reviews of temporary visa refusals are decided on the papers, without a hearing, on one round of written submissions and evidence the Tribunal invites, while protection reviews and most others keep the hearing; the Tribunal can also decide without a hearing where the issues can be determined without the parties. An applicant who may not get a hearing prepares the written case as if it were the only chance, because for those reviews it is.
Which side of that line you fall on depends on facts a table cannot hold — your age, score, occupation's lists, and what evidence you can actually assemble. That is consultation territory, not guesswork territory.
More head-to-heads: 482 vs 494 · 190 vs 491 · 189 vs 190 · 482 vs 186
General information only, not migration advice. Settings shown are the general rules; exemptions and stream variations exist. Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) after a paid consultation under the Migration Agents Code of Conduct.
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Questions we get asked first
Tribunal review with a hearing or Tribunal review on the papers — which is better?
For most migration reviews the Administrative Review Tribunal holds a hearing, where the applicant gives evidence, answers the member’s questions and can be represented, and the hearing is where a thin file is rescued or a strong one confirmed. Since the 2026 amendments certain reviews of temporary visa refusals are decided on the papers, without a hearing, on one round of written submissions and evidence the Tribunal invites, while protection reviews and most others keep the hearing; the Tribunal can also decide without a hearing where the issues can be determined without the parties. An applicant who may not get a hearing prepares the written case as if it were the only chance, because for those reviews it is.
What is the main difference between the Tribunal review with a hearing and the Tribunal review on the papers?
The default: Tribunal review with a hearing — A hearing for most reviewable migration decisions; Tribunal review on the papers — Required for certain temporary visa refusal reviews under the 2026 amendments; possible where the issues can be decided without the parties. What you provide: Tribunal review with a hearing — Documents before, evidence and answers at the hearing, submissions after; Tribunal review on the papers — One invited round of written submissions and evidence. Representation: Tribunal review with a hearing — An agent or lawyer can attend and assist; Tribunal review on the papers — Written only; the quality of the submission is the case.
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