The Australian government says it will grant permanent resident visas to nearly 19,000 people who arrived in the country prior to the start of Operation Sovereign Borders in 2013.

Thousands of refugees across the country who have been living on temporary visas for years will be able to stay permanently under the new rules, which go into effect on Monday.

Following backlash from human rights groups, the government promised last year to abolish the Temporary Protection and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas. 

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles told local media Monday that it made “no sense” to keep refugees “in limbo.”

Those who are given a new visa will enjoy the same privileges as other Australian permanent residents. They will have access to welfare benefits and financial aid for higher education.

Additionally, they will be able to become citizens and sponsor loved ones to immigrate to Australia.

Director of advocacy at a rights organisation – Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Jana Favero, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp on Monday that the new visas will change lives.

“This change is truly monumental in the lives of people who are on temporary protection visas as they can now get on with and rebuild their lives, see their family and have the permanency and safety that they deserve,” she said.