Refugee appeal claims nearly double

The number of people wanting their refugee claims reviewed has nearly doubled this past year.

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal, which can review decisions by the immigration department, has experienced a 90 per cent increase in cases compared to the previous 12 months.

"There's been a very large increase in lodgments," registrar Sian Leathem told a Senate estimates hearing on Thursday.

Applications regarding migration were up 31 per cent in the same period.

Ms Leathem also noted a very large spike in the caseload from Malaysian applicants.

To date, the independent tribunal has finalised 3816 refugee matters - 2829 of which affirmed the department's decision.

About 11 per cent (444) decisions were overturned.

Nearly 240 were withdrawn and just over 300 were finalised by some other outcome.

The hearing was told the median time taken to finalise refugee matters was 53 weeks, while cases involving migration decisions took an average 38 weeks.