Saudi teenager Rahaf Alqunun's first reaction to the news Australia might resettle her was disbelief, then emojis.

Key points: The UN refugee agency has referred Ms Alqunun's case to Australia for consideration

The UN refugee agency has referred Ms Alqunun's case to Australia for consideration She flew into Thailand on the weekend with a ticket on to Australia, where she hoped to seek asylum

She flew into Thailand on the weekend with a ticket on to Australia, where she hoped to seek asylum She fears her family would kill her for renouncing Islam

"Is it true??? Australia wants me to go there??? I'm so happy," she wrote, followed by emojis showing hands pressed together in thanks, a smiley face, and a woman dancing.

The Department of Home Affairs confirmed on Wednesday that the United Nations refugee agency had referred Ms Alqunun's case to Australia for consideration.

"The department ... will consider this referral in the usual way, as it does with all UNHCR referrals," it said in a statement.

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Ms Alqunun's asylum application was fast-tracked, partly because of security concerns, after the young woman's father and brother arrived in Bangkok and asked Thai police to see her.

Ms Alqunun, 18, flew into Thailand from Kuwait on the weekend, saying she had a ticket onwards to Australia where she had hoped to seek asylum over fears her family would kill her for renouncing Islam.

But when she arrived in Bangkok she said a Saudi diplomat met her at the airport and tricked her into handing over her passport and ticket, saying he would secure a visa.

The teenager then barricaded herself inside her room at an airport hotel, and requested to speak to the United Nations refugee office.

After protracted negotiations overnight on Monday, Ms Alqunun was placed under the protection of the UN.

The UNHCR has since assessed her case and found she is a refugee.

She remains under the protection of Thai police.

Thailand's immigration police chief Lieutenant General Surachate Hakparn told media on Wednesday Ms Alqunun's father and brother arrived together in Bangkok on Tuesday but Ms Alqunun refused to meet them.

He said her father denied physically abusing Ms Alqunun or trying to force her into an arranged marriage, two of the reasons she gave for her flight.

"He said that he has been taking good care of his daughter, he never forced her or hurt her. He said that in Saudia Arabia there is an agency that enforces the law [against abuse], and he certainly couldn't do anything illegal."

The police chief added: "He has 10 children. He said the daughter might feel neglected sometimes. That's all he said: that the daughter might feel neglected in the household. But he didn't go into detail."

Her father, whose name has not been released, is a governor in Saudi Arabia, Lieutenant General Hakparn said.

Sorry, this video has expired Saudi teenager detained at Bangkok airport

Activists rally behind Saudi teen

Ms Alqunun made a plea for protection from a number of countries including Australia, though her connections to the nation are unclear.

Activists have urged the Government to support Ms Alqunun in her bid for asylum in Australia, and said the young woman should be issued with emergency travel documents.

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Ms Alqunun garnered international attention when she took her plight to social media this week, tweeting that she had "nothing to lose".

"My name is Rahaf Mohammed Mutlaq Alqunun, and this is my picture," she tweeted on Sunday from Bangkok.

"I'm afraid, my family WILL kill me."

The situation is strikingly similar to one that unfolded in Manila airport in April 2017.

Dina Ali Lasloom, a then-24-year-old Saudi woman, had arrived in Asia from Kuwait and also wanted to travel on to Australia when she recorded a video message pleading for help.

The message sparked a social media campaign, dubbed "Save Dina Ali", but she was returned to Riyadh — and that is the last anyone outside Saudi Arabia officially heard from her.

Saudi Arabia remains one of the world's most repressive countries for women.

Under the "guardianship" system, women are forbidden from travelling without a male escort — a father, uncle, husband, brother or son.