White South African farmers will not get any special treatment when they apply for protection visas, despite Peter Dutton's claims earlier this year that they deserve "special attention".

Key points: Peter Dutton asked Home Affairs Department to look into helping persecuted white South African farmers in March

Peter Dutton asked Home Affairs Department to look into helping persecuted white South African farmers in March Today during Senate Estimates, bureaucrats were pressed on what "special attention" they had been asked to give

Today during Senate Estimates, bureaucrats were pressed on what "special attention" they had been asked to give Official says there are "no additional requirements" from the Minister for South African migrants

In March, Home Affairs Minister Mr Dutton asked his department to investigate how it could assist South African farmers facing violent attacks, saying Australia was obligated to help them.

"It's an horrific circumstance that they face and Australia has a refugee and humanitarian program — as well as a number of other visa programs — where we have the potential to help some of these people that are being persecuted," he told The Daily Telegraph.

"I think these people deserve special attention and we are certainly applying that special attention now."

Mr Dutton's comments drew a diplomatic rebuke from South Africa and stoked a fierce political debate in Australia.

On Tuesday, Home Affairs officials told Senate Estimates that they had received refugee visa applications from 213 South Africans, although they did not specify their race or any other details.

Greens senator Nick McKim grilled the bureaucrats to explain what "special attention" they had been directed to give the farmers.

SENATOR MCKIM: Has the Minister asked you to prioritise preparing those assessment from people from South Africa or for white South African farmers? MALISA GOLIGHTLY: No, Senator. MCKIM: He hasn't? GOLIGHTLY: No. MCKIM: So as far as the department's concerned there's no special attention being given to people either from South Africa or South African farmers or white South African farmers? GOLIGHTLY: They are being assessed according to the criteria in the law. MCKIM: Yes, but without any priority? GOLIGHTLY: No, there's no additional requirements from the Minister. MCKIM: They're just in the normal queue that exists within the department for assessment? GOLIGHTLY: That's correct, Senator.

A number of Coalition MPs and senators have been pressing the Government to take in more South African farmers, pointing out that some have been the victims of horrific violence, and arguing it would bring valuable farming skills to regional areas.

Some MPs suggested that the Government could create a special visa for a one-off intake from South Africa, comparable to the visas offered to 12,000 Syrians in the wake of the civil war there.

But the Government has shown no appetite for pursuing that, and maintained South Africans will only be included in Australia's normal humanitarian intake.

Last month the UN's refugee agency said the Government should instead offer protection visas to those on Manus Island and Nauru, and cast doubt on whether South African farmers could be classified as refugees.