Child Visas

The subclass 101 is for dependent children who are outside Australia at the time of application and grant. The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. The child must be under 18 (or under 25 if a full-time student, or if incapable of working due to a disability).

The subclass 802 is the onshore equivalent, for dependent children who are in Australia at the time of application. Eligibility requirements mirror those for the subclass 101.

Available to dependent children of subclass 309, 820, or 461 visa holders. This visa allows the child to remain lawfully in Australia while the parent's partner or remaining relative visa is being processed.

Children being adopted by Australian citizens or permanent residents through an inter-country adoption process may be eligible for a visa upon completion of the adoption. The applicable subclass depends on the stage of the adoption and whether the child has been legally adopted overseas or will be adopted in Australia.

• ✦The sponsor must be the child's parent, step-parent, or adoptive parent
• ✦The child must be unmarried and have no de facto partner
• ✦The child must meet health and character requirements (character requirements apply to children 16 and over)
• ✦If the child is aged 18–25, they must be a full-time student and financially dependent on the sponsor

We assist families to understand which child visa subclass applies to their circumstances and to prepare the required documentation, including evidence of the parent-child relationship and dependency.