FAMILY VISAS
Australian Child Visas allow eligible dependent children to join or remain with their parents in Australia through a temporary or permanent family visa pathway.
The appropriate visa will depend on where the child is located, their age and dependency, the parent’s Australian status and whether a permanent Partner visa application is already in progress.
Subclass 101
A permanent visa for an eligible dependent child who is outside Australia and is being sponsored to live with their parent in Australia.
Subclass 802
A permanent visa for an eligible dependent child who is already in Australia and is being sponsored by their parent.
Subclass 445
A temporary visa for a dependent child whose parent holds a temporary Partner visa while the parent’s permanent Partner visa application is being processed.
A Child Visa application requires careful assessment of the child’s dependency, the sponsor’s status, parental responsibility and the supporting family evidence. Borderless Migration guides families through each stage of the process.
We assess the child’s location, age, dependency, relationship to the parent and the sponsor’s Australian immigration status to identify the appropriate visa pathway.
We guide the sponsor through the sponsorship requirements and help organise evidence of the parent-child relationship, dependency, financial support, custody and parental consent.
We provide a tailored checklist and review the child’s identity, relationship, dependency, health, character and parental responsibility documents before preparing the application.
We lodge the sponsorship and visa application, monitor its progress, assist with information requests and keep the family informed until a decision is received.
A permanent visa for an eligible child adopted, or in the process of being adopted, outside Australia by an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
A permanent visa pathway for an eligible child whose parents are deceased, cannot care for them or cannot be found, allowing the child to live with an eligible relative in Australia.
Temporary and permanent visa pathways for the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
The subclass 101 visa is generally for a dependent child applying from outside Australia. The subclass 802 visa is generally for a dependent child who is already in Australia. Both are permanent visas, but the child’s location is an important factor when selecting the correct subclass.
The child must generally be under 18, aged over 18 but under 25 and studying full-time while financially dependent on their parent, or aged over 18 and unable to work because of a disability. The child must be single and cannot be married, engaged or in a de facto relationship.
A child may generally be sponsored by an eligible parent or the parent’s spouse or de facto partner. The parent must usually be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. The sponsorship must be approved before the visa can be granted.
For a child under 18, permission is generally required from every person who has the legal right to decide where the child lives. This may be demonstrated through written consent, a relevant court order or evidence that the laws of the child’s home country permit the child to leave.
There are many other reasons why Australian visa applications get refused including:
The subclass 445 is a temporary visa for the dependent child of a parent who generally holds a temporary Partner visa subclass 309 or 820. After the subclass 445 visa is granted, the child must be added to the parent’s permanent Partner visa application.
Processing times vary according to the visa subclass, application completeness, health and character checks, parental consent arrangements and whether additional information is required. Current estimates should be checked using the Department of Home Affairs visa processing time guide.
The correct pathway depends on the child’s location, age, dependency and family circumstances. Book a consultation with Fatima El-Kheir for personalised guidance before preparing the application.
