Child Visas
The Australian Child Visa (Subclass 101/802) is a permanent residence visa designed for the biological, adopted, or stepchild(ren) of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, allowing them to live in Australia indefinitely.
The visa has two main subclasses based on the child’s location at the time of application and decision:
- Child Visa (Subclass 101): For children applying from outside Australia.
- Child Visa (Subclass 802): For children applying from within Australia.
General Requirements
To qualify for the Child Visa, the child must generally meet the following criteria:
- The child must be sponsored by an eligible parent
- The child must be single (not married, engaged, or in a de facto relationship) and dependent on the sponsoring parent. The child must also meet one of the following age requirements:
- Under 18 years of age.
- A full-time student aged between 18 and 25 and financially dependent on the sponsoring parent.
- 18 or older and unable to work due to a disability, and financially dependent on the sponsoring parent.
- The sponsor must agree to provide support, housing, and financial help to the child for the first two years of them living in Australia.
- The child and any accompanying dependent children must meet Australian health and character requirements
- For applicants under 18, the visa will only be granted if it is consistent with any Australian child order and is considered to be in the child’s best interests. Consent from all persons with legal custody or guardianship is also required.
Did you know?
In addition to the Child Visa, Australia’s Family Migration Program also includes the Adoption Visa (Subclass 102) for children adopted through legally recognised intercountry adoption programs, and the Orphan Relative Visa (Subclass 117/837) for children who do not have parents to care for them.