Who this may suit
Families considering a separate permanent Child visa where a parent is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent visa holder or eligible New Zealand citizen.
Key considerations
- Both subclasses are permanent visas. Eligibility still depends on the child’s relationship, age, dependency, personal circumstances and approved sponsorship.
- Subclass 101 is applied for outside Australia. The usual grant rule also requires the child to be outside Australia; any historical concession needs case-specific confirmation.
- Subclass 802 requires the child to be in Australia, outside immigration clearance, at application and decision. Current visa conditions and immigration history need checking before lodgement.
Age and dependency need more than a birth certificate
The broad categories are children under 18, financially dependent full-time students aged 18 to 24, and certain adult children whose disability prevents them from working full time. The detailed rules, including relationship history and ongoing dependency, must be assessed.
For the student category, check course enrolment, attendance, gaps in study, employment and financial support. Relevant requirements can continue during processing, so tell your adviser about graduation, a job change or changes in support.
The family relationship must fit the rules
Biological children, adopted children and some stepchildren can fall within the Child visa rules, but the evidence and legal definitions differ. Adoption timing and the parent’s status at adoption can change which pathway is suitable. Stepchild eligibility is restricted and should not be inferred from a parent’s current marriage.
If a parent was an Australian citizen when the child was born overseas, investigate citizenship by descent before proceeding with a visa application.
Build an organised application
- Identity and relationship: passports, birth records and any adoption, name-change or parenting documents.
- Parent and sponsor: evidence of Australian status, relationship to the child and the required sponsorship material.
- Dependency: relevant study, employment and financial-support records; disability evidence where applicable.
- Consent: documentation from those legally entitled to decide where a child under 18 lives, or the applicable legal alternative.
- Application: use the current forms, payment and lodgement instructions. Home Affairs currently requires paper Child applications; importing a lodged application into ImmiAccount is a separate step.
Plan the waiting period
An application acknowledgement and a visa grant are different events. For an onshore application, confirm the child’s actual immigration status and any bridging visa details. Review travel permission before departure and the location required for a decision.
Keep a copy of everything submitted and report relevant changes. Home Affairs may request health, character or additional relationship evidence. Published processing information describes other applications and is not a decision date for your family.
How we can help
Discuss the appropriate subclass, any timing or status risks, and the evidence needed to explain the child’s circumstances clearly. An agreed document plan can help identify gaps before lodgement.
Questions to consider
Can an adult child apply?
Potentially, within the detailed student/dependency or disability provisions. Being financially supported by a parent alone is not enough for every adult Child visa applicant.
Can we visit Australia and then apply for 802?
Get advice before planning this. A valid onshore application depends on the child’s existing visa, conditions and immigration history. A No Further Stay condition can prevent an application; a visit should not be treated as a guaranteed migration strategy.
Can siblings share one Child visa application?
Siblings need separate applications. An applicant’s own eligible dependent child is a different question and should be assessed separately.
Does lodging the application make the child a permanent resident?
Permanent residence follows the visa grant. Before then, check the child’s current visa and any separate permission needed to enter or remain in Australia.
Your next step
Arrange a review with Ausdirect before a visa expiry, travel booking or approaching age threshold. Bring the child’s and parent’s current visa or citizenship documents.