Child Visa (offshore) (subclass 101) — Australia

The Child Visa (subclass 101) lets a child outside Australia move permanently to live with a parent.

The Department of Home Affairs processes this visa, and the child must apply from outside Australia.

Who can join a parent in Australia

This visa is for a child who is outside Australia and has at least one parent who is:

• An Australian citizen
• An Australian permanent resident
• An eligible New Zealand citizen

Use this visa if your child is overseas and you want them to live with you in Australia as a permanent resident.

Application is lodged with the Department of Home Affairs using Form Form 47SP.

If your child is already in Australia, consider the Child Visa (onshore) (subclass 802) instead.

Other child‑related visas may apply in different situations:

It’s important to choose the right visa based on your child’s location and circumstances.

High-level scope of the visa

The Child Visa (subclass 101) is a permanent visa.

It allows your child to move to Australia and live with you long-term.

Because this is an offshore visa, your child must remain outside Australia while Home Affairs processes the application.

It’s designed specifically for dependent children of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens.

This visa is about parent‑child reunification.

It doesn’t replace other family visas such as the Carer Visa (subclass 836) or Remaining Relative Visa (subclass 835).

Those serve different family relationships.

Home Affairs checks eligibility and makes the decision.

The Australian Border Force manages entry at the border after the visa is granted.

You must pay a set government charge and prepare for a processing period that can extend beyond one year.

Costs and timelines vary by visa subclass and by the specifics of your case.

The Department of Home Affairs decides both.

Application charges and fees

The application charge for the primary applicant is A$3,235 (as of July 2025).

This amount applies at lodgement and can change, so check the Department of Home Affairs fee information before you submit your application.

You pay the charge when you lodge the relevant form, such as Form Form 47SP, where required for your category.

Fees apply to visas including:

• Child Visa (onshore) (subclass 802)
• Adoption Visa (subclass 102)
• Orphan Relative Visa (subclass 117)
• Carer Visa (subclass 836)
• Remaining Relative Visa (subclass 835)

Home Affairs may charge additional amounts in some cases.

You should always review the official fee information for your subclass before you apply.

Processing time guides and priorities

processing times for child and related visas typically range from 12 to 24 months.

This timeframe reflects recently decided applications and is a guide, not a guarantee.

You can use the visa processing time guide tool from the Department of Home Affairs to check current estimates.

The tool updates based on recently finalised cases.

Home Affairs aims to finalise cases as soon as possible, but published times show how long completed cases have taken, not how long your case will take.

Factors that affect processing

Processing time depends on the complexity of your circumstances.

Cases referred for character consideration or involving sensitive issues can take longer.

Processing may also vary based on:

• The visa subclass you apply under
• How complete your application and supporting documents are
• The processing location handling your file
• Whether you correctly complete required forms, including Form 47SP where applicable

Incomplete applications delay assessment.

If Home Affairs requests further information, you must respond promptly to avoid additional delays.

Verify current processing times and requirements directly with the Department of Home Affairs, since timelines and priorities can change.

You must prove the child’s identity, age, and relationship to the sponsoring parent.

Character documents, certified copies, and correct forms are required before you lodge with Home Affairs.

Conditional and supporting documents

Start with identity and relationship evidence.

This applies to the Child Visa (onshore) (subclass 802), Adoption Visa (subclass 102), Orphan Relative Visa (subclass 117), Carer Visa (subclass 836), and Remaining Relative Visa (subclass 835) where relevant.

Prepare:

• The child’s valid passport
• Full birth certificate showing parents’ details
• Documents proving the relationship to the sponsoring parent
• Evidence the child meets all identity requirements

If the child is over 18 but under 25, provide proof of full‑time study and evidence of age.

If the applicant has served in any military force for 12 months or more, include military service records or discharge papers.

For paper applications, submit:

• Form 47CH
• Form 40CH
• All supporting documents

Send the forms and documents together by post or courier as required by Home Affairs.

Certification, translations and police checks

You must provide certified copies of all documents.

Don’t send uncertified copies unless Home Affairs specifically asks for originals.

If a document isn’t in English, include:

• The original document
• A certified copy
• A full English translation

Police certificates are mandatory if the applicant is over 17 years old.

You must provide a certificate for every country where you lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.

Police certificates:

• Remain valid for 12 months from the date of issue
• Must cover the required residence periods

If you’re in Australia, lodge an Australian Federal Police National Police Check using Code 33.

Missing or expired documents will delay processing by Home Affairs.

Check dates and certifications before you submit.

You must meet strict health and character standards before Home Affairs grants a Child Visa (onshore) (subclass 802), Adoption Visa (subclass 102), Orphan Relative Visa (subclass 117), Carer Visa (subclass 836), or Remaining Relative Visa (subclass 835). After grant, you hold specific rights and ongoing obligations in Australia.

Health and character requirements

Home Affairs requires most child visa applicants to meet minimum health standards before grant. Australia maintains high public health benchmarks, and your child must satisfy the health requirement to protect those standards.

You must complete all required medical checks when instructed. Home Affairs will not finalise the visa until health results meet the threshold.

Children aged 16 or older must complete Form 80 – Personal particulars for assessment, which supports character assessment. You must:

• Declare all criminal conduct
• Answer every question truthfully
• Provide complete personal history details

You must meet the character requirement both at the time of decision and while you remain in Australia.

Your child may be eligible for specific COVID-19 visa concessions where applicable. Home Affairs assesses this during processing.

Practical rights and obligations after grant

Once Home Affairs grants the visa, your child gains lawful status in Australia under the relevant subclass, such as the Child Visa (onshore) (subclass 802) or Adoption Visa (subclass 102).

You must continue to comply with Australian law and maintain character standards. A failure to meet character requirements can affect your child’s ability to remain in Australia.

To confirm visa status and check when the travel facility ends, use VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online). This system shows:

• Visa subclass
• Grant status
• Travel validity period

If you later consider Australian citizenship, review current processing times through Home Affairs before applying.

The Department of Home Affairs manages visa status and ongoing compliance. The Australian Border Force manages entry at the border when your child travels.

You must complete a parent sponsorship and a paper visa application, then send both with full supporting documents to the Department of Home Affairs. Accuracy and completeness at lodgement prevent delays and refusals.

Two-stage process: sponsorship then visa

You cannot apply for the Child Visa (subclass 101) without an approved parent sponsor. The eligible parent completes and lodges the sponsorship form with Home Affairs.

This sponsorship confirms the parent’s eligibility to support your application. An incomplete or ineligible sponsorship will stop the visa process.

Follow these steps in order:

1. Parent completes the sponsorship form.

2. You prepare the Child Visa (subclass 101) paper application.

3. You gather identity and relationship documents.

You lodge all required forms together.

Include clear evidence of your identity and your relationship to the sponsoring parent. Missing documents can lead to rejection rather than a simple request for more information.

Home Affairs processes several child and family visas. Make sure you select the correct visa before lodging.

Lodging paper applications and required forms

You must lodge the Child Visa (subclass 101) as a paper application. Home Affairs does not process this visa online.

Complete Form Form 47SP and any required sponsorship forms. Submit them together with all supporting documents by post or courier to the address specified by Home Affairs for this visa.

Include:

• Completed and signed Form 47SP
• Parent sponsorship form
• Proof of your identity
• Proof of your relationship to the sponsoring parent
• Any required supplementary forms

Send a single, complete package. Do not separate the sponsorship and visa forms unless Home Affairs instructs you to do so.

Check the official Department of Home Affairs website for the correct mailing address and current application charges in AUD (A$) before sending your documents.

Home Affairs closely reviews whether a child genuinely qualifies for the visa you select and whether you have documented that relationship correctly. Most refusals in this area stem from missing dependency evidence or basic document and form errors.

Missing dependency or relationship evidence

Home Affairs expects clear proof that the child meets the relationship and dependency requirements for the specific visa, such as the Child Visa (onshore) (subclass 802), Adoption Visa (subclass 102), Orphan Relative Visa (subclass 117), Carer Visa (subclass 836), or Remaining Relative Visa (subclass 835).

You must provide documents that match the claims in your application. If you state that you financially support the child, include objective evidence of that support.

Common missing items include:

• Proof of financial support showing regular transfers or payments
• Civil documents confirming the legal relationship
• Evidence that aligns exactly with names and dates in the application

If details in your forms do not match birth certificates, adoption records, or other civil documents, Home Affairs may question the relationship. Inconsistencies create doubt, even when the relationship is genuine.

Use this checklist before lodging:

Do not assume Home Affairs will request missing items later. You must include all required evidence at the time you apply.

Document certification and form completion errors

Technical errors can lead to refusal even when your relationship is genuine. Home Affairs requires properly certified copies where specified, not informal or incomplete copies.

Avoid these common problems:

• Submitting non-certified copies when certification is required
• Leaving sections of required forms incomplete
• Failing to complete and lodge the sponsorship form before or with the visa application
• Providing information that conflicts with civil documents

If you use Form Form 47SP, complete every relevant section and ensure all answers match your supporting documents. Do not leave blanks where an answer is required.

Review your application against this table before submission:

You carry the burden of proof. Submit a complete, internally consistent application that aligns with the Department of Home Affairs requirements from the start.