Child Visa (onshore) (subclass 802) — Australia

The Child Visa (subclass 802) lets your child stay in Australia permanently with you if you’re an eligible parent. You apply through Home Affairs, but the outcome depends on meeting all requirements.

This visa is part of Australia’s permanent migration options for families. It sits alongside other child and family visas.

Purpose

The Child Visa (subclass 802) provides a way for your child to remain with you in Australia on a permanent basis if you’re a citizen or permanent resident. It formalizes the child’s status under the migration system.

Home Affairs manages the process. You’ll need to lodge the correct application, including Form Form 47SP, and meet all department requirements.

Key points:

• Application is through the Department of Home Affairs
• The visa grants permanent residence
• Approval is not automatic
• The visa is for onshore applicants only

Fees are set in AUD (A$), and Home Affairs publishes current processing information and fee details.

Who it covers

This visa covers children seeking permanent residence in Australia with their eligible parent. You must already hold Australian citizenship or permanent residence to sponsor a child under this subclass.

It’s one of several child and family migration options. Here’s a quick comparison:

Your child’s location and circumstances decide which subclass fits.

Other family visas, such as the Carer Visa (subclass 836) and Remaining Relative Visa (subclass 835), serve different purposes.

How it fits in the system

The Child Visa (subclass 802) is part of the permanent family migration program. It lets children regularize their status and remain lawfully with a parent in Australia.

Home Affairs assesses all applications. The Australian Border Force handles border entry, but doesn’t make visa decisions.

This visa works alongside other child-related pathways:

• Use subclass 802 for onshore applications.
• Use subclass 101 if the child applies from outside Australia.
• Use subclass 102 for adopted children.

Choosing the correct subclass from the start is important. Lodging the wrong application can cause delays or refusal.

You’ll need to pay the correct fee when you lodge your application and be prepared for a wait that often stretches beyond a year. Home Affairs sets the charges and updates estimated timeframes through its processing time tools.

Application fee

Home Affairs charges a base application fee of A$3,235 for the primary applicant under the Child Visa (subclass 802) (as of July 2025).

Payment is due when you submit your application. For paper applications, include payment details with your forms. For online lodgement, you pay through the online system.

Fees can change. Always confirm the current amount using Home Affairs’ official fee information.

Other child‑related visas, including the Child Visa (offshore) (subclass 101), Adoption Visa (subclass 102), and Orphan Relative Visa (subclass 117), have different fee structures.

Processing times & priorities

Expect a processing time of about 12 to 24 months for the Child Visa (subclass 802). This range reflects recent decisions but can shift depending on caseload and complexity.

Home Affairs tries to finalise applications as quickly as possible, but cases needing character assessment or involving complex family circumstances may take longer.

Processing priorities can affect timing. Family visas compete with other categories, like the Carer Visa (subclass 836) and Remaining Relative Visa (subclass 835), which have separate queues and demand levels.

If you’ve used Form 47SP for a different visa, don’t assume the same timeframe applies. processing times vary by visa type and applicant location.

How to check current timing

To check current processing times, use the processing time guide from Home Affairs.

Steps:

1. Open the visa processing time guide tool from Home Affairs.

2. Select your visa subclass from the dropdown list.

3. Review the timeframe shown for recently finalised applications.

The tool gives an indication only. There’s no guarantee your application will finish within that period.

If the page won’t load, clear your browser cache and try again. Home Affairs also publishes updates and quarterly reports on processing trends.

You need to keep your child’s travel document valid and watch for updates from Home Affairs. A valid passport and accurate records prevent travel delays and problems with future applications.

Maintaining your status

The Child Visa (subclass 802) process depends on accurate, current personal documents. Make sure your child’s passport is valid before lodging any application or request with Home Affairs.

If you later use related programs—such as the Child Visa (offshore) (subclass 101), Adoption Visa (subclass 102), Orphan Relative Visa (subclass 117), Carer Visa (subclass 836), or Remaining Relative Visa (subclass 835)—check that all identity documents are up to date.

Use this checklist before submitting any form, including Form Form 47SP if required:

• Confirm your child’s passport is valid.
• Check the passport expiry date.
• Make sure passport details match all application forms.
• Update expired passports before lodging documents with Home Affairs.

If you’re unsure about document requirements for a new or related application, review the guidance from the Department of Home Affairs.

Passport & travel checks

A valid passport is essential before you apply or make updates through Home Affairs. Never submit an application with an expired passport.

Check the passport well ahead of any planned travel. If it’s close to expiry, renew it before taking any visa steps.

Before travel, confirm the passport is valid on your intended departure date. Make sure the passport details match your child’s visa records.

If you’ve renewed a passport, update the information in future applications. Details must be accurate in all dealings with Home Affairs to avoid delays or travel issues.

The Australian Border Force manages border entry, while Home Affairs manages visa records. Keep both agencies’ records up to date.

Seek legal advice if your case involves character concerns or you need priority processing for urgent or compassionate reasons. These situations demand detailed evidence and clear submissions to Home Affairs.

Complex or character cases

If you or your child has any character issues that could affect a Child Visa (subclass 802) decision, consult a registered migration professional. Home Affairs examines character carefully, and incomplete explanations can lead to refusal.

You need structured submissions that address:

• Any past criminal history
• Ongoing legal matters
• Previous visa refusals or cancellations
• Inconsistent information across applications, including Form Form 47SP

A professional can help you prepare a detailed written statement explaining the circumstances. Supporting court or police documents and evidence of rehabilitation or mitigating factors are often needed.

Proof of the child’s dependency and identity is also important. If the child could qualify under another pathway—such as the Child Visa (offshore) (subclass 101), Adoption Visa (subclass 102), Orphan Relative Visa (subclass 117), Carer Visa (subclass 836), or Remaining Relative Visa (subclass 835)—confirm the correct visa before lodging.

Priority or compassionate requests

You may request priority processing where compelling and compassionate circumstances exist. Home Affairs does not grant priority automatically, even in urgent situations.

Strong requests usually include documented evidence of:

• Serious medical issues
• Immediate welfare concerns
• Risks affecting the child’s care or stability
• Other exceptional hardship factors

A professional can help you present a clear written submission explaining urgency, along with medical or specialist reports. Evidence of the child’s living arrangements and proof of financial and emotional dependency may be required.

The key issue is documentation. Unsupported claims carry little weight.

If your case involves both character concerns and a priority request, address each issue separately and in detail. Poorly prepared requests can actually delay a decision.

You can apply for the Child Visa (subclass 802) if you are a dependent child of an eligible parent and you are physically in Australia at key stages of the process. Home Affairs assesses your age, dependency, relationship to your parent, and your parent’s status in Australia.

Core eligibility

You must be the dependent child of a parent who is an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent visa holder, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.

You must be in Australia when you lodge the application and when Home Affairs makes a decision. This visa applies to biological children, certain adopted children, and eligible stepchildren.

If you are outside Australia, you would instead look at the Child Visa (offshore) (subclass 101).

The table below shows how the Subclass 802 compares with related child and family visas:

Apply under the correct visa subclass based on your situation and location.

Age, dependency and relationship rules

You must meet one of the following age and dependency categories:

• Under 18 years old, or
• 18 to under 25 years old and studying full-time, or
• 18 or older and unable to work due to a disability

In all cases, you must be single. You cannot be married, engaged, in a de facto relationship, or otherwise partnered.

If you are under 18, you must also satisfy one of these requirements:

• Everyone who can legally decide where you live gives written consent,
• The law of your home country allows you to leave, or
• Your visa grant aligns with an Australian child order.

If you are a stepchild, you must be the child of your step-parent’s former partner. If you are adopted, your adoption must have been finalised before you turned 18.

Parental status and documentation

Home Affairs will closely assess your parent’s immigration status and your relationship to them. Your parent must hold the required citizenship or visa status at the time of decision.

You must provide clear evidence of your identity and your parent’s identity and status. Proof of your relationship to the sponsoring parent is required.

If you are over 18, provide evidence of your dependency. If you are 18–24, include proof of full-time study. Medical evidence is needed if applying due to disability.

You lodge the application using Form Form 47SP and include supporting documents at the time of submission. Incomplete or inconsistent documents can delay a decision.

Gather official records early and make sure all personal details match across identity and relationship documents.

You’ll need to show the child’s identity, the relationship to the sponsoring parent, and dependency status with clear, consistent records. Home Affairs expects documents to confirm biographical details, character requirements, and any dependants listed in the application.

Dependency & relationship evidence

Gather documents confirming the child’s identity and legal relationship to the sponsoring parent. Any inconsistencies—names, dates of birth, missing pages—can cause delays.

Prepare:

• Full birth certificate showing both parents
• Valid passport or travel document for the child
• Evidence of the sponsoring parent’s status
• Documents confirming any dependent children included in the application
• Certified photographs of the child and any included dependants

If the child claims dependency, include records that clearly support this. Keep details consistent with those in Form Form 47SP.

Here’s a checklist to cross‑verify details before submission:

If you’ve looked at other visas like the Child Visa (offshore) (subclass 101), Adoption Visa (subclass 102), or Orphan Relative Visa (subclass 117), make sure your documents fit the Child Visa (subclass 802) and don’t contradict earlier applications.

Character and police checks

Home Affairs takes character requirements seriously for applicants aged 16 or older.

If the child is over 16, provide:

• Police certificates for each country where they lived for more than 12 months after turning 17
• Any documents relevant to character assessment
• A military service certificate if they served more than 12 months in any country’s armed forces

Police certificates must cover the correct periods. Gaps in residence history often lead to further requests.

Names and dates of birth should match across all police certificates and identity documents. If there’s a mismatch, sort it out before you lodge.

Character standards also apply in other family visas, including the Carer Visa (subclass 836) and Remaining Relative Visa (subclass 835).

Certification, organisation and checks

Submit certified copies where required, and make sure all documents are clear and legible. Poor scans or incomplete copies can slow things down.

Before lodging with Home Affairs:

1. Confirm every document matches the details in Form 47SP.

2. Check that all identity documents are valid.

3. Ensure police and military records cover the full required periods.

4. Include certified photographs of the child and any dependants.

A valid passport or travel document for the child is essential for processing.

Organise documents in logical groups—identity, relationship, dependency, and character. This makes it easier for a case officer to review and reduces requests for more information.