The Child visa (subclass 101) allows a child living outside Australia to move permanently to Australia to live with their parent or sponsoring parent.
- Visa type: Permanent residence
- Stay duration: Indefinite
- Application location: Child must be outside Australia when the application is lodged and when the visa is granted
- Cost: From AUD 3,140
- Processing time: 75% in 8 months, 90% in 13 months
Who can apply (the child)
The child must:
- Be single
- Be under 18 years old, or:
- 18–25 years old and a full-time student dependent on the parent
- 18+ and unable to work due to disability, dependent on the parent
- Be sponsored by a parent or their partner
- Be the biological, adopted, or step-child of the sponsoring parent (adopted children must have been adopted before the parent became Australian citizen or permanent resident)
- Meet health and character requirements
- Have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government (or have arrangements to repay)
Dependent children of the child can be included in the application.
Sponsoring parent requirements
- Must be Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
- Must be over 18 years old
- Can be:
- Biological parent
- Step-parent (with legal responsibility for the child)
- Adoptive parent (adopted before acquiring Australian citizenship or PR)
- Sponsorship can be done from outside Australia
Parental responsibility
- Written consent of all persons legally responsible for the child’s care
- Compliance with home country laws for child removal
- Consistency with any Australian child order
Best interests of the child
- Visa won’t be granted if it is against the child’s best interests
Rights and benefits for the child
- Live in Australia permanently
- Work and study
- Enrol in Medicare
- Apply for Australian citizenship (if eligible)
- Sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence
- Travel to and from Australia for 5 years from visa grant
Health and character requirements
- Health: Must meet medical standards (results valid for 12 months)
- Character: Children over 16 must provide police certificates for countries lived in 12+ months during past 10 years
Assurance of Support
- The Department may request an Assurance of Support to cover welfare costs
- Only provide it if requested
Sponsor obligations
As a sponsoring parent, you must:
- Cover costs for the child living in Australia
- Provide adequate accommodation and financial support for the first 2 years
- Help the child settle in Australia
- Support the child in attending English language classes if required
- Notify the Department of changes affecting eligibility
In short, subclass 101 is for children outside Australia, sponsored by parents (or adoptive/step-parents), to live permanently with their family, while meeting age, health, character, and parental responsibility requirements.
