Child Visa for Australia
Apply for the Subclass 101 Child Visa to bring your child to Australia permanently. Intergate offers expert help for citizens and permanent residents.
- Licensed advice
- Evidence and timing
- Next step
The Australian Child Visa (subclass 101 for offshore applicants, subclass 802 for onshore applicants) allows dependent children of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia permanently. Children must be under 18, or aged 18 to 24 and studying full-time, or dependent due to a disability. The visa grants permanent residence, Medicare access, and a pathway to citizenship.
Eligibility
- 01
Child must be under 18, or dependent and over 18
Subclass 101 and 802 cover children under 18, full-time students aged 18 to 24, and adults over 18 whose disability makes them dependent. Each category has separate evidence requirements.
- 02
Sponsoring parent holds Australian citizenship or permanent residence
The sponsoring parent must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. The sponsor must be approved by the Department of Home Affairs before the visa can be granted.
- 03
Child must be single with no dependants of their own
Applicants must not be married, engaged, or in a de facto relationship at the time of application. Children with their own dependants are ineligible for this visa subclass.
- 04
Parental consent or court order where custody is shared
Where the child has two living parents and only one is the sponsor, evidence of the other parent's consent or a court order permitting migration is mandatory. Missing this document is one of the leading causes of delay.
- 05
Health and character requirements for the child and sponsor
Standard medical examinations from a panel physician are required. Police clearances apply to children over 16. The sponsoring parent must also meet character requirements as part of the sponsor approval process.
- 06
Financial capacity of the sponsoring parent
The sponsor must demonstrate the ability to provide accommodation and ongoing financial support. This is assessed as part of the sponsorship approval, not the visa application itself.
Mistakes that cost a refusal
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Failing to obtain the non-sponsoring parent's consent before lodgement, causing the application to stall while consent documents are sourced.
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Applying for subclass 101 when the child is already in Australia; onshore applicants require subclass 802 instead.
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Submitting medical examinations too early so they expire before the visa is granted, requiring a repeat examination at additional cost.
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Overlooking the age-lock risk for 18-to-24-year-old student applicants; if the child turns 25 or ceases full-time study before the visa is decided, eligibility is lost.
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Confusing the child visa with citizenship by descent; children born overseas to Australian citizens often qualify for citizenship automatically and do not need a visa at all.
From first call to grant
01 · 1 wk
Strategy
Eligibility check for the correct subclass (101 vs 802), sponsor approval status, consent requirements, and timeline planning.
02 · 4-8 wk
Sponsor approval
Application to the Department of Home Affairs to approve the sponsoring parent. Required before or concurrent with the visa application.
03 · 2-4 wk
Evidence build
Collecting birth certificates, custody documents, parental consent, medical examinations, and financial evidence for the sponsor.
04 · 1 wk
Lodgement
Full visa application lodged online, with all documents attached and government fees paid.
05 · 12-24 mo
Decision and grant
Department processing. Response to any case-officer requests for further information, leading to visa grant.
What that buys you
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MARA-registered agents carry regulatory liability under the code of conduct for every step of the child visa process, including sponsor approval and document preparation.
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Consent and custody document requirements vary by country; an experienced agent knows what the Department of Home Affairs will accept from each jurisdiction.
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Age-out risk management: we track application timelines and alert you if a dependent student applicant is approaching a milestone birthday that could affect eligibility.
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Many families discover mid-process that the child qualifies for Australian citizenship by descent rather than a visa; we identify this early and redirect the application accordingly.
We work on a transparent flat fee, quoted at the consultation. We do not publish prices because the right number is the case-specific one.
What Is the Australian Child Visa Subclass 101 and 802?
The Australian Child Visa Subclass 101 and Subclass 802 is a permanent residence visa for children who have a parent who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Subclass 101 is for children outside Australia at the time of application and visa grant.
- Subclass 802 is for children who are already in Australia when applying and when the visa is granted.
With these visas, your child can live in Australia permanently, study and access Medicare, apply for Australian citizenship when eligible, and travel freely to and from Australia.
Common Situations Where We Help
- Children born overseas to Australian citizens or permanent residents
- Children from previous relationships where custody agreements allow migration
- Stepchildren or adopted children (conditions apply)
- Young adults studying abroad who are still dependent on their parent in Australia
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can the child travel to Australia while the visa is being processed?
A subclass 101 applicant must be outside Australia at both lodgement and grant. If the child needs to travel to Australia in the interim, a separate visitor visa is required. Entering on a visitor visa does not affect the 101 application.
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Does the child need their own health insurance during processing?
There is no mandatory Overseas Health Cover requirement during processing for a child visa, unlike student visas. However, once granted, the child has access to Medicare as a permanent resident.
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What if the other parent refuses to provide consent?
If the non-sponsoring parent refuses consent and there is no court order permitting migration, the visa cannot be granted. In this situation, the sponsoring parent must seek a court order from the relevant family court in the country of the child's residence. We can advise on the documentation required once an order is obtained.
Next step
Speak with a licensed advisor about your visa options.
A focused consultation routed to the right licensed advisor. Continue independently after the call, or proceed with us and have the consultation fee deducted from the service fee.