Family Visa
Family visa pathways allow eligible partners, parents, children, and fiancé(e)s of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia temporarily or permanently, depending on the visa subclass and their circumstances.
7. Child Visa (Subclass 101 / Subclass 802)
Difference Between Subclass 101 and Subclass 802
The Subclass 101 Child visa and the Subclass 802 Child visa are both permanent visas that allow a dependent child to live permanently in Australia with their parent who is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
The key difference between these two visas is the location of the child at the time of application. The Subclass 101 visa is for children who are outside Australia when the visa application is lodged, while the Subclass 802 visa is for children who are already in Australia when they apply.
Apart from the location requirement, the eligibility criteria, sponsorship requirements, and visa benefits are generally similar, and both visas grant the child permanent residence in Australia.
Sponsor Requirements
To sponsor a child for the Subclass 101 or Subclass 802 visa, the sponsor must:
•Be the child’s parent, or the parent’s current spouse or de facto partner
•Be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
•Be 18 years of age or older
•Lodge a child sponsorship application, which must be approved before the visa can be granted
•Agree to provide accommodation and financial support for the child for the first two years after the child arrives in Australia
•Meet character requirements, including checks relating to registrable offences involving children
Applicant Requirements
To be eligible for the Subclass 101 or Subclass 802 visa, the applicant must:
•Be the dependent child of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
•Be sponsored by an eligible parent or the parent’s spouse or de facto partner
•Be single, meaning the applicant must not be married, engaged to be married, or in a de facto relationship
•Meet one of the following age and dependency requirements:
•Under 18 years of age, or
•Between 18 and 25 years old and a full-time student who is financially dependent on the parent, or
•Over 18 years old and unable to work due to a disability
•Meet the health requirement
•Meet the character requirement (particularly if aged 16 or older)
•Have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government, or have arrangements in place to repay the debt
•If under 18 years old, provide written consent from all persons who have legal responsibility for the child to migrate to Australia