101 - Child visa

If you are an Australian citizen, holder of a permanent visa, or eligible New Zealand citizen, you may be able to sponsor your natural, adopted or step child for migration to Australia.

An applicant for a Child visa must be the natural child, adopted child* or stepchild** of an Australian citizen, holder of a permanent visa or eligible New Zealand citizen, and must be sponsored by that parent or that parent's current spouse.

An applicant aged 18-24 must be a full time student and financially dependent on the parent supporting the application. (Children who have a disability that stops them from working are not subject to these requirements, but must meet the health requirement.)

Applicants must not be married, engaged to be married or living in a de facto (common law) relationship. If aged over 18, the applicant must never have had a spouse.

A child who is overseas and was adopted after their parent became an Australian citizen, the holder of a permanent visa or eligible New Zealand citizen, cannot apply in this category and should consider applying in the adoption category.

 

Responsibilities of Sponsor (Parent) include:

Sponsors the child and any of the child's family members also included in the application and who are migrating with the child.

If a Child visa is granted, the sponsor must provide support for the child, including accommodation and financial assistance required to meet the child's reasonable needs during their first two (2) years in Australia.

Responsibilities of the Applicant (Child) include:

Lodge a complete application including all application forms, supporting documentation and application fees.

Note: Usually the sponsor does this on behalf of the child.

To apply for a Child visa, you must:

  • be the natural child, adopted child or step-child of an Australian citizen, holder of a permanent visa or eligible New Zealand citizen;
  • be sponsored by that parent or their spouse;
  • be under the age of 25, but if 18 or over, be a full-time student and dependent on you parents (exceptions apply when the child is disabled);
  • if overseas and adopted, have been adopted before your parent became an Australian citizen, holder of a permanent visa or eligible New Zealand citizen;
  • if in Australia and adopted, the adoption was organised through an Australian State or Territory adoption agency or your parents were resident overseas for 12 months prior to your adoption;
  • if a step-child, either your natural or adoptive parent is an Australian citizen, holder of a permanent visa or an eligible New Zealand citizen, or you are under 18 and your step parent has custody;
  • never have had a spouse, not be married, living in a defacto relationship or be engaged to be married; and
  • if under 18, have permission to migrate to Australia from relevant persons or from a court.

* A child applying outside Australia who was adopted after his or her parent became an Australian citizen, holder of a permanent visa or eligible New Zealand citizen, cannot apply in this category and should consider applying in the Adopted Child category (see the Adopted Child section below). A child applying in Australia who was adopted in this circumstance, may still be able to apply in this category subject to meeting certain requirements.

** A step child can only be granted a Child visa if under 18, and if the child's natural or adopted parent is no longer a spouse of the step parent, and that step parent has legal responsibility for the child.