Children and relatives
Child Visa (Subclass 101 & 802)
OUR SERVICES
Visa options
Child (Subclass 101) Visa
Offshore Application
This visa is designed for children who are outside Australia when they apply and when a decision is made on the application.
Key Benefits:
- Grants permanent residency from the date of approval
- Allows study and work rights
- Access to Medicare (Australia’s public health system)
- Eligibility to apply for Australian citizenship (subject to residency requirements)
- Allow the child to sponsor eligible relatives in the future
Child (Subclass 802) Visa
Onshore Application
This visa applies to children who are already in Australia. The application can be lodged and processed while the child remains in Australia.
Key Benefits:
- Identical to subclass 101 but allows the child to stay in Australia during processing.
Eligibility Criteria
Key eligibility requirements
Both subclass 101 and subclass 802 visas carry the same components for assessment. The child and sponsoring parent must satisfy all the following requirements:
Child visa applications can be complex and emotional, particularly because it’s to do with your child. Small errors or missing evidence can result in long delays. At Wintr Consulting, we:
- Assess eligibility carefully before lodgement
- Guide families on gathering strong supporting evidence
- Prepare comprehensive submissions aligned with Department policy and case law
- Provide ongoing updates and support until a decision is made
Our goal is to ensure your family is brought together with as less hassle to you as possible. If you have a child or children who you’re looking to reunite with, we look forward to hearing from you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to some common questions
Yes. Adopted children are eligible if the adoption occurred before the sponsor became an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. Stepchildren can be included if the sponsor is in a continuing relationship with the child’s parent and/or has ongoing legal responsibility for them.
All applicants must meet Australia’s health requirements, which may include medical examinations. Children aged 16 years or older must also satisfy character requirements, generally by providing police certificates for each country where they have lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years.
No. Each child must lodge a separate application. However, a dependent child of an applicant (such as a minor child of the main child applicant) can be included in that application.
Yes. Parents or legal guardians are able to lodge the visa application on behalf of their child, especially where the child is under 16 or otherwise unable to complete the application themselves.
The Department of Home Affairs provides estimated processing times through the Global Visa Processing Times tool.
Yes. Both the subclass 101 and subclass 802 visas grant full work and study rights once the visa is approved.
Sponsors must notify the Department of Home Affairs if there are any significant changes, such as a change in relationship status, address, or financial ability. The Department will assess whether the child’s best interests continue to be met.
No. Once the visa is granted, sponsorship cannot be withdrawn. Sponsoring parents must continue to meet their obligations, including providing financial and settlement support for the first two years.
If the child has outstanding debts to the Australian Government, these must be repaid or arrangements must be made before the visa is granted. Failure to do so may result in refusal of the visa.
A child applying under subclass 101 must remain outside Australia at the time of lodgement and decision. While it may be possible to visit on a temporary visa while the visa is processing, it may present issues. These decisions are made on a case by case basis, and should be consulted with our team first.
No. The sponsoring parent does not need to be physically present in Australia when submitting an offshore (subclass 101) visa. The Sponsorship is valid regardless of their location.
Yes. If a child under 18 is being brought to Australia, written consent from all persons who have legal responsibility (e.g., other parents or guardians) is required.
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