Stay
Permanently
Cost
- 50% of applications: 21 months
- 90% of applications: 31 months
Source: Home Affairs, updated 29 September 2026. Child visas are processed with the highest priority, together with partner visas.
The child must
- be a dependent child of a parent who is an Australian citizen, eligible New Zealand citizen or holder of an Australian permanent visa
- be under 18 years, a full-time student aged 18 to 25, or over 18 and unable to work due to a disability
- be single and dependent on the parent
- be in Australia when the application is made and when DHA make a decision
With this visa the child can
- stay in Australia indefinitely
- work and study in Australia
- enrol in Australia’s public healthcare scheme, Medicare
- sponsor relatives to come to Australia
- apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible
Travel to and from Australia for 5 years
The child can travel to and from Australia as many times as they want for 5 years from the date we grant this visa. This is as long as the travel facility of this visa remains valid.
If the child wants to travel after the initial 5-year travel facility:
- they will need to apply for and be granted a Resident Return (RRV) visa so they can re-enter Australia as a permanent resident
- they might also want to consider Australian citizenship. If they become an Australian citizen, they don’t require a visa to re-enter Australia. See more about eligibility requirements and current processing times for Australian citizenship
To see when the child’s travel facility ends, use VEVO.
How long the child can stay
This is a permanent visa. It lets the child stay in Australia indefinitely.
The child becomes a permanent resident the day we grant the visa.
Include other children
If the child has siblings who also want to apply, submit separate applications for each sibling.
The child’s dependent children can be included on their application when they apply or at any time before we decide the application.
Dependent children of the child who apply for the visa must meet our health requirement.
Family members who are not coming to Australia might also have to meet our health requirement.
Apply from
The child must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when the application is submitted and when DHA make a decision.
The child can’t apply for this visa if they are in Australia on another visa with a “no further stay” condition.
The child’s obligations
The child and any dependants must obey all Australian laws.
Be their parent’s dependent child
The child must be dependent on their parent. They can be their parent’s:
- biological child
- adopted child
- stepchild
Adopted children
If the child was adopted after their parent became an Australian citizen, Australian permanent visa holder or eligible New Zealand citizen, they must have been adopted:
- through an intercountry adoption with the involvement of an Australian state or territory central authority, or
- through an intercountry adoption by arrangement between two countries (other than Australia) that are parties to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the Hague Adoption Convention), or
- if no Australian state or territory central authority was involved, through an expatriate adoption by an Australian citizen, an eligible New Zealand citizen or the holder of an Australian permanent visa who has been living outside Australia for more than 12 months before the adoption was finalised
Stepchildren
To be eligible for this visa, a stepchild must:
- be the child of their parent’s former partner
- be aged under 18
The step-parent must also have either:
- an Australian parenting order in force that says the child is to live with them and be looked after by them, or
- guardianship or custody of the child under an Australian law or the law of another country
Have a sponsor
The child must be sponsored by an eligible parent or their parent’s spouse or de facto partner.
We must approve the sponsorship. DHA might not approve sponsorship if the sponsor or their partner has been charged or convicted of offences involving children.
Be this age
The child must be either:
- under 18 years old, or
- 18 to 25 years and studying full time, or
- over 18 years with a disability
If the child is over 18 years
If the child is 18 years or older, they:
- can’t be engaged to be married; and
- can’t be or ever have been in a de facto relationship
If the child is 18 to 25 years and studying full time
If the child is 18 to 25 years old they:
- must be a full-time student when they apply and when the visa application is decided
- can’t work full time
- must be financially dependent on their parent
The child is a full-time student if they are:
- enrolled in a full-time course that leads to a professional, trade or vocational qualification
- attending classes
The child should have started study since turning 18 years of age or within 6 months (or a reasonable time) of finishing school. Any gaps of more than 6 months between their final year of school and the start of their further studies must be explained.
If the child is over 18 years with a disability
If the child is 18 years or older with a disability, they:
- must have totally or partially lost their bodily or mental functions
- can’t work full time
- must be financially dependent on their parent
Have no partner
The child:
- can’t be married or in a de facto relationship
- can’t be engaged to be married
If the child is over 18, they must never have been married or had a de facto partner.
Meet the health requirement
The child and any of their dependent children who apply for the visa with them must meet our health requirement.
Dependent children who are not applying for the visa might also need to meet our health requirement.
Meet the character requirement
If the child is aged 16 years and over they must meet our character requirement.
DHA might also ask that their dependent children who apply for the visa with them meet the requirement.
Have paid back debt to the Australian Government
If the child or any member of their family owes the Australian Government money, it must be paid back or there must be a formal arrangement to pay it back.
Sign the Australian values statement
Children aged 18 or older must:
- have read, or had explained to them, the Life in Australia booklet
- sign the Australian Values Statement confirming they will obey Australian laws and respect the Australian way of life
Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused
The child might not be eligible for this visa if, since they last arrived in Australia, we have:
- refused a visa application, or
- cancelled a visa
Check if visa cancellation or refusal affects your eligibility..
If the child does not have a substantive visa when they apply for this visa, and we have cancelled a visa or refused a visa application since they last arrived in Australia, they must show us they have become the dependent child of an Australian citizen, eligible New Zealand citizen or holder of an Australian permanent visa. They must also show us that they have not been refused a visa or had their visa cancelled on character grounds.
Have consent to migrate to Australia
We will only grant this visa to a child younger than 18 years if either:
- the child has the written consent of everyone who can legally decide where they live, or
- the laws of the child’s home country allow them to leave their home country, or
- it is consistent with any Australian child order about the child
Best interests of the child
DHA might not grant this visa if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18.
Related guides
- Partner visa Australia
- Onshore partner visa (820 and 801)
- Offshore partner visa (309 and 100)
- Prospective Marriage visa (300)
- Partner visa costs
- Parent visa Australia
- Sponsored Parent visa (870)
- Parent visa costs
- Child visa Australia
- Relative visa options
- Family visa processing times
- Partner visa assessment
802 or 101: Choosing the Right Child Visa
The 802 and the 101 Child visa share almost the same eligibility rules. The key difference is location:
- the 802 is for a child who is in Australia when the application is lodged and when it is decided
- the 101 is for a child who is outside Australia at both of those times
The 802 suits children who are already living in Australia on another visa, for example a student visa, a visitor visa or a temporary visa they hold as a family member of a parent. If your child will need to spend long periods overseas during processing, the 101 may be the safer choice, because an 802 cannot be granted while the child is outside Australia.
Other Visas to Consider Before Applying
| Situation | Visa that may fit better |
| Your child is in Australia and you are applying for, or hold, a temporary partner visa | Your child may be able to join your partner visa application, or apply for the Dependent Child visa (subclass 445) |
| The child’s parents have died, cannot care for them or cannot be found, and a relative will care for them | Orphan Relative visa (subclass 837 in Australia, or subclass 117 outside Australia) |
| The child was adopted overseas after the parent became an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and the adoption does not meet the 802 adoption rules | Usually the Adoption visa (subclass 102), which is applied for outside Australia |
| The child may already be an Australian citizen | Citizenship by descent or another citizenship pathway, which may mean no visa is needed |
Children Born in Australia
Families are often unsure whether a child born in Australia needs an 802 visa. As a general guide:
- A child born in Australia is generally an Australian citizen at birth if at least one parent was an Australian citizen or permanent resident at the time of the birth. A citizen does not need a visa.
- A child born in Australia to parents on temporary visas is not a citizen at birth. In most cases the child is treated as holding the same visa as the parent.
- A child born in Australia who is not a citizen at birth may become a citizen on their 10th birthday if they have been ordinarily resident in Australia for their first 10 years.
If you became a permanent resident and your child was not included in your application, the 802 is usually how your child obtains permanent residence. Check our Australian citizenship page, or get advice, before lodging a visa your child may not need.
Bridging Visas and Travel While Your Application Is Processed
If your child holds a substantive visa when the 802 is lodged, they will usually be granted a bridging visa. The bridging visa keeps them lawful in Australia after their current visa ends, while the 802 is being decided.
- A Bridging visa A does not allow travel. If your child leaves Australia on a Bridging visa A, it generally ends and they may not be able to return on it.
- A Bridging visa B can allow travel for a set period, but it must be applied for and granted before the child leaves. Applying is not the same as having permission to travel.
- The 802 must be granted while the child is in Australia and not in immigration clearance, so time any travel carefully.
Use VEVO to check your child’s current visa and its conditions before making travel plans.
If your child’s visa has a “no further stay” condition
A child whose visa has a “no further stay” condition, such as condition 8503, cannot lodge an 802 unless the condition is waived first. A waiver is only available in limited situations, generally where circumstances have changed since the visa was granted for reasons beyond the person’s control. A waiver request does not keep the child lawful, so watch the expiry date of their current visa.
How to Apply for the 802 Visa: Step by Step
- Confirm eligibility and location. Check the age, relationship and sponsor rules, and that your child will stay in Australia during processing.
- Check your child’s current visa. Look for any “no further stay” condition and note when the visa expires.
- Arrange custody and consent. For a child under 18, get written consent from every other person who can legally decide where the child lives, or the relevant court order.
- Prepare the forms and documents. The application is made on Form 47CH and the sponsorship on Form 40CH, lodged together.
- Pay the charge. The visa application charge is prepaid online through ImmiAccount using the option for paper applications, and the receipt is included with the forms.
- Lodge by post or courier. Child visa applications are lodged on paper with the Home Affairs processing centre in Perth. Lodging the wrong way, or with the wrong payment, can make the application invalid.
- Health, character and further requests. Complete health examinations and provide police certificates when asked.
- Decision. Your child must be in Australia when the visa is granted. Permanent residence starts on the grant date.
Document Checklist
For the child:
- certified copy of the current passport
- certified birth certificate showing both parents’ names, or other official identity documents
- adoption papers, surrogacy documents or step child evidence, where relevant
- two recent passport photos (45mm x 35mm)
- for a child aged 16 or over, police certificates, including an Australian police check, when requested
For a child aged 18 or over:
- evidence of full-time study, including enrolment and results
- a statement explaining any gap of more than six months in study
- evidence of financial dependence on the parent
- medical evidence, if the child cannot work because of a disability
For a child under 18:
- written consent from each other person with the legal right to decide where the child lives, with a certified copy of their identity document, or a relevant court order, or a death certificate if a parent has died
For the sponsor:
- signed Form 40CH
- evidence of Australian citizenship, permanent residence or eligible New Zealand citizenship
- for a child under 18, police checks for the sponsor and their partner
Documents not in English must be translated by a NAATI accredited translator. Send certified copies unless originals are requested.
Children Supported by a State Welfare Authority
Where a child in Australia is in the care of an Australian state or territory welfare authority, there is no visa application charge for the 802 and a sponsorship form is not required. Instead, the application needs a letter of support from the welfare authority and the relevant court orders placing the child in its care.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Lodging while the child’s visa has a “no further stay” condition that has not been waived.
- Letting the child leave Australia on a Bridging visa A, or travelling when the visa is about to be decided.
- Not including the consent of the other parent for a child under 18.
- Assuming an adopted child qualifies when the adoption happened after the parent became a permanent resident or citizen, without checking the adoption rules on this page.
- Counting part-time study, or a long unexplained gap in study, as full-time study for a child over 18.
- Applying for a child who may already be an Australian citizen.
Child Visa 802: Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child go to school while the 802 is being processed?
Generally yes, depending on their current visa or bridging visa. Some state schools charge fees for children on temporary visas, so check with the school or the state education department. These fees usually stop once permanent residence is granted.
Can my child work while waiting?
That depends on the conditions of the visa or bridging visa they hold. A child aged 18 or over must not work full time, as that can affect their eligibility as a dependent child.
Do brothers and sisters apply together?
No. Each child needs their own application, although the child’s own dependent children can be included.
My child has no current visa. Can they still apply?
Possibly. As outlined above, a child without a substantive visa may still apply in some cases, but there are extra requirements and you should get advice before lodging.
How much does the 802 cost for more than one applicant?
From 1 July 2026, the visa application charge is $4,040 for the main applicant, $2,020 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over and $1,015 for each additional applicant under 18. Health examinations, police checks and translations are extra. See our 2026 visa fee increases page.
A Message From Our Team
At VisaEnvoy, we understand that a Child Visa application is about far more than paperwork, forms, and legal requirements. It is about family.
We understand how difficult it can be to live apart from your child, especially when you are building a life in Australia and hoping to share that future with them. We understand the uncertainty, the waiting, and the emotional challenges that many parents experience throughout the migration process. Most importantly, we understand the hope behind every Child Visa application: the hope of being reunited and creating a future together as a family.
For more than 10 years, our team has been assisting families from around the world with Australian Child Visa applications, including Subclass 101 and Subclass 802 visas. We have guided parents through complex eligibility requirements, lengthy processing times, requests for further information, and the many challenges that can arise during the visa journey.
When you engage VisaEnvoy, you are not simply hiring a migration agency. You are working with a team that genuinely cares about your family’s future and is committed to achieving the best possible outcome for your child.
Whether you are just beginning or preparing to lodge your Child Visa application, we are here to provide clear advice, practical solutions, and professional guidance every step of the way.
Let us help bring your family together in Australia.
VisaEnvoy Team
Contact us today to talk with our Registered Migration Agents and Lawyers in Melbourne to find out more about your visa options.
