Child visa (subclass 101)

Child Visa 101 or 802: Which One Does Your Child Need?

The Child visa comes in two versions with almost identical eligibility rules. The difference is where your child is physically located.

• Subclass 101 is for a child who is outside Australia when the application is lodged and when it is decided.
• Subclass 802 is for a child who is already in Australia, usually on another visa, and stays in Australia while the application is processed. See our Child Onshore (Subclass 802) visa page.

Both lead to permanent residence. Choose the subclass that matches where your child will realistically be for the whole processing period. A 101 visa cannot be granted while the child is in Australia, so a child who visits during processing must be outside Australia again by the time a decision is made.

Comparing the Child Visa With Related Visas for Children

The Child visa is not the right visa for every child. Depending on the relationship and the circumstances, one of these may fit better:

Visa	Best suited to	Where the child must be	Government charge from 1 July 2026 (main applicant)
101 Child	A biological, adopted or step child of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen	Outside Australia	$4,040
802 Child	The same children as the 101, where the child is already in Australia	In Australia	$4,040
102 Adoption	A child adopted, or being adopted, from overseas after the parent became an Australian citizen or permanent resident	Outside Australia	$4,040
117 Orphan Relative	A child under 18 whose parents have died, cannot care for them or cannot be found, sponsored by a relative	Outside Australia	$2,475
445 Dependent Child	A child of a parent who holds a temporary partner visa, as a step towards the parent’s permanent partner visa	In or outside Australia	$4,040

For each additional applicant included in a 101 application, the charge is $2,020 for a person aged 18 or over and $1,015 for a child under 18. Visa charges are usually indexed on 1 July each year. Read more on our Adoption visa (subclass 102), Orphan Relative visa (subclass 117) and Dependent Child visa (subclass 445) pages.

One point that often catches families out: if a child was adopted overseas after the parent became an Australian citizen or permanent resident, the 101 is generally not available and the 102 Adoption visa is usually the pathway instead.

How to Apply for the Child Visa 101: Step by Step

1. Confirm eligibility. Check the child’s age, relationship to the sponsor and relationship status, and that the sponsor is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
2. Sort out custody and consent early. For a child under 18, get written consent from every other person who has the legal right to decide where the child lives, or obtain the relevant court order. This is often the slowest part of the process.
3. Collect documents. Use the checklist below and arrange certified copies and accredited English translations.
4. Complete the forms. The child’s application is made on Form 47CH and the parent’s sponsorship on Form 40CH. The two forms are lodged together.
5. Pay the visa application charge. The charge is paid online in advance through ImmiAccount using the pre-payment option for paper applications, and the printed receipt is included with the application.
6. Lodge by post or courier. Child visa applications are lodged on paper with the Department of Home Affairs processing centre in Perth, which handles new Child visa applications. Applications sent to the wrong office or by the wrong method can be invalid.
7. Respond to requests. Home Affairs will ask for health examinations, police certificates and any further information when it is ready. Reply by the deadline given.
8. Grant and travel. Once the visa is granted, the child must make their first entry to Australia by the date shown on the grant letter.

The forms are assessed against every visa in the Child (Migrant) class, which includes the 101, 102 and 117 subclasses. Make sure you answer the questions that apply to your child’s situation.

Document Checklist

For the child:

• certified copy of the child’s current passport
• certified copy of the birth certificate showing both parents’ names, or other official identity documents if no birth certificate exists
• adoption papers, if the child is adopted
• two recent passport photos (45mm x 35mm) with the child’s name written on the back
• police certificates for a child aged 16 or over, but only once Home Affairs asks for them

For a step child:

• evidence of the parent’s relationship with the step parent
• evidence of the child’s parentage
• evidence of the step parent’s legal responsibility for the child, such as a court order

For a child aged 18 or over:

• evidence of full-time study, such as an enrolment letter and transcripts
• a written explanation of any gap of more than six months in study since finishing school
• evidence of financial dependence on the parent, such as bank transfers and statements
• if relying on a disability, medical evidence that the child cannot work

For custody and consent (child under 18):

• written consent from each other person who can legally decide where the child lives (often the other parent), with a certified copy of their identity document showing their signature, or
• a court order allowing the child to live permanently in Australia, or
• a death certificate if the other 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, an Australian police check for the sponsor (and their partner), plus police certificates from other countries where they lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16

Send certified copies, not originals, unless Home Affairs asks for the originals. Documents not in English must be translated into English. If documents are missing or inconsistent, Home Affairs may suggest DNA testing to establish the relationship.

Children Aged 18 to 25: What Home Affairs Looks For

Applications for older children are refused more often because the extra criteria are harder to prove. Home Affairs will generally want to see that:

• the child is studying full time in a course that leads to a qualification, both when the application is lodged and when it is decided
• study started reasonably soon after school, with any gaps explained
• the child relies on the parent for most of their basic living costs, such as food, housing and clothing
• the child is not working full time, and has never been married or in a de facto relationship, and is not engaged

If a child is close to their 18th birthday, consider lodging as soon as possible. A child who turns 18 during processing may then also need to show the older child criteria are met, so keep study and support records from the start.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Lodging without the other parent’s consent or a court order. Without it, a visa for a child under 18 generally cannot be granted.
• Applying for the 101 when the child was adopted after the parent became a permanent resident or citizen. The 102 is usually the correct visa in that case.
• Paying the wrong amount, or leaving the payment receipt out of the paper application.
• Including a brother or sister in the same application. Each sibling needs a separate application.
• Bringing the child to Australia during processing and not having them outside Australia when the decision is made.
• Sending police certificates or medicals too early. They have limited validity, so wait until Home Affairs asks.
• Missing the first entry date on the grant letter.

Child Visa 101: Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for the 101 visa online?

Child visa applications are currently lodged on paper, by post or courier, to the Home Affairs processing centre in Perth. The visa charge is paid online beforehand through ImmiAccount. Always check the current lodgement instructions on the form before sending.

Can my child visit Australia while the 101 application is processed?

Your child can apply for a visitor visa, but it is not automatic, and the 101 can only be granted while your child is outside Australia. If a decision is due, your child will need to leave Australia before the visa can be granted.

What if the other parent will not give consent?

You may be able to get a court order that allows the child to live in Australia, either in the child’s home country or from an Australian family court. Get family law advice early, as this can take time.

Can the sponsor live outside Australia?

The sponsor must meet the sponsorship obligations, including providing accommodation and financial support for the child’s first two years in Australia. If the parent is not living in Australia, think carefully about how those obligations will be met and get advice before lodging.

Can the child become an Australian citizen?

Once the child is a permanent resident and has lived in Australia for the required period, they may be eligible for citizenship by conferral. Some children of Australian citizens may already be eligible for citizenship by descent, which may avoid the need for a visa. See our citizenship by descent guide.

Is there a fee waiver?

There is no fee waiver for the 101. The onshore 802 visa has no charge where the child is supported by an Australian state or territory welfare authority, but that does not apply to the offshore 101.