If a visa holder in Australia has a baby, the child will generally be granted the same type of visa as the parents. This means the baby will likely have a temporary or permanent visa, depending on the parents’ visa status. Parents don’t need to apply for a separate visa for the child, but they must notify the Department of Home Affairs to have the visa attached to the child’s passport. If one parent is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, the child is automatically an Australian citizen.
-
Visa For the Baby:
If both parents are on visas, the baby will automatically receive the same type of visa however you must notify the Department.
-
No Separate Application:
Parents don’t need to apply for a visa for the child separately.
-
Notification Required:
Parents must notify the Department of Home Affairs to have the visa attached to the child’s passport.
-
Citizenship:
If one parent is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, the child is an Australian citizen by birth.
-
Permanent Resident:
If both parents are permanent residents, the child is also a permanent resident.
-
Temporary Visa:If both parents hold a temporary visa, the child will be a temporary resident, holding the same visa as the parents.
At the time of your child’s birth, was one parent a New Zealand citizen with a Special Category (subclass 444) visa (SCV)?
At the time of your child’s birth, was one parent an Australian citizen or a permanent visa holder?
At the time of your child’s birth, was one parent a New Zealand citizen with a Special Category (subclass 444) visa (SCV)?
476, 485, 500 or 590 temporary visa
You must tell DOHA about your child as soon as possible (even if they don’t have a passport yet), so to determine whether your child can be added to your current visa(s) and any pending visa applications you have.
If both parents hold a different substantive visa at the time of birth, the child is taken to have been granted one of each of the visas of the same class and on the same terms and conditions as the parents.
If your child doesn’t have a passport yet, you can give DOHA copies of their passport pages later. However, you must send them as soon as you can.
If your visa application is not yet finalised, use ImmiAccount
If you currently have an unfinalised visa application, sign in and upload these documents to ImmiAccount.
- Form 1022 – Notification of changes in circumstances
- A colour scan of your child’s Australian birth certificate (issued by the births, deaths and marriages authority in your state/territory)
- A colour scan of your child’s passport pages (showing photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates)
- Parents ID (in case there is only one parent in the current application
- Form 1229 – Consent to grant an Australian visa to a child
Cost
It is free to:
- add your child to your visa
- link your visa to their passport
- add your child to an unfinalised visa application.
Terms and conditions
Your child’s visa(s) will have the same terms and conditions as the visa(s) that you and the other parent held when the child was born. This includes any bridging visa(s).
Your child must comply with the terms and conditions of their visa(s) like you.
What happens next
If you have given us everything we need, we will include your child in any unfinalised visa applications you have with us. Your child will be assessed for a decision on your visa, along with yourself and any other dependents.
Your child must meet all requirements for visa grant. This includes:
- meeting the health requirement
- having a valid passport for travel (where applicable).
If you do not tell DOHA about your child:
- you cannot check visa conditions online for your child via Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO)
- your child’s immigration status might be adversely impacted. This could also adversely impact your own immigration status
- you and your child might be delayed at the airport if your child attempts to travel.
What if my visa application has been refused before I tell the department about my child’s birth?
You must still notify us of your child’s birth as soon as possible, even if your child does not have a passport yet. Then we can check their visa eligibility.
Your child’s status
Once DOHA have received notification and evidence of your child’s birth, your child will be considered to hold any visa(s) that you and the other parent held when your child was born.
Your child will also be added to any unfinalised visa applications you may have with us at the time of your child’s birth.
Your child is not an Australian citizen at time of birth or a permanent resident.
482 or any other temporary visa
Tell DOHA about your child
You must tell us about your child as soon as possible, even if they don’t have a passport yet. DOHA can determine whether your child can be added to your current visa(s) and any pending visa applications you have.
If both parents hold a different substantive visa at the time of birth, the child is taken to have been granted one of each of the visas of the same class and on the same terms and conditions as the parents.
If your child doesn’t have a passport yet, you can give DOHA copies of your child’s passport pages later. However, you must send them as soon as you can.
Using ImmiAccount
If you currently have a visa application in ImmiAccount that is not yet finalised, sign in and upload these documents to ImmiAccount:
- Form 1022 – Notification of changes in circumstances
- A colour scan of your child’s Australian birth certificate (issued by the births, deaths and marriages authority in your state/territory)
- A colour scan of your child’s passport pages (showing photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates)
By post
If your visa application in ImmiAccount is finalised or you did not apply for your visa via ImmiAccount, post these documents to DOHA:
- Form 1022 – Notification of changes in circumstances
- A certified copy of your child’s Australian birth certificate (issued by the births, deaths and marriages authority in your state/territory) – do not send originals
- A certified copy of your child’s passport pages (showing photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates) – do not send originals
Our address details are under Visa and Citizenship office.
We recommend you send them by express or registered post so you can track their delivery.
Cost
It is free to:
- add your child to your visa
- link your visa to their passport
- add your child to an unfinalised visa application.
Terms and conditions
If we add your child to your visa(s), your child’s visa(s) will have the same terms and conditions as the visa(s) that you and the other parent held when the child was born. This includes any bridging visa(s).
Your child must comply with the terms and conditions of their visa(s) like both of you.
What happens next
DOHA will let you know if you need to do anything else.
If you also have an unfinalised visa application, DOHA will include your child in any unfinalised visa applications you have with us.
Your child must meet all requirements for visa grant. This includes:
- being included in a sponsorship (where applicable)
- meeting the health requirement
- having a valid passport for travel (where applicable).
Parents on Temporary Visas
Where at least one parent is a temporary visa holder, the child is taken to have been granted the same visa as his/her parents. Even though the parents are not required to apply for a visa for the child, they must notify the Department of Home Affairs as soon as the child’s birth certificate and passport are available so that a visa can be attached to the child’s passport.
Summary Table
| Baby Born in Australia | Baby Born Outside of Australia | |
| Parent 1: Australian Citizen Parent 2: Australian Citizen |
Citizen by Birth | Citizen by Descent |
| Parent 1: Australian Citizen
Parent 2: Permanent Resident |
Citizen by Birth | Citizen by Descent |
| Parent 1: Australian Citizen
Parent 2: Temporary Visa Holder |
Citizen by Birth | Citizen by Descent |
| Parent 1: Permanent Resident
Parent 2: Permanent Resident |
Citizen by Birth | Need to Apply Child Visa |
| Parent 1: Permanent Resident
Parent 2: Temporary Visa Holder |
Citizen by Birth | Need to Apply Child Visa |
| Parent 1: Temporary Visa Holder
Parent 2: Temporary Visa Holder |
Parents’ Temporary Visa | No Visa |
NZ citizens in Australia
Children born in Australia on or after 1 July 2022 to a New Zealand citizen parent who holds a Special Category (subclass 444) visa are generally Australian citizens at birth. They do not need a visa, and you can apply for evidence of Australian citizenship so your child can get an Australian passport.
Since 1 July 2023, New Zealand citizens who have lived in Australia for at least four years can also apply directly for Australian citizenship, without first getting permanent residence. See our guide to the direct pathway to Australian citizenship for New Zealanders.
Older rule (for reference): New Zealand stream visas granted in the 2022-23 program year gave holders faster access to the benefits of permanent residence, including the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
How do I add my newborn baby to my pending visa application?
The process depends on when the child is born.
Baby born before a visa decision is made
If a child is born after a visa application has been lodged but before a decision is made, the child is generally taken to be included in the same visa application.
Parents should notify the Department as soon as possible and provide relevant documents, such as:
- the child’s birth certificate;
- passport (if available); and
- any other documents requested by the Department.
Baby born before the visa decision, but the Department was not informed
The child may still be considered part of the visa application even if the Department was not notified at the time of birth.
In this situation, parents should contact the Department as soon as possible, provide the child’s details and supporting documents, and request that the child’s visa application be processed together with the family’s pending application.
Baby born after the visa has been granted
If the child is born after the parents have already been granted their visas, the child may automatically acquire the same visa status as the parents in certain circumstances.
Parents should notify the Department of the birth and request that the child’s visa records be updated. The Department will advise whether any additional documentation or formal processing is required.
Because the requirements can vary depending on the visa subclass and the timing of the birth, it is important to notify the Department promptly and ensure the child’s details are correctly recorded.
Three situations at a glance
| When your baby is born | What the law generally says | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| While your visa application is still being processed | Your child is generally taken to be included in the same application (regulation 2.08 of the Migration Regulations). | Tell Home Affairs as soon as you can. Upload form 1022, the birth certificate and the passport pages (when available) in ImmiAccount. |
| Before a decision, but you did not tell Home Affairs | Your child is still generally taken to have applied with you. | Contact the area processing your application, give your child’s details and documents, and ask for your child’s application to be decided. |
| After your visa was granted | A child born in Australia is generally taken to hold the same visa as the parent at birth (section 78 of the Migration Act). | Notify Home Affairs with the birth certificate and passport, and ask for the visa to be recorded for your child so it shows in VEVO. |
If one parent is an Australian citizen or permanent resident when your baby is born in Australia, your baby is generally an Australian citizen by birth and does not need a visa.
Having a baby on a visa: common questions
Is my baby an Australian citizen if born in Australia?
Your baby is generally an Australian citizen by birth if at least one parent was an Australian citizen or permanent resident at the time of birth. If neither parent was, your baby is not a citizen at birth, but a child born in Australia who is ordinarily resident here for the first 10 years of their life generally becomes a citizen on their 10th birthday. See our How to get Australian citizenship guide.
One parent is a New Zealand citizen on a Special Category visa. Is our baby a citizen?
For children born in Australia on or after 1 July 2022, yes: a child is generally an Australian citizen at birth if a parent held a Special Category (subclass 444) visa at the time. Children born before that date may become citizens in other ways. You can apply for evidence of Australian citizenship so your child can get an Australian passport.
Do I need to apply and pay for a separate visa for my baby?
Usually no, if your baby was born in Australia while you held a visa or had an application pending. It is free to add your child to your visa, link the visa to their passport, or add them to an unfinalised application. A baby born outside Australia to permanent residents generally needs a child visa.
My baby was born while my partner, student or skilled visa was pending. What does my baby need to meet?
Your child is assessed with your application and must meet the requirements for grant, such as the health requirement and, where relevant, being included in a sponsorship. Send the documents early so the decision is not delayed.
Can my baby get Medicare?
It depends on your situation. Your baby can generally enrol in Medicare if they are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, if they hold a visa that is eligible for Medicare, or in limited cases under a reciprocal health care agreement with your home country. If your baby is not eligible, add them to your private health insurance as soon as possible after birth.
Can we travel overseas with our newborn?
Your baby needs a passport, usually from your home country (or an Australian passport if they are an Australian citizen), and their visa must be linked to that passport before you travel. Check your baby’s visa in VEVO first. If you are on a bridging visa, you and your baby may need a bridging visa B before leaving, or you may not be able to return. Book a consultation if you are unsure.
