Family visa

Family visas and family reunification in Australia

Australia allows family reunification through different visa categories for people who have close family members living in Australia.

Family Visas allow certain family members of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens to apply for temporary or permanent residence.

These visas are intended for parents, children and other close relatives who meet the appropriate conditions for family migration.

At the Australian Migration Office (AMO) we provide professional advice and assistance in assessing eligibility, selecting the appropriate visa category and preparing and submitting family visa applications.

Family visa options

The Australian immigration system offers several categories of family visas, depending on the applicant’s family connection, age, place of residence and individual circumstances.

The main categories are:

Parent visas (subclasses 103, 143, 173, 804, 864 and 884)

Parent Visas

Parent visas allow parents of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens to apply to move to Australia and live with their children.

There are several parent visa categories, including:

• Parent Visa (103) – permanent residence visa for parents.
• Contributory Parent Visa (143) – a permanent parent visa with higher government charges.
• Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (173) – a temporary parent visa with the option of subsequently applying for subclass 143.
• Aged Parent Visa (804) – permanent residence visa for parents who meet the required age limit.
• Contributory Aged Parent Visa (864) – a permanent parent visa for applicants who meet the required age threshold, with higher government charges.
• Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa (884) – a temporary parent visa with the option of subsequently applying for subclass 864.

For most applicants, it is important to meet the Balance of Family Test, which assesses the distribution of the parent’s children in Australia and overseas.

Parent visas are subject to annual limits on the number of visas approved, so waiting times can be very long.

Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870)

This visa allows parents to stay in Australia temporarily to spend more time with their children.

Depending on the approved visa, the stay can be for a period of 3 or 5 years, with the option of further applications up to a maximum total stay of ten years.

This category requires prior sponsorship approval for an eligible sponsor in Australia.

Important: This visa does not allow work and is not a direct route to permanent residence in Australia.

Child visas (subclasses 101 and 802)

Child Visas

These visas allow children of Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens to live with their parents in Australia.

The main categories are:

Child Visa – Subclass 101

For children outside Australia who wish to move to join their parent in Australia.

Child Visa – Subclass 802

Intended for children who are already in Australia and are eligible for permanent residence through their parent.

There are also separate categories for adopted children, dependent children and children without adequate parental care, including subclasses 102, 445, 117 and 837.

Conditions depend on the child’s age, family relationship, dependency on the parent and other relevant circumstances.

Visas for other family members

Other Family Visas

The Australian immigration system also provides for special visa categories for certain family members who do not fall under the parent, child or partner categories.

These categories include:

Remaining Relative visas – subclasses 115 and 835

It is for people whose only immediate family members are in Australia and who meet the specific conditions for this category.

Carer visas – subclasses 116 and 836

For people who need to move to or remain in Australia to provide essential care to a close relative with a long term health condition, where that care is not reasonably available in Australia.

Aged Dependent Relative visas – subclasses 114 and 838

For certain older people who are single and financially dependent on an eligible relative living in Australia.

These categories have specific legal requirements and a limited number of places in the annual migration program.

Limits and waiting times

Unlike certain other visa categories, parent visas and visas for other family members are subject to annual caps and queueing.

The Australian Government determines each year how many visas can be granted within the relevant categories.

When the maximum number of visas for a particular year is reached, the remaining applications continue to wait until new places become available in future years.

For categories covered by this system, applications are first assessed against the core criteria. Eligible applications are then assigned a queue date.

The waiting time depends on the visa, number of applications and places available in the annual migration programme.

Important: Waiting times for some parent and other family visas can extend to years or even decades.

It is therefore particularly important that candidates understand in advance the conditions, financial obligations and expected duration of the procedure.

What are the basic requirements for obtaining a family visa?

Conditions depend on the specific visa category and the individual circumstances of the applicants.

When considering an application, consideration will normally be given to:

• Family connection – evidence of kinship between the applicant and the family member in Australia.
• Status of sponsor – Australian citizenship, permanent residence or eligible New Zealand citizenship status.
• Sponsorship requirements – fulfilment of the appropriate criteria by the sponsor.
• Age and financial dependence – when applicable to the selected visa category.
• Family circumstances – number and place of residence of family members, when relevant.
• Financial requirements – ability to meet appropriate financial obligations, including Assurance of Support when required.
• Health and character conditions – meeting applicable Australian immigration criteria.

Some categories allow application from Australia, while for others the application must be made from overseas.

Therefore, choosing the appropriate visa category is particularly important before starting the procedure.

How can the Australian Migration Office help you?

Our registered Australian migration agent provides professional advice and assistance at all stages of the family visa process.

Our services include:

• A professional assessment of your family reunion options.
• Choosing the most appropriate visa category.
• Advice on sponsorship requirements.
• Assessment of parent visa requirements, including the Balance of Family Test.
• Preparation of an individual list of required documents.
• Analysis and verification of evidence of family connection.
• Preparation and submission of the visa application.
• Communication with Australian immigration authorities.
• Monitoring the procedure and assistance with additional requests for information.

We understand that family reunification is of great importance to people who want to live with their loved ones again.

Therefore, we approach each case individually, with attention to detail and a realistic assessment of the available opportunities.

Reunite with your family in Australia

Whether you want to bring your parents, children or other close family members to Australia, our team can help you understand the visa requirements and options available.

Contact us and find out how we can help you in the process of family reunification in Australia.