Child visa pathways: bringing your child to live with you in Australia

Living in Australia while your child remains overseas can be extremely difficult.

In other cases, your child may already be in Australia on a temporary visa, and you want to understand whether they can remain with you permanently.

Australia provides several visa pathways for eligible children. The appropriate option depends on the child’s location, age, dependency, and relationship status, as well as the parent’s immigration status.

The main pathways are:

• Child Visa (subclass 101);
• Child Visa (subclass 802); and
• Dependent Child Visa (subclass 445).

Although these visas sound similar, they serve different purposes. Choosing the wrong subclass can result in delays, an invalid application, or visa refusal.

First, Could Your Child Be an Australian Citizen?

Before applying for a Child Visa, check whether your child may be eligible for Australian citizenship by descent.

This may be possible if the child was born outside Australia and one of their parents was an Australian citizen at the time of their birth.

If citizenship by descent is available, applying for citizenship may be more appropriate than applying for a visa.

Child Visa (Subclass 101)

The subclass 101 visa is a permanent visa for an eligible child applying from outside Australia.

The sponsoring parent must generally be:

• An Australian citizen;
• An Australian permanent visa holder; or
• An eligible New Zealand citizen.

The child must be outside Australia when the application is submitted and will generally need to be outside Australia when the visa is granted.

This pathway is commonly used where a parent moved to Australia before their child, became a permanent resident or citizen after arriving, or did not include the child in an earlier migration application.

Child Visa (Subclass 802)

The subclass 802 visa is a permanent visa for an eligible child who is already in Australia.

The child must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when the application is submitted and when the Department makes its decision.

However, being in Australia does not automatically mean the child can apply. Their current visa and immigration history must be checked carefully.

A “No Further Stay” condition, previous visa refusal or visa cancellation may affect whether a valid onshore application can be made.

Dependent Child Visa (Subclass 445)

The subclass 445 visa is different from subclasses 101 and 802. It is a temporary visa connected to a parent’s Partner visa application.

It may be available to the dependent child of a parent who holds:

• A Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309);
• A Partner visa (subclass 820); or
• A Dependent Child visa (subclass 445).

The child must generally be sponsored by the same person who sponsored or nominated the parent.

Once the subclass 445 visa is granted, the child must apply to be added to the parent’s permanent Partner visa application before the Department decides that application. Timing is therefore very important.

Who May Qualify as a Child?

For subclasses 101 and 802, the applicant must generally be:

• Under 18;
• Aged 18–24, studying full-time and financially dependent on their parent; or
• Over 18 and unable to work because of a disability.

The child must also generally be single and must not be married, engaged, or in a de facto relationship.

For an adult child, the Department may request evidence showing that the parent provides ongoing financial support for basic needs such as food, accommodation, education, clothing, and medical expenses.

Evidence may include bank statements, money transfers, tuition payments, rent receipts, and other financial records.

If the child is under 18, consent may be required from the other parent or anyone who has a legal right to decide where the child lives.

These requirements should be considered early, particularly where the parents are separated or disagree about the child’s future residence.

Costs and Processing Times

As at 15 September 2026, the visa application charge starts from AUD 4,040 for the main applicant for subclasses 101, 802, and 445.

Additional applicant charges and costs for health examinations, police clearances, biometrics, translations, and document certification may apply.

Processing times change regularly and are only a general guide. An application may take longer if documents are missing, parental consent is unclear, dependency requires further assessment, or the Department needs additional information.

Common Child Visa Mistakes

Common problems include:

• Selecting the wrong visa subclass;
• Assuming every child under 25 automatically qualifies;
• Providing insufficient evidence of financial dependency;
• Missing consent from the other parent;
• Overlooking a “No Further Stay” condition;
• Waiting too long to begin a subclass 445 application; and
• Failing to consider citizenship by descent.

How Can We Help?

SCA Connect’s Registered Migration Agents can assess your child’s circumstances and advise whether subclass 101, 802 or 445 may be suitable.

We can also assist with:

• Checking whether citizenship by descent should be considered;
• Reviewing the child’s current visa conditions;
• Advising on dependency and parental consent evidence;
• Preparing the visa application and supporting documents; and
• Communicating with the Department during processing.

Getting the pathway right from the beginning can prevent unnecessary cost, delay, and stress.