CHILD VISA (SUBCLASS 802)
The Child Visa (Subclass 802) allows the child to stay in Australia indefinitely. They can work and study in Australia, enroll in Australia's public healthcare scheme (Medicare), sponsor relatives to come to Australia, and apply for Australian citizenship if eligible. This visa is designed for children who are dependent on an Australian citizen, eligible New Zealand citizen, or Australian permanent visa holder.
Travel to and from Australia for 5 years:
- The child can travel to and from Australia as many times as they want for a period of 5 years from the date the visa is granted, as long as the travel facility on the visa remains valid. If the child wishes to travel after the initial 5-year period, they will need to apply for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) or consider Australian citizenship, which eliminates the need for a visa to re-enter Australia.
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 of age, a full-time student aged over 18 and under 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 the decision is made.
How long the child can stay:
- The Child Visa (Subclass 802) is a permanent visa, allowing the child to stay in Australia indefinitely. The child becomes a permanent resident on the day the visa is granted.
Include other children:
- If the child has siblings who also want to apply, separate applications should be submitted for each sibling. The child’s dependent children can be included on their application or added at any time before the application is decided.
The visa application cost for the main applicant is AUD 3,055.00. Additionally, there is a charge for each dependent child who applies for the visa with you.
There are no conditions attached to the Child Visa (Subclass 802).
The processing time for a new Child visa application can vary. On average, it takes between 5 to 19 months to process the application. However, processing times are subject to change and may vary based on individual circumstances.
For Applicant:
- The child must be dependent on their parent, who is an Australian citizen, eligible New Zealand citizen, or Australian permanent visa holder.
- The dependency can be based on being the parent’s biological child, adopted child, or stepchild from a former partner (not the current spouse or de facto partner of the child’s parent).
- To be eligible for this visa, adopted children must have had their adoption finalized before turning 18. The adoption can have happened before or after the parent became an Australian citizen, Australian permanent visa holder, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- For stepchildren, the child must be under 18 years old and be the child of their step-parent’s former partner. The step-parent must have an Australian parenting order, guardianship, or custody of the child under Australian law or the law of another country.
Citizenship by Descent:
- The child may choose to apply for Australian citizenship by descent instead of a visa to travel to Australia if one of their parents was an Australian citizen at the time of their birth and they were born outside Australia.
Have a sponsor:
- The child must be sponsored by an eligible parent or their parent’s spouse or de facto partner. The sponsorship must be approved, and it might not be approved if the sponsor or their partner has been charged or convicted of offenses involving children.
Be this age:
- The child must be either under 18 years old, over 18 and under 25 years and studying full time, or over 18 years with a disability. If the child is over 18 and under 25 years old and studying full time, they must be a full-time student, financially dependent on their parent, and cannot work full time.
Have no partner:
- The child must not be married, engaged, or in a de facto relationship. If the child is over 18, they must never have been married or had a de facto partner.
Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused:
- The child’s immigration history will be considered, and they may not be eligible for this visa if they have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused. However, in certain circumstances, the child may still apply for a permanent visa even if they have had a visa cancelled or an application refused.
Have consent to migrate to Australia:
- The Child Visa (Subclass 802) will only be granted to a child younger than 18 years if they have the written consent of everyone who can legally decide where they live, or if the laws of the child’s home country allow them to leave their home country, or if it is consistent with any Australian child order about the child.
For Sponsor:
- The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, eligible New Zealand citizen, or hold an Australian permanent visa. They must be 18 years or older and either the child’s parent or their parent’s current partner. The sponsorship must be approved, and it might not be approved if the sponsor or their partner has been charged or convicted of offenses involving children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the Child Visa (Subclass 802) allows the child to work and study in Australia.
Yes, as a holder of the Child Visa (Subclass 802), the child has the opportunity to sponsor relatives to come to Australia.
The visa application cost for the main applicant is AUD3,055.00. Additionally, charges apply for each dependent child included in the application.
The Child Visa (Subclass 802) is a permanent visa, allowing the child to stay in Australia indefinitely.
The processing time for a new Child visa application can vary. On average, it takes between 5 to 19 months to process the application. However, processing times are subject to change and may vary based on individual circumstances.
New Zealand citizens who were living in Australia on or before 26 February 2001
Currently, there are no frequently asked questions available for the Aged Dependent Relative Visa (Subclass 114).