For many migrants living in Australia, the dream isn’t complete until their children can join them. Whether it is different from circumstances or being born abroad, separation from a child is deeply emotional. Fortunately, Australia provides a passage for reunioning through the Child Visa (Subclass 101) – a permanent visa that allows a child to go to Australia with his parents living abroad.
In this post, we find out what child visa 101 is, who can apply, eligibility criteria, cost, application process and major ideas.
Contents
What is a child visa (Subclass 101)?
Subclass 101 Child visa is a permanent visa for children living outside Australia, who have a parents:
- An Australian citizen, or
- An Australian permanent resident, or
- An eligible New Zealand citizen.
This visa allows the child to stay permanently living in Australia, reach school, Medicare (Australia’s public health system), and eventually apply for eligibility.
This visa is most commonly used by parents who have gone to Australia and now want to bring their children or children to live with them.
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Who Can Apply?
Child visa application should be done on behalf of the child (not by the child alone) and they should be outside Australia at the time of application and when the visa is provided.
To be eligible, the child must have:
- Sponsoring parents’ biological, adopted, or step children.
- Under 18 years old, or
- The age of 18 to 25 years and a full-time student is financially dependent on sponsor parents, or
- More than 18 with a disability that prevents them from working and they are dependent on their parents.
The child must also:
- Be single (not married, engaged, or in a de facto relationship),
- Meet health and character requirements, and
- Have consent from all legal guardians to migrate to Australia.
The sponsor parents should be ready to take responsibility for the child care, welfare and accommodation for at least 2 years after reaching Australia.
What about adopted or step -children?
Parents should be adopted before the parents become Australian citizens or permanent residents (if not, they may require a separate visa, such as adoption visa 102).
If they are the children of the former partner’s former partner, the step children can qualify and the sponsor has a legal responsibility to take care of the child.
Major benefits of subclass 101 visa
- From that day on, permanent residence is given for the child.
- Access to education, Medicare, and eventually citizenship.
- The ability to travel to and from Australia freely for 5 years.
- The child can work and study once old enough.
Application process: phase rate steps
Prepare the document: Collect birth certificate, passport, identity document, proof of relationship, consent document and health check -up.
Lodge Application: Apply online or by paper from outside Australia. The sponsors also need to submit a sponsored application.
Pay the application fee: AUD $ 3,055 (as 2025) for the main applicant, with additional costs for dependents and other services (eg, translation, health check -up).
Wait for processing: Visa processing may take 12 to 24 months, although the time varies depending on individual circumstances.
Visa decision: Once given, the child can travel to Australia and live permanently.
Important idea
Health and Character: All applicants should meet Australian health and character requirements. If the child is expected to be expensive for the healthcare system, the visa may be denied.
Consent requirements: If other parents or legal parents are not migrating to the child, they should provide a formal written consent to the child to go to Australia. This is critical and strictly enforced.
Visa Validity: The child becomes a permanent resident immediately upon entering Australia.They can later apply for citizenship if they meet residence and character requirements.
Can Other Children Be Included in the Application?
Only dependent brothers and sisters can be included, but each child will typically require a separate visa application. Parents with many children can submit applications simultaneously to streamline processing.
Common Scenarios
Separated Families: A parent who has separated or divorced may want to bring their child to Australia. As long as they have legal rights or consent from other parents, they can sponsor their child under subclass 101.
Children studying abroad: Between 18 and 25 years a full-time student who is financially dependent on a parent in Australia can be qualified.
Disabled adult children: Adult children who are unable to work due to disability and are completely dependent on their parents, can also be eligible regardless of age.
Options for subclass 101
If the child is already in Australia, they should apply for the subclass 802 child visa, which is the same but for onshore applicants.
For adopted children, adoption visas (subclass 102) can be more suitable if the parents are adopted after becoming Australian citizens or residents.
Conclusion
Child visa subclass 804 provides a safe and permanent solution for parents wishing to reunite with their children in Australia. It only represents more than a migration route – it is about restoring families and making futures together.
