Child Visa Subclasses
| Subclass | Who it's for | Location at application |
|---|---|---|
| 101 Child | Dependent children of Australian citizens or PRs | Outside Australia |
| 102 Adoption | Children adopted under Hague Convention or bilateral arrangement | Outside Australia |
| 445 Dependent Child | Children of temporary visa holders | Outside Australia |
| 802 Child | Dependent children already in Australia | In Australia |
Who Counts as a Dependent Child?
For visa purposes, a child is considered dependent if they are:
- Under 18 years of age, or
- Aged 18–23 and enrolled in full-time study and financially dependent on the parent, or
- Aged 18 or over and unable to work due to total or partial incapacity
Step-children are included. A child who has been legally adopted counts. Children who are married or in a de facto relationship are generally no longer considered dependants.
Sponsorship Requirements
The Australian sponsor must be a citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. They must satisfy a good character requirement. Where the child has two parents and one parent is not the sponsor, the non-sponsoring parent must give consent to the application — or the sponsor must provide evidence that consent cannot reasonably be obtained (for example, in cases of family breakdown or deceased parent).
Subclass 102 — Adoption
Australia recognises intercountry adoptions that occur under the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, or through a bilateral adoption arrangement between Australia and specific countries. Adoptions that fall outside these frameworks — including private or independent adoptions in some countries — are not recognised for migration purposes.
The adoption process involves both Australian state or territory authorities and the Department of Home Affairs. We advise on the migration component — the visa application — once the adoption arrangements are in place through the appropriate channels.
Subclass 445 — Dependent Child of a Temporary Visa Holder
This visa is for children whose parent holds a temporary visa in Australia (such as a 482 TSS visa). The child's visa conditions are linked to the parent's visa — when the parent's visa expires or is cancelled, the 445 is also affected.
Health and Character
All child visa applicants are subject to health assessments. For older children who have spent time in certain countries, tuberculosis clearance may be required. Character requirements generally apply to children 16 and over.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is usually the part that overwhelms people, so let's break it into three buckets.
Where you live
You'll want to show you genuinely live with your parents — a lease in their name, a property inspection report, or a letter from the landlord all work well. Bank records or receipts showing your parents pay the rent help too, as does anything official that arrives addressed to you at that same address (think bank or government letters).
Who pays for what
This is about painting a full financial picture. Utility bills in your parents' name, grocery receipts, clothing costs, transfers from your parents' account to yours, or evidence they pay things directly (BPAY, card payments) — all of it builds the case. Don't overlook the smaller stuff either: tuition, medical and insurance costs, transport, even family outings like dinners or holidays. The more consistent the pattern, the stronger the application.
Your study situation
If you're studying, get a Confirmation of Enrolment or enrolment letter, and ideally a letter from your institution confirming you're full-time and continuously enrolled. Transcripts and attendance records add extra weight if you have them.
A few practical questions come up a lot here.
If your child's current visa carries a 'No Further Stay' condition, that will usually block them from applying for the Child visa onshore. A waiver can sometimes be granted, but it's far from automatic — it really comes down to the specific condition and circumstances involved.
If they do hold a valid substantive visa when the application goes in, they may be granted a bridging visa to keep them lawful while everything's processed. Just be aware bridging visas often come with their own conditions and travel restrictions, so check before they consider any travel.
As for lodging itself — this one surprises people — the Child visa isn't an online application. It has to be lodged on paper, with supporting documents included. Once the Department sends an acknowledgement letter, you may be able to link the application to ImmiAccount so you can keep an eye on updates.