Child (Offshore) Visa | Subclass 101
Child Visa Australia
Offshore
As an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, you can sponsor your dependent child to join you and live in Australia indefinitely.
The process of bringing your child to Australia is filled with legal complexities and emotional weight. You need to prove your child’s dependency, especially if they are over 18, and navigate the strict requirements around parental consent and sponsorship. If your dependent child is outside Australia, the subclass 101 Child visa is an instrumental visa pathway to bringing your family together.
If your dependent child is in Australia, see the subclass 802 (Onshore) Child visa.
Subclass 101 Child visa – At a Glance
| FEATURE | DETAILS |
|---|---|
| Visa Type | Permanent Residency (Offshore) |
| Stay | Indefinite |
| Department Costs | From $4,040 AUD1 |
| Processing Time | Between 23 and 30 months2 |
| Key Requirement | Sponsorship by an eligible parent |
Fees are subject to change by the Department and other concession fees may apply.
To view our professional services fees click here.
Key Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Subclass 101 Child visa, the applicant and the sponsor must meet several key criteria set by the Department of Home Affairs.
1. Eligible Parent Sponsorship
The child must be sponsored by an eligible parent or the parent’s current spouse or de facto partner. The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, a holder of an Australian permanent resident visa, or an eligible New Zealand citizen. The Department must approve this sponsorship after assessing the sponsor’s character and ability to support the child.
2. Age and Dependency Status
The child must generally be under 18 years of age. However, a child can be eligible if they are:
- Over 18 and under 25: Must be a full-time student and financially dependent on the parent.
- Over 18 with a disability: Must be unable to work due to the disability and dependent on the parent. The child cannot be married, engaged to be married, or in a de facto relationship.
3. Relationship Requirements
You must provide evidence that the applicant is the biological, adopted, or step-child of the sponsoring parent. For adoptions, specific legal requirements apply regarding when the adoption took place and the residency status of the parents at that time.
4. Health and Character
All applicants must meet Australia’s strict health and character requirements. Children over the age of 16 must provide police clearances from every country they have lived in for more than 12 months over the last 10 years.
How to Apply for the Subclass 101 Child Visa
A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility and Sponsorship Capacity
The first step is a thorough audit of the child’s age, dependency status, and the sponsor’s eligibility. We ensure the sponsor meets the “settled” requirement and has no character bars that would prevent sponsorship.
Step 2: Prepare Comprehensive Documentation
Collect all identity documents, evidence of the parent-child relationship (such as birth certificates or adoption papers), proof of the sponsor’s Australian status and the crucial legal submissions to effectively pre-empt and address any contentious legal matters.
Step 3: Lodge the Visa Application (Offshore)
The child must be outside Australia when the application is lodged. The application is submitted to the Department of Home Affairs along with the payment of the base application charge.
Step 4: Health and Character Checks
Once the application is processed, the Department will request health examinations and police certificates amongst other evidentiary documentation. Providing these promptly is essential to avoid delays.
Step 5: Visa Grant and Arrival
The child must still be outside Australia when the Department makes a decision. Once granted, the child is a permanent resident of Australia from the moment they enter the country.
Being on a Subclass 101 Child Visa means…
What You Can Do on the Subclass 101 Child visa
As a permanent resident, the child can:
- Live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely.
- Enrol in Medicare, Australia’s public healthcare system.
- Apply for Australian citizenship once residency requirements are met.
- Travel to and from Australia for five years from the date the visa is granted.
Your Visa Obligations
The child must comply with all Australian laws. There are no specific “stay” obligations for the 101 visa like there are for regional skilled visas, but the child must enter Australia by the date specified in their grant letter.
The Pathway to Australian Citizenship
After living in Australia for 4 years on a valid visa, including at least the last 12 months as a permanent resident, the child may be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship by conferral.
Your Best Chance of Success with Visa Advisory Australia
The child visa process involves sensitive legal requirements regarding custody and dependency. A single missing document can lead to years of delays or a refusal. Our expert team navigates this for you.
Our Subclass 101 Services include:
Comprehensive Eligibility Assessment to ensure the child meets dependency definitions and other legal criteria.
Sponsorship Risk Management to identify and resolve any potential character or “settled” status issues for the parent.
Custody and Consent Guidance to ensure all legal requirements for minors are met according to international and Australian law.
Decision-Ready Application lodgement to minimise Departmental requests for further information and speed up processing.
Full Management of all communication with the Department of Home Affairs.
Don’t take unnecessary risks. Talk to a Registered Migration Agent today.
Related Visas
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the
Subclass 101 Child Visa
Q: Can I apply for the 101 visa if my child is already in Australia?
A: No. The Subclass 101 visa requires the child to be outside Australia at the time of application and at the time of grant. If the child is onshore, you should look into the Subclass 802 (Onshore) Child visa.
Q: What if the child is over 18? Can they still be included?
A: Yes, provided they are under 25 and can prove they are a full-time student and financially dependent on the sponsoring parent. If the child has a disability that prevents them from working, the age limit of 25 does not apply.
Q: Do I need the other parent’s consent?
A: Yes. If the child is under 18, you must show that you have the legal right to remove the child from their home country and bring them to Australia. This usually requires written consent from any other person who has custody or visitation rights although, that may not always be the case.
Q: What happens if the visa is refused?
A: If the visa is refused, you may have the right to appeal the decision to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). Our firm is experienced in representing families in complex merits review cases.
- Base application charge only. Prices are subject to change. Source: Department of Home Affairs. ↩︎
- Visa processing time current as of 16 April 2026. For the latest processing time click here. ↩︎
