Child visa (offshore)

What this visa is for#

The Australian Child visa (offshore) (subclass 101) is a permanent visa for a dependent child of an Australian citizen or PR.

It sits in the partner category, in the Child stream. It is used when the child is outside Australia at the time of application and also outside Australia when the visa is decided.

If granted, this is a permanent visa. That means the child becomes a permanent resident from the date of grant, with the usual permanent residence rights that come with the visa.

This guide is general information about how the process works. The Department of Home Affairs publishes the legal criteria, required documents and current processing information, and those details can change.

Who it is generally for#

This visa is for people who are dependent children of an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident.

It covers children applying from outside Australia under the Child stream. In practice, the Department looks at the relationship between the child and the sponsoring parent, the child's dependency, and whether the legal requirements for the visa are met at the time of decision.

This visa also sits alongside rules about parental responsibility and consent. Where a child has one parent sponsoring and another parent or other person has legal rights in relation to the child, the Department commonly requires documents showing that the child's migration is lawful and properly consented to.

For adopted children, stepchildren and children in shared care arrangements, the evidence can be more detailed. The exact documents needed depend on the family situation and on which country issued the civil and court documents.

What it costs#

The government visa application charge for this visa is:

• Main applicant: $3,075

This is the Department of Home Affairs charge. It is the same no matter who lodges the application, whether it is lodged by the parent, by a registered migration agent, or by an Australian legal practitioner.

Separate to the government charge, a migration agent or lawyer may charge professional fees for preparing and lodging the application, checking evidence, corresponding with the Department and helping with follow-up requests. Those professional fees are set by the agent or law practice, so they can vary a lot from one provider to another.

Other out-of-pocket costs can also arise, depending on the case. Common examples include health examinations, police certificates if required, translations, passport renewals and certified copies.

Government charges are indexed and usually change on 1 July. Before lodging, it is sensible to check the current amount on the Department's website or in the online application system.

How long it takes#

Processing times can vary a lot. They depend on the Department's workload, how complete the application is at lodgement, how quickly health and character checks are finalised, and whether the Department needs extra documents.

Some applications move faster because the evidence is clear and consistent from the start. Others take much longer because birth records, custody documents, identity documents or consent documents are missing, unclear or issued in a form the Department cannot accept without more proof.

A visa in this stream is often not a quick process. It is common for families to wait many months, and sometimes longer, while the application moves through document checks, health requirements and final decision stages.

The Department updates its processing information from time to time. The most reliable place to check current timing trends is the Department's own processing times page.

What the process involves#

The process usually starts with checking the visa criteria and gathering civil documents. Common documents include the child's birth certificate, passport, identity documents for the sponsoring parent, and evidence of the relationship between the child and the sponsoring parent.

The application is then lodged as an offshore Child visa application. The child needs to be outside Australia when the application is made and outside Australia again when the Department decides the application.

After lodgement, the Department may issue requests for more information. These can include identity documents, family law orders, adoption papers, consent documents, evidence about dependency, and updated forms if earlier answers are no longer current.

Health examinations are often part of the process. The Department usually tells applicants when to complete these, and the examinations must be done through approved panel physicians.

Character documents can also be required, depending on the child's age and circumstances. If police certificates are requested, they need to come from the correct country and cover the correct period.

If the child has another parent or another person with legal rights concerning where the child lives, the Department may ask for formal consent or court documents. This is an important part of child visa processing, because the Department needs to be satisfied that granting the visa would be lawful and consistent with the child's circumstances.

While the application is pending, the Department expects contact details to stay up to date. Requests for information often come with deadlines, and missing a message can lead to delay or refusal if the Department decides the case on the information already on hand.

If the visa is granted, it is a permanent visa from the date of grant. The grant notice sets out the visa details and any important dates linked to travel facility periods.

What commonly goes wrong#

A common problem is incomplete evidence at lodgement. Families sometimes lodge the form and basic identity papers, but leave out documents that explain the family situation, such as full birth certificates, court orders, adoption records, or documents showing consent from another parent. That often leads to delay and sometimes to concerns the Department could have addressed earlier with clearer evidence.

Another frequent issue is inconsistent information across documents. A child's name might be spelled one way on a passport, another way on a birth certificate and a third way on translated documents. Dates of birth, addresses and family details that do not match can trigger extra checks and requests for explanation.

Documents also expire during long processing periods. Passports, police certificates and some medical results can go out of date before a decision is made. When that happens, the Department may ask for new documents, which adds time and cost.

Translations are another practical failure point. If a document is not in English, the Department generally expects an English translation done properly. Poor translations, missing pages, cropped scans or documents that cannot be read clearly can all slow things down.

Families also sometimes forget to tell the Department about changes after lodgement. A new passport, change of address, change of email, change in family circumstances, or a change in who has legal responsibility for the child can all matter. If the Department sends a request to an old email address or postal address, a deadline can be missed without anyone realising.

Parental responsibility issues can be more complicated than people expect. If one parent is sponsoring but another parent has custody rights, informal family arrangements may not be enough for the Department. It may ask for formal evidence of consent or court authority, and delay can follow if those documents are hard to obtain.

Another problem is assuming that an application automatically creates travel or stay rights in Australia. A subclass 101 is an offshore visa, and visa status depends on the actual visa a person holds at the time. More generally, people sometimes assume a bridging visa carries the same rights as the substantive visa they held before, but that is not necessarily the case. Work rights, travel rights and study conditions can be different.

It is also common for people to underestimate how much detail the Department may want about dependency and care arrangements. If the child lives between households, has been cared for by another relative, or has a complex schooling or guardianship history, the application can need more records than families first expect.

Frequently asked questions#

What is the difference between subclass 101 and subclass 802?#

Subclass 101 is the offshore Child visa. It is for children who are outside Australia when the application is lodged and outside Australia again when the decision is made.

Subclass 802 is the onshore Child visa. It is a different process and has different lodgement and decision-location rules.

Does subclass 101 give permanent residence?#

Yes. The Australian Child visa (offshore) (subclass 101) is a permanent visa.

If granted, the child becomes an Australian permanent resident from the date of grant. The grant notice will set out the visa details and travel facility information.

Can a child be in Australia while a subclass 101 application is being decided?#

This visa is an offshore visa, so the child must be outside Australia when the visa is granted. The location rules at decision are an important part of how this subclass works.

Whether a child can travel to Australia on some other visa while a subclass 101 application is on foot depends on the separate visa they hold or apply for. Each visa has its own conditions and travel rules.

How much is the government charge for a Child visa 101?#

The government visa application charge listed here is $3,075 for the main applicant.

That government charge is the same no matter who lodges the application. Professional fees from a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner are separate and can vary.

Why do child visa applications get delayed?#

Delays often happen because the Department needs more documents. Common examples are missing birth records, unclear custody or consent documents, expired passports, unreadable scans, or information that does not match across forms and identity documents.

Processing can also slow down when contact details are not updated and Department requests are missed. Health examinations, police certificates and overseas civil documents can also take time to organise.

About this page. This is general information about how the Child visa (offshore) (subclass 101) works. It is not immigration assistance and it is not advice about your situation. Under section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 only a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner can give you that. Charges are indexed and most change on 1 July, so check any figure against immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before you rely on it, and check any agent's registration on the OMARA register.