Child visa (onshore)

What this visa is for#

The Australian Child visa (onshore) (subclass 802) is an onshore permanent visa for a dependent child.

It sits in the partner category and the Child stream. It is used where a child is in Australia and a parent wants to lodge a permanent visa application for that child from inside Australia.

A permanent visa generally lets the child stay in Australia indefinitely if the visa is granted. It can also include access to Medicare, work and study rights, and a pathway to citizenship later if the legal requirements for citizenship are met.

This page is general information about how the subclass 802 process works. It does not assess any person’s circumstances or say whether a particular child fits the legal criteria.

Who it is generally for#

This visa is for people who are dependent children and are in Australia at the time of application and decision.

This visa is for people who have a parent with an eligible Australian status, such as Australian citizenship, Australian permanent residence, or eligible New Zealand citizenship, depending on the legal pathway used in the application.

This visa is for people who may be biological children, adopted children in some cases, or stepchildren in some cases, where the migration law recognises that relationship and the required responsibility and consent issues are addressed.

This visa is for people who meet the legal meaning of a dependent child under migration law. In practice, that often turns on age, relationship, financial dependency, study status in some age groups, and whether the child is married, engaged or in a de facto relationship.

Because this is an onshore visa, it is for people who are physically in Australia when the application is lodged. The child generally also needs to be in Australia when the Department makes the decision.

What it costs#

The government visa application charge listed for this visa is:

• Main applicant: $3,075

That government charge is set by the Department, not by VisaBid, a migration agent or a lawyer. The government charge is the same no matter who lodges it.

Professional fees are separate from the government charge. A registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner may charge for preparing the application, checking documents, managing requests from the Department, and dealing with follow-up issues during processing.

Those professional fees are not fixed by the government, so quotes can vary. That is one reason people compare itemised quotes before choosing help.

Government charges are indexed and usually change on 1 July. If an application is lodged after a fee change, the updated charge usually applies.

Other costs can also come up during the process, depending on the documents involved. These can include health examinations, police certificates if required, translations, passport renewals and certified copies.

How long it takes#

Processing times for the subclass 802 can vary. The total time often depends on how complete the application is when lodged, how quickly supporting documents are provided, whether health or character checks are required, and how busy the Department is at the time.

Some applications move more smoothly because the relationship documents, identity documents and consent documents are all clear from the start. Others take longer because the Department needs more information or because a document has expired and must be updated.

The Department publishes processing information, but those figures can change over time. They are a guide to overall caseload movement, not a promise for any one application.

Because this is a permanent visa application made onshore, timing can also matter for the child’s current visa status in Australia. A bridging visa may come into effect in some situations after lodgement, but the start date and conditions depend on the person’s existing visa position.

What the process involves#

The process usually starts with checking the current Department requirements for the subclass 802 and gathering the required documents. This commonly includes identity documents for the child, documents for the parent, evidence of the family relationship, and documents about parental responsibility or consent where relevant.

The application is then lodged while the child is in Australia. The Department may require the application form, identity documents, passport copies, birth records and other evidence that matches the claimed family relationship and dependency position.

After lodgement, the Department may issue acknowledgements, requests for more information, or directions to complete health examinations if they are needed. If the Department asks for more documents, it is important that the response matches the request and is provided by the due date.

If any document is not in English, a translation may be needed. Where a country issues documents in more than one format, the Department may also want a version that clearly shows names, dates and registration details.

During processing, the Department expects contact details to stay current. If an address, email, phone number, passport or family situation changes, the Department normally needs to be updated.

Before a decision is made, the Department may check whether all legal criteria are met at time of decision as well as time of application. For an onshore child visa, being in Australia at decision time is usually a key procedural point.

If the visa is granted, it is a permanent visa. The grant notice usually sets out the visa start date and any travel facility period that applies to travel in and out of Australia.

What commonly goes wrong#

One common problem is incomplete evidence at lodgement. Applications can be delayed where basic records are missing, such as a full birth certificate, evidence of name changes, passport biodata pages, or documents showing the parent’s Australian status.

Another common issue is using documents that do not clearly match each other. A child’s birth record, passport and school records may show different spellings, different dates, or different name formats. Even small inconsistencies can lead to requests for clarification.

Documents expiring mid-process also causes trouble. Passports, police certificates where required, and some official records may need to be current at the time the Department looks at them. If a passport expires during processing, the Department normally needs the new details.

Parental responsibility and consent documents are another practical problem area. If one parent is not part of the application, the Department may still need evidence about who can lawfully make decisions for the child or whether the non-lodging parent has agreed.

People also sometimes assume that being in Australia is enough by itself. For an onshore visa, the timing of where the child is when the application is lodged and when the decision is made can be very important.

Changes in address, email or phone number are often overlooked. If the Department sends a request and the message is missed because contact details were not updated, an application can stall or be decided on the information already on file.

Another regular issue is not reading a Department request carefully. A request might ask for a particular type of document, a clearer scan, a translated version, or evidence covering a specific period. Sending a different document can create another round of delay.

Some applicants assume a bridging visa carries the same rights as the substantive visa they held before lodgement. That is not always the case. Work rights, travel rights and re-entry arrangements can differ, so it is important to read the bridging visa grant notice and conditions carefully.

Poor scan quality is a smaller issue, but it still causes delays. Cut-off edges, glare, shadows, file uploads in the wrong category, and unreadable stamps can all result in the Department asking for the same document again.

Another problem is failing to tell the Department about changes in family circumstances. If there is a change to care arrangements, custody orders, the child’s relationship status, or the parent’s status documents, that information may need to be updated promptly.

Frequently asked questions#

Can a child apply for subclass 802 while in Australia?#

The subclass 802 is an onshore visa, so the child must be in Australia when the application is lodged. For this visa, the child generally also needs to be in Australia when the Department makes the decision.

Is the subclass 802 a permanent visa?#

Yes. The subclass 802 is a permanent visa for a dependent child if it is granted. Permanent residence can carry ongoing residence rights in Australia, although travel rights are governed by the travel facility on the visa.

How much is the government fee for the Child visa 802?#

The listed government visa application charge is $3,075 for the main applicant. That government charge is the same no matter whether the application is lodged by the family, a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner.

Does using a migration agent change the government charge?#

No. The government charge stays the same regardless of who lodges the application. A migration agent or lawyer may charge separate professional fees for their work, and those fees can vary from one provider to another.

What happens after a subclass 802 application is lodged?#

After lodgement, the Department may send an acknowledgement and may later ask for more documents or health examinations. The application then stays in processing until the Department is ready to make a decision, and the Department may consider whether the child is still in Australia and whether the required documents are current at that time.

About this page. This is general information about how the Child visa (onshore) (subclass 802) 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.