Last updated: 30 March 2026

Family Visa Australia: Sponsorship and Eligibility

Australia’s family visa program exists because families matter — and because the Australian government has long recognised that migration is not just an economic activity. The family stream of Australia’s Migration Program provides pathways for the spouses, children, parents, and other relatives of Australians to come and live here permanently.

This guide covers the full range of family visa categories: who can apply, who can sponsor, what each category involves, and how to decide which pathway fits your situation.

How the Family Visa Program Works

The Australian family visa program operates within the broader Migration Program, which is announced each year in the federal budget. The program sets the total number of places available across the skilled stream and the family stream. Family stream places are then allocated across the visa categories within that stream.

This means family visas — like skilled visas — are subject to annual caps. The practical effect varies by category:

• Partner visas are technically uncapped; all eligible applications are processed, though the queue is long
• Parent visas are capped; places are strictly limited, creating very long queues for some categories
• Child visas are uncapped and processed relatively quickly
• Carer visas and other family stream categories are processed within available resources

Understanding whether the visa you want is capped helps you understand whether you need to plan for a managed queue or whether processing time is purely about workload.

Family Visa Categories: An Overview

Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801 and 309/100)

The partner visa is the most common family visa in Australia. It is available to the married spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.

It is a two-stage visa: first a temporary grant, then a permanent grant after a two-year waiting period. The total time from lodgement to permanent visa is typically three to five years.

For a full guide to the partner visa, see the partner visa Australia page.

Child Visa (Subclass 101 and 802)

The child visa allows a dependent child (under 18, or over 18 in limited circumstances) of an Australian citizen or permanent resident to live in Australia permanently.

• Subclass 101 is for children outside Australia at lodgement
• Subclass 802 is for children who are already in Australia

Child visas are uncapped and typically processed within one to two years. Evidence requirements focus on the parental relationship and the dependency of the child. Adopted children and stepchildren may be eligible depending on the circumstances.

Parent Visa (Subclass 143, 103, 804 and others)

Parent visas allow the parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia permanently. The balance of family test must be satisfied.

The contributory parent visa (subclass 143) is the most realistic permanent pathway for most families, with a processing queue of approximately five to seven years. The non-contributory parent visa (subclass 103) has a queue exceeding 30 years.

For a full guide, see the parent visa Australia page.

Carer Visa (Subclass 836 and 116)

The carer visa is available to a relative of an Australian resident who is certified as needing ongoing care that cannot be provided by any other available person in Australia. It is one of the more niche family visa categories, but it serves a genuine and important function for families where a specific care need exists.

For details, see the carer visa Australia page.

Aged Dependent Relative Visa (Subclass 114 and 838)

This visa is for older relatives of Australian citizens or permanent residents who are dependent on their Australian family member and have no other close relatives in their home country. The relative must be in a relationship of longstanding dependence (financially and otherwise) on the Australian family member.

Processing queues for the aged dependent relative visa are very long — comparable to the non-contributory parent visa.

Remaining Relative Visa (Subclass 115 and 835)

The remaining relative visa is for people whose only near relatives overseas are settled in Australia — and who therefore have no family left in their home country to turn to. “Near relatives” is defined specifically in the legislation.

This visa also has very long processing queues. It is designed for a narrow circumstance: the applicant genuinely has no close family outside Australia.

Orphan Relative Visa (Subclass 117 and 837)

The orphan relative visa is for children who are orphaned or separated from their parents (due to death, incapacity, or desertion) and whose only near relative is in Australia. It is used in genuinely exceptional circumstances.

General Eligibility Across Family Visas

While each visa category has its own specific criteria, most family visas share a common set of requirements:

Relationship requirement

The applicant must be in the family relationship specified for that visa subclass. The relationship must be genuine — not a relationship of convenience created for migration purposes.

Sponsor requirements

The person in Australia who is sponsoring the application must be:

• An Australian citizen, or
• An Australian permanent resident, or
• An eligible New Zealand citizen

For most family visa categories, the sponsor must be settled in Australia. For more information on what sponsorship involves, see the family sponsorship visa page.

Health requirements

All applicants must meet immigration health requirements. This involves a medical examination by a Panel Physician approved by the Department of Home Affairs, submitted through the eMedical system.

Character requirements

All applicants aged 16 and over must meet the character requirement. This involves obtaining police clearances from all countries they have lived in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.

No outstanding debt to the Australian government

Applicants must not have substantial debt to the Australian government (for example, from unpaid visa application charges or health costs from a previous stay).

Costs Across Family Visa Categories

Visa application charges vary significantly across the family stream:

These are visa application charges only. Additional costs for all categories include health examinations ($350–$500 per person), police clearances ($40–$120 per country), document translation if applicable, and migration agent fees if used.

Parent visas also require an Assurance of Support bond, which is separate from the visa application charge.

How Sponsorship Works in the Family Stream

For most family visas, the person in Australia does not just provide information — they take on formal obligations. The nature of these obligations varies by category.

For partner visas, the sponsor commits to supporting the applicant and notifying the Department if the relationship ends. Sponsorship limits apply — generally a maximum of two partner visa sponsorships across a lifetime.

For parent visas, the Assurance of Support is a separate formal process through Services Australia, involving a financial assessment and a refundable bond.

For other family visa categories, the sponsor’s obligations are typically less formal but still include a duty to provide honest information and, in some cases, to provide financial support.

For a detailed guide to what family sponsorship involves across different visa types, see family sponsorship visa.

Processing Times: A Realistic View

Family visa processing times range from manageable to generational.

These are indicative figures. The Department publishes current processing time estimates on its website, which should be checked at the time of planning your application.

Choosing the Right Family Visa

The right visa category is determined by your relationship type. There is no flexibility in moving between categories — you cannot apply for a parent visa if you are a sibling, or a partner visa if you are a parent.

Questions to work through:

• What is the relationship? — partner, parent, child, carer, other relative
• Where is the applicant located? — in Australia (onshore options) or outside Australia (offshore options)
• How urgent is the move? — this affects whether a temporary pathway is needed while a permanent application is pending
• What is the budget? — costs vary dramatically, especially for parent visas
• Does the applicant meet health and character requirements? — pre-existing health conditions or a criminal history should be assessed before lodging

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for a family visa in Australia?

Family visas are available to family members of Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens. The eligible relationship categories include partners (married or de facto), parents, children, carers of Australian residents with medical conditions, and in some limited circumstances other relatives such as aged dependant relatives and remaining relatives. Each category has its own eligibility criteria and sponsorship requirements.

What is required to sponsor a family member for a visa to Australia?

The sponsoring person must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. For most family visa categories, the sponsor must be settled in Australia, be at least 18 years old, and in some cases meet an income threshold. For parent and certain other categories, an Assurance of Support — a formal undertaking to repay welfare payments — is also required. Sponsorship limits apply to partner visa sponsors specifically.

How long do Australian family visas take to process?

Processing times vary significantly by category. Partner visas (subclass 820/801 and 309/100) take three to five years total. Child visas (subclass 101/802) generally take one to two years. Parent visas range from approximately five to seven years for the contributory subclass 143 to over 30 years for the non-contributory subclass 103. Carer visas (836/116) typically take one to three years. Processing times are published by the Department of Home Affairs and change with caseload.

Next Steps

If you have identified the right family visa category, these are the steps common to most applications:

1. Confirm the sponsor’s eligibility — citizenship or PR status, and no bars on sponsoring
2. Check the applicant’s eligibility — relationship type, health, character, and any country-specific requirements
3. Plan the timeline — processing times affect housing, work, and family arrangements; plan around realistic wait times
4. Budget for the full cost — government fees, health, police, translation, and agent fees
5. Consider engaging a migration agent — for complex applications or where previous visa issues exist, professional representation reduces risk

For specific category guidance, see:

• Partner visa Australia — for married and de facto partners
• Parent visa Australia — for parents of Australian citizens and residents
• Family sponsorship visa — for detailed sponsorship guidance
• Carer visa Australia — for relatives providing care

All family visa pathways lead eventually to permanent residency in Australia — the formal starting point for building a full life here together.