Family Visas

CONTRIBUTORY PARENT (TEMPORARY) VISA (sc 173)

Features

This visa lets parents live in Australia for up to two years if they are the parents of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who is settled in Australia.

This visa is temporary and cannot be extended or renewed. After arriving in Australia, you have two years to apply for a Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143). In this way, you can spread the costs of the Contributory Parent migration over a number of years.

Most applicants must be sponsored by their child.

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you:

  • have a child who is:
    • an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen
    • lawfully resident in Australia for at least two years (a shorter period can be considered for Australian citizens if there are compelling and compassionate circumstances)
  • have a sponsor
  • meet the balance of family test
  • meet health and character requirements.
Processing Times:
  • 90 per cent of applications processed in 32 months

CONTRIBUTORY PARENT VISA (sc 143)

Features

This visa lets parents live permanently in Australia if their child is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who is settled in Australia.

Requirements

You might be able to get a permanent Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 143) if you either:

  • Hold a temporary Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173)
  • Have a child who is:
    • an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen
    • settled in Australia
  • meet the balance-of-family test
  • have an accepted assurance of support
  • meet health and character requirements.
Processing Times
  • 90 per cent of applications processed in 33 months

TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT PARTNER VISA (sc 820 and 801)

Features

The temporary Partner visa (subclass 820) allows you to live in Australia if you are the spouse or de facto partner of:

  • an Australian citizen
  • an Australian permanent resident
  • an eligible New Zealand citizen.

In some circumstances the visa can be granted where your partner relationship has ended.

The temporary Partner visa (subclass 820) is the first stage towards a permanent Partner visa (subclass 801). You must be in Australia when you apply and also when this visa is decided.

You lodge one application form for your temporary and permanent visas and pay one application charge. Your application is processed in two stages, about two years apart.

Requirements

To get this visa, you must be married to or in a de facto relationship with an:

  • Australian citizen
  • Australian permanent resident
  • eligible New Zealand citizen.

You must be in a genuine and ongoing relationship. You must live with your partner or, if you do not, any separation must be only temporary. Both parties must freely consent to the relationship.

Married applicants

Your marriage must be valid under Australian law. Underage, polygamous and same-sex marriages are not legal in Australia. The marriage could be valid under limited circumstances if one person is younger than 18 years of age. Same-sex couples can apply for this visa based on their de facto relationship.

De facto applicants

Usually your de facto relationship must have existed for at least 12 months immediately before you apply for this visa. Time spent dating does not count towards a de facto relationship.

You can be granted a visa without having been in a de facto relationship for 12 months if:

  • you can demonstrate compelling and compassionate circumstances, such as having dependent children
  • your partner has been granted a permanent humanitarian visa and your de facto relationship existed before it was granted, and you told us about the relationship before the visa was granted
  • your de facto relationship has been registered in Australia (this is not available in all states and territories).

You must also be older than 18 years of age and not be related to your partner by family. This means you cannot be an ancestor or descendant of one another, or have a parent in common.

You must be in Australia when you apply.

Processing Times

820 – Temporary visa

  • 75 per cent of applications processed in 18 months
  • 90 per cent of applications processed in 20 months

801 – Permanent visa

  • 75 per cent of applications processed in 16 months
  • 90 per cent of applications processed in 20 months

PARTNER (PROVISIONAL) (sc 309) AND PARTNER (MIGRANT) VISA (sc 100)

Features

The Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) is the first stage towards a permanent Partner visa (subclass 100). You lodge only one application for your temporary and permanent visas and pay one application charge. Your application is processed in two stages, about two years apart.

You must be outside Australia when you apply and also when the Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) is granted.

You can be in or outside Australia when Partner visa (subclass 100) is granted.

You must be outside Australia and married or in a de facto relationship with:

  • an Australian citizen
  • an Australian permanent resident
  • an eligible New Zealand citizen

You must be in a genuine and ongoing relationship. You must live with your partner or, if you do not, any separation must be only temporary.

Both parties must freely consent to the relationship.

You can apply if you intend to marry your partner before a decision on your visa is made.

In most cases, permanent residence cannot be granted less than two years from when you lodge your application.

Requirements You might be able to get this visa if you are married to or in a de facto relationship with an:
  • Australian citizen
  • Australian permanent resident
  • eligible New Zealand citizen.

You must be outside Australia when you apply.

Processing Times
  • 75 per cent of applications processed in 11 months
  • 90 per cent of applications processed in 15 months

PROSPECTIVE MARRIAGE VISA (sc 300)

Features

The Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) is for people who want to come to Australia to marry their prospective spouse.

It is a temporary visa for nine months. You must be outside Australia when you lodge your application and when the visa is granted. You can have the wedding in any country: the wedding does not need to be in Australia.

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you intend to marry:

  • an Australian citizen
  • an Australian permanent resident
  • an eligible New Zealand citizen.

You must:

  • intend to marry and live as husband or wife with your prospective spouse
  • be sponsored by your prospective spouse
  • know your prospective spouse and have met in person
  • be the opposite sex to your prospective spouse (same-sex couples can apply for a Partner visa based on their de facto relationship)
  • meet age, health and character requirements.
Processing Times
  • 75 per cent of applications processed in 12 months
  • 90 per cent of applications processed in 17 months

CHILD VISA (sc 101)

Features

A Child visa (subclass 101) lets an eligible parent sponsor their child to live in Australia indefinitely. The parent can apply on behalf of a child younger than 18 years of age.

An eligible parent is:

  • an Australian citizen
  • the holder of an Australian permanent resident visa
  • an eligible New Zealand citizen.

The child must be outside Australia when the application is lodged and when the application is decided.

Requirements

This visa is for a child who is:

  • applying outside Australia
  • sponsored by their parent or their parent’s partner
  • single
  • younger than 18 years of age, or:
    • a full-time student between 18 and 25 years of age, or
    • 18 or older and unable to work due to a disability and dependent on the sponsoring parent.

The child can include their own dependent children in this application.

Processing Times
  • 75 per cent of applications processed in 9 months
  • 90 per cent of applications processed in 15 months

REMAINING RELATIVE VISA (sc 115)

Features

The Remaining Relative visa (subclass 115) is a permanent visa for people who want to live in Australia to be with their only near relatives.

Your application must be made outside Australia and you must be outside Australia when the visa is granted.

Requirements

You might be eligible for this visa if:

  • your (and your partner’s) only near relatives live in Australia
  • an eligible near relative or their partner will sponsor you and all family members included as applicants in your application
  • you have someone who will provide an assurance of support
  • you and your family members meet health and character requirements.