Child Visa Subclass 101: Office Shore (Permanent)

The Child Visa (Subclass 101) allows a child from overseas to move to Australia and live permanently with their parent, who must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. Child Visa Subclass 101 is a permanent visa in Australia. The important condition for this visa is that the parents must be Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. This Australian child visa allows the child to live in the country permanently. However, the child must be outside the country at the time of application.
The child can apply for citizenship once they have this visa and are eligible. They are entitled to enroll in Medicare and take advantage of Australia’s Public Healthcare Scheme. Lastly, the child can study in the country and also sponsor relatives to come to Australia.

Benefits Child Visa (Subclass 101)

This visa comes with immense benefits.
This visa subclass is permanent and thus the child can stay in the country permanently. Once you have this visa you can work in Australia.
At the same time, you can study in the country to make a career.
You become eligible for Medicare, Australia’s public healthcare scheme.
Additionally, you can sponsor relatives to come to the country.
Lastly, if you are eligible you can apply for Australian Citizenship.

Child Visa (Subclass 101) Requirements

Child must be dependent on a parent who is an Australian citizen, eligible New Zealand citizen, or permanent resident.

Child can be biological, adopted, or a stepchild from a former partner.

Adopted child must have been adopted before age 18, and the adopting parent must not have been an Australian citizen, eligible New Zealand citizen, or permanent resident at the time.

If adopted by someone with Australian citizenship or residency, child may be eligible for Adoption Visa Subclass 102.

Stepchildren must be under 18 and from a former partner; step-parent must hold legal custody or guardianship.

A sponsor is required—must be the child’s parent, their spouse, or de facto partner.

Sponsorship may be refused if sponsor has criminal history involving children.

Child must be under 18, or 18–25 and studying full-time, and financially dependent.

Children with disabilities must have lost physical or mental functions and not work full-time.

Child must be unmarried, not engaged, and not in a de facto relationship.

Any debts to the Australian Government must be repaid or arranged.

Must meet health and character requirements.

Applicants 18+ must sign the Australian Values Statement.

Detailed Child Visa 101 Requirements

Be a dependent child

The first prerequisite for Child Visa 101 is that the child must be dependent on their parent. The parent must be an Australian Citizen, an eligible New Zealand citizen, or a permanent resident of Australia. The child can be a biological or adopted child of their parent. Any stepchild is also eligible however they must be from a former partner.

The adopted child must be adopted before the age of 18 years. Additionally, the parent must not be an Australian citizen, eligible New Zealand citizen, or permanent resident visa holder. Any child who is adopted by an Australian Citizen, eligible New Zealand citizen or permanent resident visa holder might be eligible for Adoption Visa Subclass 102. The stepchildren must be under the age of 18 years and the child of a step-parent’s former partner. The step-parent must be legally eligible for parenting or guardianship.

Have a Sponsor

The sponsor must be an eligible parent as per Australian law. The parent’s spouse or de facto partner can also sponsor the child. The department might disapprove the sponsorship if the parent or the partner has been charged or convicted of crimes against children.

Age Requirement

The child must be under the age of 18 years, or between 18 years and 25 years, and studying full-time. The child over 18 years and under 25 years old must be enrolled in a full-time course of study. Additionally, they must be financially dependent on their parents.

Any child applicant with a disability must have lost their bodily or mental functions, totally or partially. At the same time, they must not be working full-time.

Have no partner

The applicant child must not be married or engaged to be married. They should not be in a de facto relationship either.

Pay back any debt to the Australian Government

The child or any member of their family must pay back any debts to the Australian Government. Alternatively, a formal arrangement must be made for the payment plan.

Meet Health and Character Requirements

The child and the dependent must meet the health and character requirements set by the Australian Government. Dependent children or other family members may be asked to go through health checkups and character requirements.

Acknowledge Australian Value Statement

Any child above the age of 18 years must sign the Australian Value Statement. It clearly states that the applicant will adhere to the Australian way of life and obey the law.

Adopted Children and Visa Subclass 101

To be eligible for visa subclass 101 the child must have been adopted before the age of 18 years. The parent must not be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident. Nor could be an eligible New Zealand citizen at the time of adoption. For a child adopted by an Australian citizen or permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen, you may check Adoption Visa Subclass 102.

Step-by-step instructions to apply for Child Visa Subclass 101

Step- 1.

The first step before you apply for a visa subclass is to check the passport details of the child. You can seek help from a registered migration agent or a legal practitioner. Alternatively, you can get help from an exempt person as well. You can also appoint someone to receive visa-related documents on your behalf.

Step- 2.

Prepare your documents: You must prepare all the documents that the department may require for the processing of your visa application. Below is a list of the documents:

Identification: You must provide the pages of the passport that show photo, personal details, passport issue, and expiry dates. Other documents include any national identification documents and proof of change of name if applicable. If the child has been adopted, certified adoption documents are required.

Photographs: You have to provide 4 passport-size photographs of the child and any other dependent child who applies for the visa subclass 101. The dimensions of the photograph must be 45mm x 35mm and it should give a clear view of the face and shoulders of the child. The background should be light coloured and the photograph should not be older than 6 months.
The child can wear untinted prescription glasses and if they wear a head covering they have to show only their face.

Current/Old Passport: You need to provide copies of the current passport and earlier passports the child has ever held.

Child’s relationship to the parent: A birth certificate, adoption certificate, and marriage certificate to establish the relationship of the child with the parent.

Financial documents: Bank statements, money transfers, and rent receipts are pieces of evidence that you have to submit. These essential documents establish that the child over the age of 18 years is dependent on the parents for financial support. The financial support is to meet basic requirements like food, shelter, and clothing.

Character Documents: Every child over the age of 16 years must provide police certificates from the country they have lived in for 12 months in the last 10 years.

Step- 3.

Apply on Paper
You cannot apply for this visa online. Therefore, you have to apply on paper for the visa

subclass 101.

You need to fill these two forms correctly and essentially:

Form 47CH Application for migration to Australia by a child (587KB PDF)
Form 40CH Sponsorship for a child to migrate to Australia (585KB PDF)

Send these two fully completed forms to the Child and Other Family Processing Center in Perth.

You can send them by post or by courier. Please note that the addresses for both are different and we have mentioned both here for your reference:

By post:

Department of Home Affairs
Child and Other Family Processing Centre
Locked Bag 7
Northbridge WA 6865

By Courier:

Department of Home Affairs
Child and Other Family Processing Centre
Wellington Central
836 Wellington Street
West Perth WA 6005

You must send the application with the correct prepaid postage.
Please note that you must pay the application fee and add the evidence of payment to the application. You have to pay the application fee using ImmiAccount only. The payment with a Credit Card, PayPal, or UnionPay is acceptable.
You have to submit the forms in English language only. Moreover, the department accepts the application via post and courier only. Please note that if you miss any of the aforementioned steps then your application may be rejected.

Step- 4.

Wait patiently after you apply
The Department of Home Affairs can take some time to process your application. In the meantime, you can add more family members to your application. You may be asked for further information and documents. Additionally, the department informs the applicants about the health checks and biometrics.

Step- 5.

Get your Visa
The Department of Home Affairs informs the applicants about the decision in writing. If the visa is granted you will be given the visa grant number, date the visa starts and any conditions. The department also updates the reason for rejection and if you can contest the decision.

There are different types of child visas in Australia. You can opt for the visa category that suits your requirement depending upon your child’s circumstances. The types of child visas are;

Subclass 101 child visa

This child visa is for those children who are not staying within the country. With this visa, the children residing overseas can join their Guardians or parents in Australia. It is necessary that the parent/ guardian are an Australian citizen or a permanent resident of the country.
The child has to be below 18 years. If the child is above 18 years then this visa can be availed considering that the child is dependent upon the parents (sponsors) because of a disability.
Once this visa is granted the child gets a permanent residency in the country.
When will be able to work study and live in the country as well as have access to all the facilities that come along with being a permanent resident.

Child Visa Subclass 802

This visa is for those children were already staying in Australia.
The child has to be less than 18 years of age.
In case the age is more than 18 years then it is considered provided the child is financially dependent upon the sponsor due to a disability.
This visa and be on a temporary or a permanent basis depending upon the individual case.
The child can live, work and study in the country within 802 Child’s visa.

Subclass 102 Adoption visa

This visa is for the legally adopted children. The adoptive parents should be Australian citizens or a permanent resident in the country.
Once the child gets this visa, He/she will become a permanent resident in the country.
In order to get this visa the child has to be less than 18 years of age and the adoption should be recognized legally under the Australian rules.
The children holding this visa can you lips study and work in the country and have access to all the facilities in education and healthcare.

Dependent Child visa Subclass 445

The parents, who are temporary visa holders, can apply for this child visa subclass. The children are already residing in Australia. This visa is connects to the parents temporary visa status.
The child has to be below 18 years and should be dependent upon his or her parents.
With this visa the children can stay in the country they secure a more permanent visa.

Orphan relative visa Subclass 117

This visa is for the orphaned children who lose their parents. If they are sponsored by a relative or legal guardian, they are entitled to this visa.
Child should be an orphan under 18 years. There should be no parents to take care of them.
Once the visa is granted children receive a PR status in Australia. They can enjoy access to healthcare education and social welfare facilities in the country.

If you feel that the various visa types are slightly confusing it is always advisable to consult the one of the best child visa agents Australia.

Child Visa (Subclass 101) Processing Time

Visa Application Costs

Applications of the Subclass 491 visa on behalf of the main applicant will have an approximate cost of visa processing of AUD 4,910. Moreover, the other visa applications by the visa applicants aged 18 years and above will incur an estimated cost of AUD 2320, and the dependent children under the age of 18 years will incur an estimated cost of AUD 1,160.

Child Visa (Subclass 101) Application Process

Gather Documents
The foundation of a successful application lies in robust documentation. Accuracy in this phase prevents lengthy delays or refusals.
Identity Proofs: Valid passport and certified birth certificates.
Proof of Relationship: Documentation proving your link with the sponsor.
Online Application
Complete the digital lodging via the official Department of Home Affairs (DHA) portal.
Wait for Processing
During this time, the DHA may request additional information, health checks, or police clearances. It is imperative to respond to these requests promptly to avoid further delays or potential application closure.
Final Notification
The Department will notify you in writing of the outcome of your visa application. This formal letter will contain crucial details regarding your future status.