Requirements for a child visa (subclass 101) in Australia in 2026

The Child visa (subclass 101) is a permanent visa that allows a child outside Australia to join their parent who is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen living permanently in Australia. When granted, it gives the child the right to live, study and work in Australia indefinitely.

Applications are lodged online through the Department of Home Affairs and can take well over a year to process. Starting early and submitting a complete application from the outset are the most effective ways to avoid unnecessary delays.

What this procedure is and what it’s for

The Child visa (subclass 101) is a permanent residence visa for children who are outside Australia at the time they apply. It covers biological children, adopted children and step-children of an eligible sponsor.

The sponsoring parent must be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen holding a Special Category visa (subclass 444). The child must generally be under 18. Children aged 18–25 may still qualify if they are full-time students financially dependent on the sponsoring parent. Children over 18 who cannot work due to a total or partial disability may also be eligible.

The Department of Home Affairs is the official body responsible for assessing, deciding and granting this visa.

Documents required

Both the sponsoring parent and the child must provide documents. All documents not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation prepared by a NAATI-accredited translator.

Sponsor (parent in Australia)

• Proof of Australian citizenship, permanent residency or eligible NZ citizen status — for example, an Australian passport, citizenship certificate or permanent visa evidence
• Proof of relationship to the child — birth certificate, adoption order, or marriage/de facto evidence if the sponsor is a step-parent
• Proof of Australian residential address — for example, a utility bill or bank statement dated within three months

Child applicant

• Valid passport — must remain valid throughout the expected processing period
• Birth certificate — original or certified copy
• Passport-sized photographs meeting Department of Home Affairs specifications
• Health examination results — the child must attend an approved panel physician; results are submitted electronically to the department
• Police clearances — required for children aged 16 and over, from every country where they have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years
• Evidence of custody arrangements or consent from the non-sponsoring parent — a court order or a statutory declaration signed by both parents
• If adopted: a certified copy of the adoption order recognised under Australian law

Additional documents that may be requested

• Evidence of full-time enrolment and financial dependency (for applicants aged 18–25)
• Medical evidence and proof of financial dependency (for applicants over 18 with a disability)

Steps to complete the procedure

Everything is managed online through ImmiAccount — no in-person appointment is required for most applicants.

1. Create an ImmiAccount at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. The sponsoring parent and the child’s legal guardian both need accounts.
2. Lodge the sponsorship application — the parent in Australia submits Form 40CH through their ImmiAccount. There is no fee for the sponsorship itself.
3. Lodge the visa application — once a sponsorship reference number is issued, submit the child’s application through ImmiAccount and upload all required documents.
4. Pay the visa application charge — payment is made online at the time of lodgement.
5. Complete the health examination — book through an approved panel physician listed on the Department of Home Affairs website. Results go directly to the department.
6. Obtain police clearances — request these from the relevant authorities in each country where the child has lived; certified translations are required if documents are not in English.
7. Respond to any requests for further information — reply promptly; delays in responding extend overall processing time.
8. Await the decision — the department notifies both the sponsor and the applicant through ImmiAccount.

Fees and timelines

• Visa application charge: approximately AUD 3,095 for the primary applicant (confirm the current amount on the Department of Home Affairs website before lodging, as fees are indexed annually)
• Additional applicant fee: may apply if more than one child is included in the same application
• Sponsorship fee: nil
• Processing time: typically 12 to 36 months; cases involving custody disputes or overseas police clearances from countries with slow administrative processes can take longer
• Validity: the Child visa (subclass 101) is permanent — once granted, there is no expiry date and no requirement to renew

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Submitting uncertified translations — translations by family members or non-accredited translators will not be accepted. Only NAATI-accredited translators meet the department’s standards.
• Missing custody documentation — if the child’s other parent is not the sponsor, failing to provide a court order or a statutory declaration from that parent is one of the most common causes of delays and refusals.
• Outdated police clearances — clearances must generally be issued within 12 months of lodgement. Obtaining them too early risks them expiring before the application is assessed.
• Using a non-approved panel physician for the health exam — results from doctors who are not on the department’s approved panel list are not accepted. Always use the panel physician locator on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Frequently asked questions

Can the child travel to Australia while the application is being processed? Yes, but only on a separate, valid visa such as a visitor visa. Lodging a subclass 101 application does not grant permission to enter Australia. If the child is already in Australia, check bridging visa entitlements with the Department of Home Affairs.

Does the child need their own ImmiAccount? Children under 18 are typically included under their legal guardian’s ImmiAccount. The sponsoring parent can manage the entire application on the child’s behalf.

What happens if the non-sponsoring parent cannot be contacted? You will need to provide evidence of attempts to make contact and may also need court documents showing sole custody. Legal advice is strongly recommended in this situation before lodging.

Does the health examination need to be completed before lodging the application? No. You can lodge first and arrange the health exam afterwards. However, completing it promptly after lodgement prevents it from becoming a bottleneck later in the assessment process.

Where to start and what matters most

The documents that carry the most weight are the child’s passport and birth certificate, the sponsoring parent’s proof of status, and — where the other parent is not the sponsor — custody documentation. The first concrete step is to create an ImmiAccount and lodge the sponsorship application before moving to the visa application itself.

Requirements, fees and processing times can change. Always verify current information directly with the Department of Home Affairs at homeaffairs.gov.au before preparing or lodging your application.