Adoption Visa (Subclass 102)

You'll submit your application on paper by post or courier to the Department of Home Affairs in Western Australia. The process begins with completing two mandatory forms and gathering certified documents, then moves to lodgement, acknowledgement, and online management through ImmiAccount.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Before you begin, verify that both the child and the adoptive parent(s) meet all eligibility requirements. Critical checks:

• The child must be under 18 years old at the time of adoption, when you lodge the application, and when the Department decides the application
• The child must be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is decided
• The child cannot have been adopted in Pakistan (this has been prohibited since 14 December 2015)
• The adoptive parent must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen at the time of adoption
• If this is an expatriate adoption (no Australian state/territory central authority involved), at least one adoptive parent must have lived outside Australia for more than 12 months immediately before lodging the application

If the adoptive parent became a citizen or permanent resident after the adoption was finalized, the child may not qualify for Subclass 102—consult a migration lawyer about whether Child Visa (Subclass 101 or 802) is more appropriate instead.

Step 2: Gather and Prepare Documents

Collect all required documents and have them certified and translated (if not in English). Non-English documents must be translated by an NAATI-accredited translator if in Australia, or by a translator outside Australia who includes their full name, address, phone number, and qualifications on each translation in English.

Child's identity and travel documents:

• Current passport (pages showing photo, personal details, issue and expiry dates)
• National identity card (if the child has one)
• Proof of any name changes
• Certified copies of all passports the child has held

Adoption documents:

• Adoption papers or adoption compliance certificate
• If STCA-involved: letter from the Australian state/territory central authority supporting the adoption, plus evidence from the child's country that the child can leave for adoption in Australia
• If expatriate adoption: evidence that at least one parent lived outside Australia for 12+ months before lodging, that the parent did not move overseas to avoid Australian adoption laws, that full parental rights were transferred with no remaining ties to birth parents, and that the adoption complies with the child's home country laws

Character documents (if child is 16 or older):

• Police certificate from every country where the child spent 12+ months in the last 10 years (since turning 16)
• For Australia only: National Police Certificate under Code 33 (Immigration/Citizenship) from the Australian Federal Police—standard disclosure certificates are not accepted
• Military service records or discharge papers (if applicable)
• Police certificates are valid for 12 months from issue date

Photographs:

• 4 recent colour photos (45mm × 35mm), less than 6 months old
• Full-face view against a plain light background
• Untinted prescription glasses are permitted; religious head coverings may show only the face

Sponsor (adoptive parent) documents:

• Bio-data page of sponsor's Australian passport or travel document
• Police certificate from any country where the sponsor spent 12+ months in the last 10 years
• For expatriate adoptions: evidence of 12+ months residence outside Australia before lodging

For dependent children applying with the child:

• Identity documents
• Travel documents
• Proof of relationship (birth or marriage certificate)

Forms (all in English):

• Form 47CH: Application for migration to Australia by a child
• Form 40CH: Sponsorship for a child to migrate to Australia
• Form 80: Personal particulars for assessment including character assessment (if child is 16 or older)
• Form 956: Appointment of a registered migration agent (if using a migration agent)
• Form 956A: Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (if using a migration agent)

Important: Do not send original documents—only certified copies. Keep a copy of your completed application and all supporting documents for your own records.

Step 3: Complete Forms 47CH and 40CH

Fill out both forms in English. Form 47CH is the child's application; Form 40CH is the sponsor's sponsorship form. Ensure all information is accurate and complete—incomplete or incorrect forms can delay processing or result in application rejection.

If the child is 16 or older, also complete Form 80 (Personal particulars for assessment including character assessment).

Step 4: Pay the Application Charge

You must pay the visa application charge before you post your application. The Department will not process your application until payment is received.

Base charge: AUD 3,235 for the main applicant (the child)

Additional charges (if applicable):

• Each dependent child under 18: AUD 810
• Each dependent child 18 and over: AUD 1,615

The Department will not process your application until full payment is made. Keep proof of payment with your application documents.

Step 5: Prepare Your Application Package

Organize your documents in the order they will be reviewed:

1. Completed forms (47CH, 40CH, 80 if applicable, 956/956A if using an agent)
2. Child's identity and travel documents
3. Adoption documents
4. Character documents (if applicable)
5. Photographs
6. Sponsor documents
7. Dependent children documents (if applicable)
8. Proof of payment

Do not send original documents. All documents must be certified copies. Ensure all non-English documents are translated and certified.

Step 6: Lodge Your Application by Post or Courier

Applications must be submitted on paper—you cannot apply online. Send your complete application package (with certified copies only, not originals) to one of these addresses:

By post (with correct prepaid postage):

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

By courier:

Department of Home Affairs
Child and Other Family Processing Centre
Wellington Central
836 Wellington Street
WEST PERTH WA 6005
Australia

Keep a copy of everything you send, including the forms and all supporting documents, for your own records.

Step 7: Receive Acknowledgement

You should receive an acknowledgement letter from the Department within approximately one month of lodgement. This letter will include your application ID, which you'll need for the next step.

If you do not receive an acknowledgement within one month, contact the Department to confirm your application was received.

Step 8: Import Your Application into ImmiAccount

Once you receive your acknowledgement letter, import your paper application into ImmiAccount (the Department's online portal). This step is optional but strongly recommended—it allows you to:

• Attach additional supporting documents online
• View messages from the Department
• Update your contact details
• Check your application status
• Apply for a Bridging Visa if needed
• Withdraw your application if necessary

To import your application, you will need:

• Your application ID (from the acknowledgement letter)
• The child's date of birth
• The child's identity document number (passport, ImmiCard, or Titre de Voyage number)

You can import applications made in Australia, or existing applications made outside Australia on or after 1 April 2020. Some applications made outside Australia before 1 April 2020 cannot be imported.

Step 9: Respond to Department Requests

The Department may contact you if they need additional information or clarification. Respond promptly to any requests—delays in responding can significantly extend processing times.

You can respond by uploading documents through ImmiAccount (if you've imported your application) or by post/courier to the address above.

Step 10: Receive Your Decision

The Department will contact you with the outcome of your application using your preferred contact method. If the visa is granted, you will receive a grant letter specifying the date by which the child must first enter Australia (typically 12 months from the grant date).

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Item	Cost
Main applicant (child)	AUD 3,235
Dependent child (under 18)	AUD 810
Dependent child (18 and over)	AUD 1,615

Total estimate: AUD 3,235 for a single child with no dependents. Add AUD 810 per dependent child under 18, or AUD 1,615 per dependent child 18 and over.

This does not include: health examinations (typically AUD 300–600), police certificates (variable by country), biometrics fees, translation and document certification costs, or migration agent fees (if using one, typically AUD 1,500–5,000). Use the Department's Visa Pricing Estimator for a more detailed breakdown based on your specific circumstances.

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Current benchmarks (as of March 2026):

• 50% of applications are processed within 6 months
• 90% of applications are processed within 10 months

These times represent a significant improvement from earlier 2025 benchmarks and reflect the Department's accelerated review timelines launched in March 2026.

Acknowledgement: You should receive an acknowledgement letter within approximately one month of lodgement.

Factors that may extend processing time:

• Incomplete or incorrectly filled forms
• Missing documents or supporting evidence
• Time required to verify information with overseas authorities
• Delays in responding to Department requests for additional information
• Complexity of the adoption (e.g., expatriate adoptions often take longer than STCA-involved adoptions)
• Country-specific verification delays (intercountry adoptions typically take 12–24 months; private international adoptions often take 24–30+ months)

Document validity periods:

• Police certificates are valid for 12 months from the issue date for immigration purposes
• Photographs must be less than 6 months old
• Passports must be current and valid

Travel facility: Once the visa is granted, the child has a 5-year travel facility allowing them to travel to and from Australia as many times as they wish. After 5 years, they will need to apply for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident, or apply for Australian citizenship.