Eligibility Quiz
Application Process
You'll submit your application by post or courier to the Department of Home Affairs in Perth. The process is paper-based, though from 23 July 2025 you can import your submitted application into ImmiAccount to manage it online. Your child must be outside Australia when you lodge the application and when the visa is granted — if your child is already in Australia, you'll need to apply for Subclass 802 instead.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Before you begin, verify that both your child and you (the sponsoring parent) meet all requirements:
For your child:
- Age: Under 18 with no conditions; 18–25 if studying full-time and financially dependent; over 25 if disabled and financially dependent
- Relationship: Biological child, adopted child (adopted before age 18 by a parent who was not an Australian citizen/permanent resident at the time), or stepchild (under 18, with legal guardianship or parenting order, from a former partner — not from your current spouse or de facto partner)
- Marital status: Single, never married, never engaged, never in a de facto relationship
- Location: Outside Australia now and when the visa is granted
- Dependency: Financially dependent on you for basic needs (food, shelter, clothing)
- Character: If 16 or older, must meet character requirements
- Health: Must pass health examination
- Consent: If under 18, must have written consent from everyone with legal custody
For you (the sponsor):
- Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
- At least 18 years old
- Meet character requirements
- Able to provide financial support and accommodation for at least two years after arrival
- Able to assist with settlement and English language support if needed
Step 2: Gather and Prepare All Documents
Compile certified copies (not originals) of every document listed below. Do not send original documents. All non-English documents must be translated into English by an accredited translator (in Australia) or a qualified translator (overseas), and all documents — including translations and photographs — must be certified.
Identity and travel documents:
- Certified copy of your child's current passport (showing photo, personal details, issue and expiry dates)
- Certified copies of any other passports your child has held
- National identity card (if applicable)
- Proof of name change (if applicable)
Photographs:
- Four recent passport-size photos (45mm × 35mm) of your child, less than 6 months old, good quality colour, full-face view with head and shoulders, plain light-coloured background — all certified
Proof of relationship:
- Certified copy of birth certificate showing parent-child relationship
- Marriage certificate (for stepchildren)
- Adoption certificate (for adopted children)
- Family status certificate or family book (if officially issued)
Parental responsibility (for children under 18):
- Written consent from everyone with legal custody, using either:
- Form 1229 Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years (certified), or
- A statutory declaration giving consent (certified)
- Identity document (passport, driver's licence) with signature and photo of the person giving consent (certified)
Alternatively, provide:
- An Australian court order allowing the child to migrate, or
- Evidence that the child's home country laws allow them to leave
Financial dependency (for children over 18):
- Bank statements showing ongoing support
- Money transfer records
- Rent receipts or other evidence of how long you've provided support for food, shelter, and clothing
Education and dependency (for children 18–25 studying full-time):
- University or college enrolment confirmation showing full-time status
- Bank transfers or financial support records
- Evidence of active participation in coursework
Character documents (for children 16 or older):
- Form 80 Personal particulars for assessment including character assessment (completed)
- Police certificates from every country where your child has spent 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16
- For Australia: only National Police Certificates applied for under Code 33 – Immigration/Citizenship are accepted (standard disclosure or state/territory certificates are not acceptable)
- Certificates are valid for 12 months from issue date for immigration purposes
- Military service records or discharge papers (if applicable)
Dependent children (if your child has their own children under 18 applying with them):
- Identity documents
- Travel documents
- Birth certificates proving relationship
- Character documents (if applicable)
Sponsor documents:
- Proof of Australian citizenship, permanent residence, or eligible New Zealand citizen status
- Current passport or citizenship certificate
- Evidence of residence and establishment in Australia
- Employment documentation or evidence of financial capacity
Translation and certification:
- All non-English documents must be translated into English
- All documents (originals, translations, and photographs) must be certified
- Keep a copy of your completed application for your own records
Step 3: Complete the Application Forms
Download and complete both forms in English:
- Form 47CH — Application for migration to Australia by a child
- Form 40CH — Sponsorship for a child to migrate to Australia
Fill in all sections accurately and completely. Incomplete forms are a leading cause of processing delays.
Step 4: Calculate and Pay the Application Fee
The application fee must be paid before you post your application. The Department will not process your application until the correct fee is received.
Current fees (as of 1 July 2025):
- Main applicant (child): AUD 3,235.00
- Each additional applicant aged 18 and over: AUD 1,615.00
- Each additional applicant aged under 18: AUD 810.00
Payment method:
- Payment must be made online through ImmiAccount only
- Debit cards cannot be used for visa fee payments
- The Department does not accept cheques, cash, drafts, or other physical payment methods
To pay, you'll need to create an ImmiAccount or log in to an existing account. The Department will provide you with a payment reference number after you've set up your application in ImmiAccount.
Step 5: Lodge Your Application by Post or Courier
Once you've paid the fee, prepare your application package with:
- Completed Form 47CH and Form 40CH
- All certified supporting documents
- Proof of payment
Send by post (with correct prepaid postage):
Department of Home Affairs
Child and Other Family Processing Centre
Locked Bag 7
NORTHBRIDGE WA 6865
Australia
Or send by courier:
Department of Home Affairs
Child and Other Family Processing Centre
Wellington Central
836 Wellington Street
WEST PERTH WA 6005
Australia
Important: Applications submitted to any other office or by any other method will not be valid and cannot be processed. You cannot submit this application in person.
Step 6: Import Your Application into ImmiAccount (from 23 July 2025)
After you've posted your application, you can import it into ImmiAccount to access online services. This makes it easier to manage your application and upload additional documents.
To import your application:
- Log in to ImmiAccount
- Enter your application ID (provided when you paid the fee)
- Enter your date of birth
- Enter your identity document number (passport, ImmiCard, or Titre de Voyage number)
Through ImmiAccount, you can:
- Attach supporting documents
- View messages from the Department
- Update your details
- Check your application status
- Apply for a Bridging Visa (if needed)
- Withdraw your application
Note: Some applications made outside Australia before 1 April 2020 cannot be imported into ImmiAccount.
Step 7: Expect an Acknowledgement
You should receive an acknowledgement of your application within approximately one month after lodgement. This will confirm that your application has been received and is being processed.
Step 8: Respond to Requests for Information
The Department may request additional information or documents during processing. If documents were not included with your initial application, provide them as soon as possible.
If your application is in ImmiAccount:
- Upload additional documents directly through the portal
If your application is not yet in ImmiAccount:
- Attach documents to a completed Child and Orphan Relative Visa Processing Centre online form and send to the Perth office
Each request for information can add 2–4 months to your processing time, so respond promptly and completely.
Step 9: Await the Decision
The Department will contact you using your preferred method of communication. If they need more information, they'll request it. Otherwise, they'll notify you of the outcome.
Step 10: Visa Grant or Refusal
If the visa is granted:
- You'll receive written notification with:
- Visa grant number
- Date the visa starts
- Any visa conditions
- Entry deadline — typically 12 months from the grant date; your child must enter Australia by this date or the visa will cease
- Your child can then travel to Australia and begin their permanent residence
If the visa is refused:
- The Department will explain why in writing
- You'll be informed whether there is a right to review the decision
- The application fee is not refunded if the application is refused
Fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Main applicant (child) | AUD 3,235.00 |
| Each additional applicant aged 18 and over | AUD 1,615.00 |
| Each additional applicant aged under 18 | AUD 810.00 |
Total estimate: For a single child applicant, AUD 3,235.00. For a child with one dependent child under 18, AUD 4,045.00. For a child with one dependent adult, AUD 4,850.00.
Does not include: Health examinations, police certificates, biometric services, document translation, document certification, or courier/postage costs. These vary depending on your location and individual circumstances.
Fee payment: Payment must be made online through ImmiAccount before you lodge your application. Fees are indexed annually on 1 July in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Processing Time
Median processing time: 20 months (50% of applications decided within this timeframe)
75th percentile: 23 months (75% of applications decided within this timeframe)
90th percentile: 28 months (90% of applications decided within this timeframe)
Acknowledgement: You should receive an acknowledgement within approximately one month after lodgement.
Factors That Extend Processing Time
Your application may take longer if:
- Forms are not filled in correctly
- Required documents are missing or incomplete
- The Department needs time to verify information
- Full payment is not made at lodgement
- Health, character, or national security checks are required
- Police certificates or health examinations need to be updated (these expire after 12 months)
- Each request for additional information adds an estimated 2–4 months
Document Validity Periods
- Police certificates: Valid for 12 months from issue date for immigration purposes
- Health examinations: Typically valid for up to one year
If processing extends beyond these periods, you may be asked to provide updated documents.
Processing Location
All new Child visa applications are processed at the Child and Other Family Processing Centre in Perth, Western Australia. Applications lodged before April 2020 may be processed at overseas offices.
Checking Current Processing Times
Use the Department's visa processing time guide tool to see processing times for recently decided applications in your visa category.