Orphan Relative Visa (Subclass 117)

You submit your application on paper by post or courier to Australia's Department of Home Affairs. The child must be outside Australia when you lodge the application and must remain outside Australia until the Department makes its decision. This is a strict requirement with no exceptions.

Before You Start: Confirm Eligibility

Before investing time and money, verify that both the child and the sponsor meet all eligibility criteria. The child must be under 18, single, have no parent capable of caring for them, and be outside Australia. The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen; be settled in Australia (lawfully resident for at least two years); and be a sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or step-equivalent of the child. Cousins and more distant relatives cannot sponsor.

Step 1: Gather Documents for the Child

Identity and Travel Documents

• Pages of the child's current passport showing photo, personal details, and issue/expiry dates
• National identity card (if applicable)
• Certified copy of the passport or travel document the child will use to enter Australia
• Any previous passports held
• Proof of name change (if applicable)

Photographs

• 4 recent colour photographs (45mm × 35mm), less than 6 months old
• Full-face view with head and shoulders
• Plain light-coloured background
• Good quality (laser copies not accepted)
• Untinted prescription glasses and religious head coverings are permitted if the face is clearly visible

Evidence That the Child Has No Parent Capable of Caring for Them

This is the core of your application. You must prove that both parents fall into one of these categories:

• Deceased — provide official death certificates
• Permanently incapacitated — provide medical reports, court orders, or other evidence showing why they cannot provide care
• Of unknown whereabouts — document how long they have been missing and what efforts have been made to locate them

The Department will not grant the visa if parents are alive and capable of caring for the child but simply choose not to.

Proof of Relationship to the Sponsor

• Child's birth certificate
• Marriage certificate (if relevant to the relationship)
• Adoption certificate (if applicable)
• Family status certificate or family book (if officially issued in the child's home country)

Character Documents (if the child is aged 16 or older)

• Police certificate from every country where the child spent 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16
• For Australia: National Police Certificate applied for under Code 33 (Immigration/Citizenship) issued by the Australian Federal Police (standard disclosure certificates are not accepted)
• Military service records or discharge papers (if applicable)
• Form 80 (Personal particulars for assessment including character assessment) — completed and signed

Parental Responsibility and Consent

You must obtain written consent from everyone with legal right to decide where the child lives who is not coming to Australia. Consent can be given in one of three ways:

1. Form 1229 (Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under 18) — completed and signed by the person giving consent, with a copy of their identity document (passport or driver's licence showing signature and photo)

2. Statutory declaration — a formal sworn statement giving consent for the child to migrate, with a copy of the person's identity document

3. Alternative evidence — an Australian court order allowing the child to migrate, OR evidence that the child's home country laws permit the child to leave without parental consent

Dependent Children (if applicable)

If the child has dependent children under 18 applying with them:

• Identity documents for each dependent
• Proof of relationship to the primary applicant
• Character documents (if the dependent is aged 16 or older)
• Health examination results (see Step 5)

Step 2: Gather Documents for the Sponsor

Form 40CH (Sponsorship for a child to migrate to Australia)

• Complete this form and sign it

Proof of Citizenship or Residency Status

• Certificate of Australian citizenship, OR
• Permanent residency grant letter or visa grant notification, OR
• Proof of eligible New Zealand citizenship

Evidence of Settlement in Australia (at least 2 years of lawful residence)

• Employment records (payslips, employment contracts, letters from employers)
• Tax returns or income statements
• Lease agreements or property ownership documents
• Utility bills or other proof of address
• Any other evidence of continuous lawful residence

Short trips outside Australia of up to four months do not break the two-year settlement period. However, periods of unlawful residence do not count.

Police Certificates

• Police certificate from Australia and any other country where the sponsor has lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years
• For Australia: National Police Certificate applied for under Code 33 (Immigration/Citizenship)

Financial Evidence

• Recent payslips (last 2–3 months)
• Employment contract or letter from employer
• Tax returns (last 2 years)
• Bank statements showing financial capacity
• Any other evidence of income and financial stability

Accommodation Evidence

• Lease agreement or property ownership documents
• Proof of address (utility bills, council rates notice)
• Evidence that there is suitable accommodation for the child

Step 3: Translate and Certify All Documents

Translation

• All non-English documents must be translated into English
• If you are in Australia, use a translator accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI)
• If you are outside Australia, the translator does not need to be accredited but must include their full name, address, telephone number, and qualifications in English on each translation

Certification

• All documents except the original passport must be certified copies
• A certified copy is a photocopy signed and dated by someone authorised to certify (such as a lawyer, notary public, or authorised government official) with a statement that it is a true copy of the original

Step 4: Complete Application Forms

Form 47CH (Application for migration to Australia by a child)

• Complete all sections accurately
• Sign and date the form
• Ensure the child's details match exactly with their identity documents

Form 40CH (Sponsorship for a child to migrate to Australia)

• Complete all sections accurately
• The sponsor must sign and date the form
• Ensure the sponsor's details match their identity documents

Step 5: Pay the Visa Application Charge

The visa application charge must be paid before you post the application.

Current Fee (as of March 2026): AUD $1,980.00 for the main applicant

Additional charges apply if:

• The child has dependent children applying with them (additional charge per dependent)

How to Pay

• Log into ImmiAccount at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
• Use the ImmiPayments system to pay online
• Keep the payment receipt — you must include it with your application

Note: Fees are indexed annually, typically in July. The amount may have increased since March 2026. Use the Department's Visa Pricing Estimator tool to calculate the exact current cost.

Step 6: Prepare Your Application Package

Organise your documents in the order requested by the Department:

1. Completed Form 47CH (child's application)
2. Completed Form 40CH (sponsor's sponsorship)
3. Payment receipt from ImmiPayments
4. Child's identity and travel documents
5. Photographs
6. Evidence of parental status
7. Proof of relationship to sponsor
8. Character documents (if applicable)
9. Consent documents
10. Sponsor's citizenship/residency evidence
11. Sponsor's settlement evidence
12. Sponsor's police certificates
13. Sponsor's financial evidence
14. Sponsor's accommodation evidence
15. Dependent children's documents (if applicable)
16. All translations and certified copies

Do not include:

• Original passport (certified copy only)
• Original documents that cannot be replaced
• Health examination results (these are arranged by the Department after application)

Step 7: Submit Your Application by Post or Courier

The application cannot be submitted online, in person, or by email. It must be sent by post or courier with correct prepaid postage.

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

Tip: Use a courier service that provides tracking and proof of delivery so you can confirm the application has arrived.

Step 8: Application Processing and Communication

Acknowledgement of Receipt

• The Department will acknowledge receipt of your application within approximately one month
• You will receive a letter or email confirming the application has been received and providing a reference number

Requests for Additional Information

• If the Department needs more information or documents, they will contact you
• Respond promptly to any requests to avoid delays

Health Examinations

• The Department will contact the child when to arrange health examinations
• These are not submitted with the application; the Department will tell you when and where to have them done
• The child and any dependent children must complete health examinations

Biometrics

• The Department may request biometrics (fingerprints and photographs)
• You will be notified if this is required

Processing Timeline

• 50% of applications are processed within approximately 45 months (3.75 years)
• 90% of applications are processed within approximately 85 months (7 years)
• Processing times vary significantly depending on application completeness, complexity, and the volume of applications being processed

Step 9: Visa Decision

Critical Requirement: The child must remain outside Australia when the Department makes its decision. If the child enters Australia before the visa is granted, the application will be refused.

If the Visa Is Granted

• The Department will send a grant notification letter containing:
  • Visa grant number
  • Date the visa starts
  • Visa conditions
  • Date by which the child must enter Australia (typically 12 months from the grant date)
• The visa is digitally linked to the child's passport; no physical label is issued
• The child can access the digital visa record using the grant number

If the Visa Is Refused

• The Department will explain the reasons for refusal
• You will be informed whether there is a right to review the decision
• You may be able to apply for an Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) review

Step 10: Entry to Australia

Once the visa is granted, the child must enter Australia before the date specified in the grant letter. This is typically within 12 months of the grant date.

The child will use the visa grant number and their passport to enter Australia. No physical visa label is required.

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Item	Cost
Visa application charge (main applicant)	AUD $1,980.00
Visa application charge (per dependent child)	Variable — use Visa Pricing Estimator
Health examinations	Not included; arranged and paid separately
Police certificates	Not included; obtained and paid separately
Document translation	Not included; professional translation required
Document certification	Not included; obtained from authorised certifier
Biometrics collection	Not included; may be required

Total Estimate: AUD $1,980.00 plus costs for health examinations, police certificates, translation, and certification. Use the Department's Visa Pricing Estimator tool to calculate the exact current cost for your situation.

Does Not Include:

• Health examination fees (typically AUD $200–$500 per person, depending on location and complexity)
• Police certificate fees (typically AUD $20–$100 per certificate, depending on country)
• Professional translation services (typically AUD $50–$150 per page, depending on language and translator)
• Document certification fees (typically AUD $5–$20 per document)
• Courier or postal costs to send the application
• Migration agent fees (if you use a registered migration agent to help with your application)

Note: Fees are indexed annually, typically in July. The amount shown is current as of March 2026 but may have increased. Check the Department's website for the most current fees.

No Financial Bond Required: Unlike some other family visas, the Subclass 117 does not require an Assurance of Support bond. The sponsor demonstrates financial capacity through employment and income evidence.

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Processing times for the Subclass 117 visa are lengthy and variable. The Department provides a visa processing time guide tool showing processing times for recently decided applications, which is a guide only and not specific to individual applications.

Current Benchmarks (as of March 2026)

• 50% of applications are processed within approximately 45 months (3.75 years)
• 90% of applications are processed within approximately 85 months (7 years)

Some applications are processed faster (within 2–3 years), while others take 6–7 years or longer. The wide range reflects the complexity of individual cases and the low annual visa allocation relative to demand.

Factors That Affect Processing Time

Factors That Speed Up Processing:

• Complete application at lodgement — providing all required documents and information at the time you submit the application significantly speeds processing
• Prompt responses — responding quickly to any Department requests for additional information
• Early health examinations — completing health examinations as soon as the Department requests them
• Clear evidence — providing strong, well-organised documentation that is easy for the Department to verify

Factors That Slow Down Processing:

• Incomplete application — missing documents, incorrect information, or unpaid fees delay processing
• Requests for additional information — the Department may need to ask for more documents or clarification
• Time required to verify information — the Department must verify parental status, sponsor settlement, and other key facts, which can take months
• Health examination delays — if the child does not complete health examinations promptly, processing is delayed
• Character assessment complexity — if the child or sponsor has a complex character history, assessment takes longer
• Low annual visa allocation — the Subclass 117 has a very low annual allocation relative to demand, meaning applications are processed in order of lodgement with limited places available each year

Document Validity Periods

Be aware that some documents expire during processing:

• Passports — if the child's passport expires during processing, they will need to renew it before entering Australia
• Police certificates — typically valid for 12 months; if processing extends beyond this, you may need to obtain a new certificate
• Health examination results — typically valid for 12 months; if processing extends beyond this, the Department may request a new health examination
• Employment letters and financial documents — if processing takes several years, the Department may request updated financial evidence to confirm the sponsor's ongoing capacity

Prioritisation

The Department prioritises applications that are "decision-ready," meaning all supporting documentation and health checks are provided at the time of lodgement. Providing a complete application with all required documents significantly increases the likelihood of faster processing.

Planning Ahead

Given the lengthy processing times, you should:

• Expect processing to take at least 3–4 years, and potentially 6–7 years or longer
• Do not arrange for the child to travel to Australia until the Department formally advises that the visa has been granted
• Keep all contact details current so the Department can reach you
• Respond promptly to any requests for additional information
• Arrange health examinations as soon as the Department requests them
• Plan for the child's education and living situation in their home country during the waiting period