Orphan Relative Visa (Subclass 837)

You apply for this visa by post or courier only — there is no online lodgement option. The child must be in Australia when you submit the application and must remain in Australia throughout processing. Once the Department acknowledges receipt of your application, you can import it into ImmiAccount to upload additional documents and track progress.

Before You Apply

Check that the child meets all eligibility requirements:

• The child is under 18 years old and single (not married or in a de facto relationship)
• The child has no parent capable of caring for them (both deceased, permanently incapable, or cannot be found)
• The child is in Australia and holds a valid substantive visa (or applied within 12 months of a previous visa ending)
• The child is not in Australia on a visa with a "no further stay" condition
• The child has written consent from anyone who can legally decide where they live, OR home country laws allow them to leave, OR an Australian court order permits migration
• The child meets health requirements
• If aged 16 or older, the child meets character requirements (no visa cancellations or refusals)
• The child has no unpaid debt to the Australian Government
• The sponsor is an eligible relative (sibling, step-sibling, grandparent, step-grandparent, aunt, uncle, step-aunt, or step-uncle)
• The sponsor is an Australian citizen, eligible New Zealand citizen, or Australian permanent resident settled in Australia
• The sponsor and their spouse/de facto partner have no pending registrable offence charges and no convictions that would prevent sponsorship

Ensure the child's passport is valid and gather all required documents before proceeding.

Gather and Prepare Documents

Collect the following documents. All non-English documents must be translated into English by an accredited translator (in Australia, use NAATI; overseas translators must include their full name, address, telephone number, qualifications, and experience). All documents must be certified copies (except police certificates, which should be originals).

Identity and Travel Documents:

• Current passport showing photo, personal details, and issue/expiry dates
• National identity card (if applicable)
• Proof of change of name from an Australian registry of births, deaths and marriages or relevant overseas authority (if applicable)
• Certified copy of the passport or travel document used to enter Australia, plus copies of any passports held since then

Photographs:

• Four recent passport-size photos (45mm × 35mm), less than 6 months old, good quality colour, full-face view with head and shoulders, against plain light-coloured background

Evidence of Orphaned Status:

• Death certificate or official document if parents are deceased
• Medical report or other evidence showing why parents are unable to care for the child
• If parents cannot be found: evidence of how long they have been missing and what efforts have been made to contact or find them

Relationship Documentation:

• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate (if relevant)
• Adoption certificate (if applicable)
• Family status certificate or family book (if officially issued and maintained)

Character Documents (if child is 16 or older):

• Police certificates from every country where the child has spent 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16
  • For Australia: National Police Certificates under Code 33 (Immigration/Citizenship) issued by the Australian Federal Police only
  • Overseas certificates must be original documents
  • Police certificates are valid for 12 months from issue date
• Completed Form 80 (Personal particulars for assessment including character assessment)
• Military service records or discharge papers (if applicable)

Parental Consent Documents:

• Form 1229 (Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under 18) with identity document showing signature and photo, OR
• Statutory declaration giving consent with identity document showing signature and photo, OR
• Australian court order allowing the child to migrate, OR
• Evidence that home country laws allow the child to leave

Forms:

• Form 47CH (Application for migration to Australia by a child)
• Form 40CH (Sponsorship for a child to migrate to Australia)
• Form 956A (Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient) — if someone is receiving correspondence on behalf of the applicant
• Form 956 (Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person) — if someone is providing immigration assistance

For Dependent Children (if applicable):

• For every dependent under 18 applying with the child: identity documents, proof of relationship (birth certificate), and character documents if applicable

Keep a copy of the completed application for your own records.

Complete Application Forms

Complete Form 47CH (Application for migration to Australia by a child) and Form 40CH (Sponsorship for a child to migrate to Australia) in English. Ensure all information is accurate and complete. Incomplete applications will not be processed.

Pay the Application Fee

The visa costs AUD 1,980.00 for the main applicant. There is an additional charge for each dependent child who applies. You must pay the application fee before posting your application. Include evidence of payment (receipt or bank confirmation) with your application. The Department will not process your application until the correct fee is paid.

Use the Visa Pricing Estimator to calculate the exact cost for your situation, including any dependent children.

Submit Your Application by Post or Courier

Do not send original documents — send only certified copies (except police certificates, which should be originals). Send your application to:

By post (with correct prepaid postage): 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

Use courier with tracking to ensure your application is received. Keep proof of postage and payment.

After Lodgement: Acknowledgement and ImmiAccount Import

You should receive an acknowledgement letter from the Department within approximately one month after lodgement. This letter will contain your application ID.

Once you receive the acknowledgement, you can import your application into ImmiAccount:

1. Create or log into your ImmiAccount
2. Enter your application ID, the child's date of birth, and identity document number (passport, ImmiCard, or Titre de Voyage)
3. Once imported, you can:
   • Attach supporting documents
   • View messages from the Department
   • Update the child's details
   • View application status
   • Apply for a Bridging Visa (if eligible)
   • Withdraw the application

The Department will contact you using your authorised method if more information is needed. Do not expect progress updates within normal processing times — the Department will only contact you if they need additional information or to advise of the outcome.

Visa Decision

The child must be in Australia when the Department makes a decision. The Department will advise of the decision in writing, providing either:

• The visa grant number and conditions (if approved), or
• Reasons for refusal and review rights (if refused)

The application fee is not refunded if the application is refused.

If the visa is granted, the Department will send a grant notification letter containing the visa grant number. The visa is digitally linked to the child's passport; they will not receive a label in their passport.

Item	Cost
Main applicant (Subclass 837)	AUD 1,980.00
Each dependent child	Variable (use Visa Pricing Estimator)
Health checks	Additional cost (varies by location)
Police certificates	Additional cost (varies by country)
Biometrics	Additional cost (if required)
Document translation	Additional cost (varies by language and volume)
Document certification	Additional cost (varies by provider)

Total Estimate: Approximately AUD 1,980.00 to AUD 3,500.00+ depending on the number of dependents and additional costs for health checks, police certificates, translations, and certifications.

Does not include: Migration agent fees (if you engage one), legal advice, travel costs to attend health checks or obtain police certificates, or costs associated with obtaining original documents from overseas authorities.

Official timeframe: 75% of applications are processed within 15 months and 90% within 20 months.

Important: Some applications take significantly longer — up to 6 to 9 years in complex cases. This is due to low annual quotas, high demand, and the complexity of verifying orphaned status and family relationships.

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

Processing may take longer if:

• The application is not filled in correctly
• Required documents are missing or the Department needs more information
• Information takes time to verify
• Full payment is not made at lodgement

Important: The child must remain in Australia throughout processing. If the child leaves Australia before a decision is made, the visa cannot be granted. The child will be granted a bridging visa when the application is made; if their current visa expires during processing, the bridging visa will commence automatically.

Travel facility validity: Once the visa is granted, the child can travel to and from Australia as many times as they want for 5 years from the date the visa is granted. After 5 years, the child will need to apply for a Resident Return Visa to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident, or apply for Australian citizenship.