Get your family visa application right the first time. Avoid common mistakes that can delay your application or lead to a refusal.
If your visa application has all the information and documents we need, you will get a faster outcome. Make sure you check it twice before submitting.
Family visas refer to:
- Partner
- Sponsored Parent (Temporary)
- Parent
- Child
- Other Family visas.
You can explore visa options for joining family in Australia. Find all the family visas on the visa list.
How to apply
You can apply for
Partner and the
Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visas applications online through ImmiAccount.
Check your ImmiAccount regularly to see if you need to provide us with more information to process your application.
You must apply for
Parent,
Childand Other Family visas using the relevant paper form. You must pay the application fee. After doing so, write the receipt number on your application form before you post your application. Learn more about
how to pay the application fee.
Check your email or consult your authorised representative regularly to make sure you or they respond to any department requests for more information.
Tips for submitting a ‘decision ready’ application
Provide all the required documents and correct information with your visa application. To do this:
- visit the web page of the visa you are applying for
- select the step-by-step tab for a list of documents you need to provide.
Respond quickly to our requests for information. If you cannot supply what we have asked for, let us know and explain why.
Translate all non-English documents into English
If translated in Australia, include the translator’s National Accreditation Authority of Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) practitioner number.
If translated outside Australia, include the translator’s full name, address, phone number and qualifications.
Information for specific visas
Partner visas
Relationship history
Provide information about all of your previous relationships, even if they were a long time ago. If you have previously been married, widowed, divorced or permanently separated, provide:
- marriage certificates
- divorce documents
- death certificates
- separation documents
- statutory declarations.
Residential and travel history
List your full residential and travel history for the past 10 years, including for any dependent applicants.
Name accuracy
- Check the spelling of your name.
- Check that it matches the passport you are using for your application.
- Make sure there are no errors.
- Include all previous names you’ve used.
Biometrics
Get any requested biometric data collected quickly to avoid processing delays.
Parent visas
Residential history and travel history
Give us a list of your full residential and travel history for the past 10 years, including for any dependent applicants.
Name accuracy
- Check the spelling of your name.
- Check that it matches the passport you are using for your application.
- Make sure there are no errors.
- Include all previous names you’ve used.
Biometrics
Get any requested biometric data collected quickly to avoid processing delays.
Change in circumstances
It is important to keep us up to date about any changes in your circumstances or your contact details. You can do this via your ImmiAccount if you have imported your application after you applied. For help with importing your paper application into ImmiAccount, use the
Parent visa processing centre form.
If you have questions
You can find answers to commonly asked questions, make an enquiry or submit documents on the Parent visa processing centre form
Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa
For the sponsor
Your sponsor must make their sponsorship application, and we must approve it before you can make your Sponsored Parent visa application.
When your sponsor lodges a sponsorship application, they must include all of the required documents listed on the form and submit it.
Documents
Provide all of the required documents and correct information with your sponsorship application. See ‘Step 2 Gather your documents’ at Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa.
Notice of assessment
Your sponsor must provide a notice of assessment from the Australian Taxation Office. Find out how to get a copy of your notice of assessment.
For the visa applicant
Health and character
Provide all of the required health and character checks with your application. See ‘Step 2 Gather your documents’ at Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa.
Genuine Intention to stay in Australia temporarily
Provide as much as evidence to show that you have a genuine intention to visit Australia temporarily. The evidence may include but is not limited to:
- your reasons to visit Australia temporarily
- proof that you will return home
- proof that you own a house/other major assets and have strong ties to your home country.
More information
Sufficient funds
You will need to show that you can fully support yourself financially while you are in Australia.
Learn more about
(Subclass 870) Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa requirements.
Child visas
Forms
Provide all of the required documents and correct information with your paper application. See ‘Step 2 Gather your documents’ on the Department of Home Affairs website for the visa you have applied for.
Submit all Child visa applications by paper forms:
Complete all required sections of the paper forms and make sure all signature boxes are signed. Only one parent can act as the child’s sponsor, so do not supply multiple sponsorship forms.
Electronic communication
To help us to communicate efficiently with you:
- select to receive electronic communication
- supply an email address you can access.
Travel history
List your full travel and residential history for the past 10 years, including for any dependent applicants.
Evidence of relationship
Provide evidence that the child is related to their parent as well as identity evidence of all parties. A birth certificate and passports are possible forms of evidence.
IVF and surrogacy
If the child was conceived with in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or surrogacy, include all medical and custody documents proving this. This may include court orders and medical documentation.
Character
If you are over the age of 17 at the time the visa can be granted, we will ask you to provide penal checks for any country you have resided in for 12 months or more (since you turned 16). You must provide the required character checks when we ask you to do so.
Sponsor and sponsor’s partner
If you are under the age of 18 when the visa can be granted, your sponsor (and their partner if applicable) need to provide police checks from every country they have spent more than 12 months in. Your sponsor (and their partner if applicable) must provide the required police checks when we ask them to do so.
Name accuracy
- Check the spelling of your name.
- Check that it matches the passport you are using for your application.
- Make sure there are no errors.
- Include all previous names you’ve used.
Biometrics
If we request biometric data from you, provide it quickly to avoid processing delays.
Health examinations
As health examinations have a limited validity period, do not undertake health examinations until we ask you to do so.
If you have questions
You can find answers to commonly asked questions, make an enquiry or submit documents to the Child and orphan relative visa processing centre form.
New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa
Forms
Submit New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (subclass 461) visa applications by paper form Form 147 Application for a New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (subclass 461)
Evidence of relationship
Provide evidence of your relationship to your New Zealand citizen member of your family unit (if applicable), as well as for any secondary applicant members of your family unit. This includes identity documents of all parties.
Residential and travel history
List your full residential and travel history for the past 10 years. This includes history for any dependent applicants.
Health and character
Completing any required health examinations and character checks before you apply may help us process your application faster.
To find out if and how you need to complete a health exam and/or a character check, see ‘Step 2 gather your documents’ at
Subclass 461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa
Name accuracy
- Check the spelling of your name.
- Check that it matches the passport you are using for your application.
- Make sure there are no errors.
- Include all previous names you’ve used.
Biometrics
Get any requested biometric data collected quickly to avoid processing delays.
More information
To make sure you submit a complete application see ‘Step 2 Gather your documents’ at
Subclass 461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa.
Other family visas
Forms
Submit other family visa applications by paper form - Application for migration to Australia by other family members - Form 47OF.
Complete all required sections of the paper forms and make sure all signature boxes are signed.
Electronic communication
To help us to communicate efficiently with you:
- select to receive electronic communication
- supply an email address you can access.
Travel history
List your full travel and residential history for the past 10 years, including for any dependent applicants.
Evidence of relationship
Provide evidence of your relationship to your relative as well as identity documents of all parties.
Health examinations
Do not undertake health examinations until we ask you to do so.
Carer visa needs a Bupa medical certificate
If you are applying for a Carer visa, you will need to provide a Bupa medical certificate as evidence that your relative requires care. Find out more at Bupa Medical Visa Services.
Change in circumstances
It is important to keep us up to date about any changes in your circumstances or contact details.
If you have questions
You can find answers to commonly asked questions, make an enquiry or submit documents on the Other Family visa processing centre form.
ImmiAccount – your gateway to an Australian visa
You will need an ImmiAccount to apply for Partner and Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visas. Find out more at Applying online or paper.
If you apply on paper for a Parent visa, you can import it into your ImmiAccount after you have received your acknowledgement letter. For help with importing your application, use the
Parent visa processing centre form.
When setting up your ImmiAccount, make sure you:
- choose to receive messages from us, including application updates
- check regularly for updates and requests for more information.
Your ImmiAccount is the place to:
- track the progress of your application and see requests for more information
- add more information or documents to your applications
- update your contact details.
