What Is the Child Visa Subclass 802?

The Child visa subclass 802 is a permanent visa for an eligible dependent child who is already in Australia.

If granted, the child can remain permanently in Australia and can generally:

• Live permanently in Australia
• Work in Australia
• Study in Australia
• Access Medicare, subject to eligibility
• Travel internationally during the visa's travel facility
• Potentially become eligible for Australian citizenship if the relevant requirements are later satisfied

Subclass 802 is part of Australia's Family Migration Program – Child category. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

Who Can Sponsor a Child for Subclass 802?

The child generally needs to be sponsored by an eligible parent.

The sponsoring parent must generally be:

• An Australian citizen
• An Australian permanent visa holder
• An eligible New Zealand citizen

The sponsor must also satisfy the relevant sponsorship requirements.

Evidence of the sponsor's Australian status and relationship with the child will generally be required.

Who Can Apply for Subclass 802?

The child must generally be in Australia when the application is made and when the visa is decided.

The child must also satisfy the applicable dependent-child requirements.

Depending on the child's circumstances, eligibility may be based on being:

• Under 18 years of age
• An eligible dependent child aged 18 or over
• A full-time student who remains financially dependent on the parent
• A person who cannot support themselves because of a physical or cognitive limitation

The exact requirements depend on the child's age and circumstances.

Dependent Child Requirement

The parent-child relationship alone does not automatically guarantee eligibility for subclass 802.

The child must meet the applicable dependency requirements.

Child Under 18

A child under 18 will generally be assessed as a dependent child if they satisfy the relevant relationship and visa requirements.

Child Aged 18 or Over

A child aged 18 or over may still qualify in certain circumstances.

For example, dependency may continue where the child:

• Is undertaking full-time education and remains financially dependent on the parent; or
• Cannot support themselves because of a physical or cognitive condition.

The Department may require evidence demonstrating the child's financial and personal dependency.

Parent-Child Relationship

The child must have an eligible relationship with the sponsoring parent.

This can include an applicable:

• Biological child relationship
• Adoptive child relationship
• Stepchild relationship

The exact requirements depend on the circumstances of the child and sponsor.

Evidence may include:

• Birth certificate
• Adoption documents
• Marriage or relationship documents
• Court orders
• Parenting documents
• Other evidence requested by the Department

Important Difference: Subclass 802 vs Subclass 101

The biggest distinction between these two Child visas is where the child is located.

Subclass 802

Generally used for an eligible child who is in Australia.

Subclass 101

Generally used for an eligible child who is outside Australia.

Choosing the correct subclass is therefore important. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

Subclass 802 Eligibility Requirements

1. Eligible Parent

The child must have an eligible parent who is:

• An Australian citizen
• An Australian permanent visa holder
• An eligible New Zealand citizen

2. Child Must Be in Australia

Subclass 802 is an onshore Child visa.

The child must generally be in Australia when the application is lodged and when the visa is decided.

If the child is outside Australia, subclass 101 may be the appropriate Child visa pathway instead.

3. Dependent Child

The applicant must satisfy the applicable dependent-child criteria.

This is especially important for applicants aged 18 or over.

Evidence may be required to establish:

• Financial dependency
• Full-time study
• Living arrangements
• Medical or disability-related dependency where applicable

4. Sponsorship

The eligible parent generally needs to sponsor the child.

The sponsor must satisfy the relevant requirements and provide the required supporting evidence.

5. Health Requirements

The child must satisfy Australia's applicable health requirements.

The Department may request health examinations as part of the application.

Relevant family members may also need to satisfy applicable health requirements depending on the circumstances.

There are special rules for children who were born in Australia and are ordinarily resident in Australia but do not meet the standard health requirement. In certain circumstances, the Department can assess the child under the specific special consideration provisions. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

6. Character Requirements

Character requirements can apply depending on the child's age and circumstances.

For applicants aged 16 or over, police certificates and other character information may be required.

7. Best Interests of the Child

Where the applicant is under 18, the Department considers whether granting the visa is in the best interests of the child.

Child protection and parental responsibility issues can therefore be important parts of the application.

8. Australian Government Debts

The child and relevant persons must satisfy applicable requirements concerning debts owed to the Australian Government.

Where applicable, debts may need to be repaid or a suitable repayment arrangement established.

Custody and Parental Responsibility

For a child under 18, custody and parental responsibility can be particularly important.

This may arise where:

• Parents are separated
• Parents are divorced
• One parent lives overseas
• Another person has legal custody
• There are parenting or court orders
• The child is living with someone other than the sponsoring parent

Depending on the circumstances, evidence may be required showing that:

• The sponsoring parent has the legal right to determine where the child lives; or
• Every person who has the legal right to determine where the child lives has consented to the visa; or
• Relevant Australian legal requirements have otherwise been satisfied.

Where parents are separated, applicants should carefully review the custody and consent requirements before lodging.

What Can a Subclass 802 Visa Holder Do?

Subclass 802 is a permanent visa.

Once granted, the child can generally:

Live Permanently in Australia

The child can remain in Australia permanently as a permanent resident.

Study

The child can attend school, undertake vocational education or pursue further studies in Australia.

Work

The child can work in Australia subject to Australian workplace and age laws.

Medicare

The child can generally access Medicare if they meet the applicable eligibility requirements.

Travel

The child can travel internationally while the visa's travel facility remains valid.

Potential Citizenship Pathway

As a permanent resident, the child may later become eligible for Australian citizenship if they meet the relevant requirements.

Travel Facility After Grant

Although subclass 802 is permanent, the visa's initial travel facility is for a limited period.

Before travelling overseas after the travel facility expires, the child may need to obtain a Resident Return visa (RRV) or another appropriate travel facility to return to Australia as a permanent resident.

Families should check the child's current visa status and travel facility before making overseas travel arrangements.

Subclass 802 Application Process

Step 1 – Check Eligibility

Confirm:

• Child's age
• Child's location in Australia
• Parent's Australian status
• Parent-child relationship
• Dependency
• Sponsorship
• Health requirements
• Character requirements where applicable

Step 2 – Confirm Sponsorship

Ensure that the sponsoring parent meets the applicable sponsorship requirements.

Step 3 – Review Custody Requirements

If the child is under 18, establish whether consent, custody or parental responsibility evidence is required.

Step 4 – Prepare Documents

Collect identity, relationship, dependency, custody, health and character documents as applicable.

Step 5 – Lodge the Application

The Department currently requires Child visa applications to be made using a paper application form. New Child visa applications are processed through the Department's Perth processing centre. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

Step 6 – Application Acknowledgement

The Department acknowledges the application and provides further instructions where required.

Step 7 – Health and Character Checks

Complete any medical examinations, police checks or other assessments requested by the Department.

Step 8 – Provide Additional Information

Respond to any request for further documents or information.

Step 9 – Visa Decision

The Department assesses the application and makes a decision.

Documents Required for Subclass 802

The exact documents depend on the child's circumstances.

Child's Identity Documents

Common documents can include:

• Passport
• Birth certificate
• National identity documents, where applicable
• Evidence of name changes
• Other identity documents requested by the Department

Sponsor Documents

The sponsoring parent may need to provide:

• Australian passport
• Australian citizenship evidence
• Permanent visa evidence
• Eligible New Zealand citizenship evidence
• Identity documents
• Evidence of relationship to the child

Relationship Evidence

This may include:

• Birth certificate
• Adoption documents
• Court documents
• Family records
• Other evidence demonstrating the parent-child relationship

Dependency Evidence

For applicants aged 18 or over, evidence can include:

• Full-time enrolment
• Academic records
• Bank statements
• Evidence of financial support
• Living arrangements
• Medical evidence where relevant

Custody and Consent Documents

For children under 18, where relevant:

• Parenting orders
• Court orders
• Custody documents
• Consent from another parent
• Evidence of sole parental responsibility
• Other legal documentation

Health and Character Documents

• Health examination results, where requested
• Police certificates where required
• Other character documents

Documents that are not in English should be translated according to the Department's requirements.

Processing Time for Subclass 802

Child visa processing times can vary significantly.

The Department provides processing-time information based on recently decided applications, but this is only a guide and is not a guarantee. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

Processing can take longer where:

• The application is incomplete
• Documents are missing
• Additional information is requested
• Health checks take longer
• Character checks require additional assessment
• Identity or relationship evidence needs verification
• Custody or consent matters are complex
• The Department needs information from external authorities

The Department also notes that processing times can be affected by application completeness, external checks and the number of available places in the relevant program. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

The 2026–27 Family Migration Program planning level includes 3,500 Child visas, although this is a program planning figure and should not be interpreted as an individual visa processing guarantee. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

Child Visa Subclass 802 Cost

The subclass 802 visa has a government Visa Application Charge.

The total amount payable can depend on:

• Current visa application charges
• Number of applicants
• Applicant circumstances
• Date the Department receives the application

Additional expenses may include:

• Health examinations
• Police certificates
• Translation
• Document certification
• Biometrics, where applicable
• Professional migration advice

Visa charges can change over time. Home Affairs recommends checking the current Visa Pricing Table or Visa Pricing Estimator before lodging rather than relying on an old fee published online. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

Can a Child on Subclass 802 Become an Australian Citizen?

Subclass 802 is a permanent visa, but permanent residence does not automatically make the child an Australian citizen.

The child may later become eligible for Australian citizenship if the applicable citizenship requirements are satisfied.

Depending on the child's age and circumstances, the citizenship process can differ.

Parents should assess citizenship eligibility separately when the child is ready to apply.

Subclass 802 vs Adoption Visa 102

If the child has been adopted, it is important to determine whether subclass 802 or Adoption visa subclass 102 is appropriate.

The correct pathway depends on the child's legal relationship with the sponsor and the circumstances of the adoption.

Subclass 802 vs Subclass 101

This is the most important comparison for families choosing between Child visa subclasses.

If the child is already in Australia and meets the relevant requirements, subclass 802 may be the appropriate Child visa pathway. (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

Important Things to Consider Before Applying

Before lodging a subclass 802 application, check:

✔ Child's current location in Australia
✔ Child's age
✔ Dependency requirements
✔ Parent's Australian status
✔ Parent-child relationship
✔ Sponsorship requirements
✔ Custody and parental responsibility
✔ Consent requirements
✔ Health requirements
✔ Character requirements
✔ Current visa status and conditions
✔ Whether subclass 802 or another visa is appropriate

A child's existing visa conditions can also be important when deciding whether and how to lodge a further visa application.

How We Can Help With Child Visa Subclass 802

At The Visa and Education Services Pty Ltd, we can help parents understand the Child visa process and prepare the relevant documentation.

Our Assistance Can Include:

✔ Subclass 802 eligibility assessment
✔ Parent-child relationship assessment
✔ Dependency assessment
✔ Sponsorship guidance
✔ Custody and consent assessment
✔ Health and character requirement guidance
✔ Document checklist and review
✔ Paper application preparation
✔ Application documentation guidance
✔ Review of potential visa issues

Speak With a Registered Migration Agent

Navneet Kaur – Registered Migration Agent
MARN: 2318181

If your child is already in Australia and you want them to remain with you permanently, the Child visa subclass 802 may provide the appropriate family migration pathway.

Get Personalised Child Visa Advice

Understand your child's eligibility, sponsorship, custody requirements and the correct onshore visa pathway before lodging the application.