Orphan Relative Visa Subclass 117 Australia

What Is an Orphan Relative Visa?

Subclass 117 is designed for children who do not have a parent who can care for them and who have an eligible relative in Australia willing to sponsor them.

The visa may allow an eligible child to:

• Live permanently in Australia
• Study in Australia
• Work in Australia when legally able to work
• Access Medicare, subject to applicable eligibility rules
• Travel to and from Australia for 5 years from the date the visa is granted while the travel facility remains valid
• Potentially apply for Australian citizenship when eligible

The visa is intended to provide a permanent family migration pathway for an eligible child who needs to live with a relative in Australia.

Who Can Apply for Subclass 117?

The child generally must:

• Be outside Australia when applying and when the visa is decided
• Be under 18 years of age
• Not be married or in a de facto relationship
• Have a relative in Australia who is an eligible sponsor
• Have no parent who can care for them because their parents are deceased, cannot care for them, or cannot be found
• Meet the relevant health and character requirements
• Meet all other requirements of the visa

The Department's current application form identifies the age and relationship requirements for the Orphan Relative visa.

Who Can Sponsor an Orphan Relative?

The sponsor must generally be a settled Australian citizen, settled Australian permanent resident or settled eligible New Zealand citizen who is an eligible relative of the child and is willing and able to sponsor and care for the child.

For subclass 117, an eligible relative can include:

• Brother
• Sister
• Step-brother
• Step-sister
• Grandparent
• Step-grandparent
• Aunt
• Step-aunt
• Uncle
• Step-uncle
• Niece
• Step-niece
• Nephew
• Step-nephew

The sponsor must be able to demonstrate that they can provide appropriate care and support for the child.

Parent Must Be Unable to Care for the Child

One of the central requirements of subclass 117 is that the child does not have a parent who can care for them.

This may apply where the child's parents:

• Are deceased
• Cannot care for the child
• Cannot be found

The circumstances must be supported by appropriate evidence.

Simply having a relative in Australia is not enough. The application needs to establish why the child cannot reasonably be cared for by a parent.

Age Requirement

The child generally needs to be under 18 years old and not married or in a de facto relationship.

Because age is an important requirement, timing can be critical. Applicants should obtain professional advice before the child approaches the relevant age limit.

Relationship Evidence

The application should establish the relationship between the child and the Australian sponsor.

Depending on the circumstances, evidence may include:

• Birth certificates
• Parents' birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Adoption or guardianship documents
• Death certificates
• Court documents
• Official family records
• Other evidence establishing the family relationship

Documents should clearly demonstrate the family connection between the applicant and sponsor.

Evidence That Parents Cannot Care for the Child

This is one of the most important parts of an Orphan Relative visa application.

Depending on the circumstances, evidence may include:

If a parent has died

• Death certificate
• Official death records
• Relevant government documentation

If a parent cannot care for the child

Evidence may include:

• Medical evidence
• Court orders
• Government reports
• Evidence of incapacity
• Evidence of circumstances preventing the parent from providing care

If a parent cannot be found

Evidence may include:

• Police reports
• Search records
• Court documentation
• Government records
• Evidence of attempts to locate the parent
• Other relevant documentation

The evidence required depends on the individual circumstances.

Sponsorship and Care Arrangements

The Australian relative must be willing and able to provide appropriate care for the child.

The Department may require evidence about:

• The sponsor's relationship with the child
• The sponsor's Australian status
• Accommodation
• Financial circumstances
• Proposed care arrangements
• Household circumstances
• The child's proposed living arrangements

The application should clearly explain how the child's welfare and day-to-day needs will be managed after arrival in Australia.

Custody and Consent

Where a child is under 18, parental responsibility and custody issues can be particularly important.

Depending on the circumstances, applicants may need to provide:

• Evidence of legal custody
• Court orders
• Consent from a person with parental responsibility
• Evidence explaining why consent cannot be obtained
• Guardianship documentation
• Other relevant legal documents

The Department may require additional evidence to ensure that granting the visa is legally appropriate and consistent with the child's interests.

Best Interests of the Child

Australia's visa framework includes requirements concerning the best interests of children.

Where a visa applicant is under 18, the Department may consider relevant circumstances concerning the child's welfare and protection.

This makes accurate documentation of custody, guardianship, parental circumstances and proposed care arrangements particularly important.

Health Requirements

The child must meet Australia's applicable health requirements.

Depending on the circumstances, health examinations may be required. The Department explains that most visa applicants must meet health requirements, and family members may also be required to meet health requirements even if they are not migrating to Australia.

Character Requirements

Applicants must satisfy applicable character requirements.

For a child applicant, the Department may require relevant police or other character information depending on the applicant's circumstances and age.

The Department's character requirements apply to visa applicants and can involve requests for additional information or certificates where required.

Documents Required

A subclass 117 application may require extensive supporting evidence.

Child's documents

• Passport
• Birth certificate
• Identity documents
• Passport photographs, where required
• Evidence of current location
• Evidence of parental circumstances

Family relationship documents

• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Adoption documents
• Family records
• Other evidence establishing the relationship with the sponsor

Parent-related documents

Depending on the circumstances:

• Death certificates
• Medical evidence
• Court orders
• Police reports
• Government records
• Evidence of attempts to locate a parent
• Custody or guardianship documents

Sponsor documents

• Australian passport or citizenship evidence
• Permanent visa evidence, where applicable
• Evidence of eligible New Zealand citizenship, where applicable
• Evidence of relationship
• Evidence of ability to care for the child
• Accommodation and financial information where required

All documents not in English should be translated according to the Department's requirements.

Orphan Relative Visa Application Process

Step 1 – Check eligibility

Assess the child's age, location, family circumstances and relationship with the proposed sponsor.

Step 2 – Confirm the sponsor

Establish that the Australian relative is eligible and can sponsor the child.

Step 3 – Establish the parental circumstances

Provide evidence showing that the child's parents are deceased, cannot care for the child or cannot be found.

Step 4 – Prepare custody and care evidence

Prepare documents demonstrating who has legal responsibility for the child and how the child's care will be managed in Australia.

Step 5 – Prepare health and character documents

Complete any required examinations and provide requested character documents.

Step 6 – Lodge the application

The subclass 117 application is an offshore Child/Orphan Relative visa application. The child must satisfy the relevant location requirements when the application is made and when the visa is decided.

Step 7 – Provide additional information

The Department may request further evidence or information during processing.

Step 8 – Visa decision

The Department assesses the application against the relevant legislative requirements and makes a decision.

Processing Time for Subclass 117

Processing times for family visas can vary significantly depending on the circumstances of the application, the completeness of supporting evidence and applicable processing priorities.

Under the current Ministerial Direction No. 117, orphan relative applications receive a specified processing priority within the Family visa processing framework, after ministerial-intervention cases and partner/dependent-child applications.

The Department does not provide a standard guaranteed timeframe for an individual subclass 117 application.

Applicants should avoid making irreversible travel or relocation arrangements until the visa has been granted.

Visa Cost

The visa application charge can change, so applicants should confirm the current charge before lodging.

Additional costs may include:

• Health examinations
• Police or other certificates
• Document translation
• Biometrics, where applicable
• Professional migration assistance, if engaged

Government visa charges are separate from professional service fees.

Subclass 117 vs Subclass 837

The Department describes subclass 117 as the offshore Orphan Relative pathway and subclass 837 as the onshore pathway.

Subclass 117 vs Child Visa 101

These visas are different family migration pathways.

Subclass 101 – Child visa is generally for an eligible child outside Australia who is dependent on an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen parent.

Subclass 117 – Orphan Relative visa is for an eligible child who does not have a parent able to care for them and is sponsored by an eligible relative.

Choosing the correct visa is important because the eligibility requirements and evidence are different.

2026–27 Family Migration Program

For 2026–27, the Australian Government has planned 52,460 places for the Family stream, including a planning level of 3,500 Child visas.

This planning figure covers the Child category and should not be interpreted as a guarantee that an individual subclass 117 application will be granted.

Why Professional Assistance Can Help

Orphan Relative visa applications can involve sensitive family circumstances, custody issues and extensive evidence concerning the child's parents and proposed care arrangements.

Professional assistance can help with:

• Subclass 117 eligibility assessment
• Sponsor eligibility
• Family relationship evidence
• Parental circumstances
• Custody and guardianship documentation
• Child welfare considerations
• Health and character requirements
• Application preparation
• Department correspondence
• Identifying potential issues before lodgement

Get Help With an Orphan Relative Visa

If you are an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen and want to bring an eligible orphaned or otherwise parentless relative to Australia, it is important to assess the circumstances carefully before applying.

The Visa and Education Services Pty Ltd provides personalised Australian family migration assistance through Registered Migration Agent Navneet Kaur (MARN 2318181).

We can help you understand whether Orphan Relative visa subclass 117 may be suitable for your family circumstances and what evidence may be required.

Contact us for a personalised assessment of your Australian family visa options.

Important Disclaimer

Migration legislation, visa requirements, application charges and processing arrangements can change. This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal or migration advice. Eligibility depends on the individual circumstances of the child, sponsor and family situation and the requirements applicable at the time of application.