Child visa (Subclass 101): eligibility and how to apply

The Child visa (Subclass 101) is a permanent family visa for dependent children who are outside Australia at the time of application. If your child is eligible, this visa lets them live in Australia permanently once granted. This article covers the Child visa 101 Australia eligibility requirements, the application process, and what to expect from processing times.

Who the Subclass 101 is for

The Subclass 101 is designed for children of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens who hold or are applying for a qualifying visa. The child must be outside Australia when they apply and when the visa is decided. There is a separate pathway — the Subclass 102 Adoption visa — for children being adopted through an approved intercountry adoption process; the 101 covers biological and legally adopted children in other circumstances.

The 101 is a permanent visa. Once granted, the child can enter Australia as many times as they want, live and study there indefinitely, and apply for citizenship when eligible.

Child visa 101 Australia eligibility: key requirements

There is no points test for the Subclass 101. Eligibility is based on relationship, age, dependency, and health and character requirements.

Relationship to the sponsor

The sponsoring parent must be:

• An Australian citizen
• An Australian permanent resident
• An eligible New Zealand citizen (typically a holder of a Subclass 461 or similar status — see the New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa (Subclass 461) for more on that pathway)

The child must be a natural child, adopted child, or step-child of the sponsor. Step-children are generally eligible if the relationship to the step-parent was formed before the child turned 18.

Age

The child must generally be under 18 at the time of application. Children aged 18 or over may still qualify in limited circumstances — for example, if they are dependent on their parent due to a physical or cognitive incapacity that was present before age 18, or if they are under 25, have never been married or in a de facto relationship, and are enrolled full-time in a recognised educational institution. Age rules in this space are nuanced, so check the Department of Home Affairs page or speak to a MARA-registered agent if your child's age is close to a threshold.

Dependency

The child must be genuinely dependent on the sponsoring parent. A child under 18 is generally considered dependent. Older children must demonstrate financial, psychological, or physical dependency as relevant to their circumstances.

Health and character

Like all Australian visas, the Subclass 101 requires the child to meet health requirements (usually a medical examination) and, for children aged 16 and over, character requirements including police clearances from relevant countries. Parents or other family members included in the application may also need to meet these requirements — see the Department of Home Affairs for current details.

No points test or skills assessment

Unlike the subclasses 189, 190, or 491 skilled migration pathways, the Subclass 101 has no points test and no skills assessment. Eligibility is entirely relationship-based.

Application process and key steps

The Subclass 101 is lodged online through the Department of Home Affairs ImmiAccount portal. The main steps are:

1. Check eligibility — confirm the sponsoring parent's visa or citizenship status, the child's relationship to the sponsor, and the child's age and dependency status.
2. Gather documents — you will typically need birth certificates, proof of the sponsor's Australian status (citizenship certificate, passport, or evidence of permanent residency), evidence of the relationship (e.g. marriage certificate for step-children), and, where relevant, legal documents for adoption.
3. Complete health examinations — the child (and potentially other applicants included in the application) must undergo medical assessments through a panel physician approved by the Department.
4. Lodge the application online — create or log in to ImmiAccount, complete the form, upload documents, and pay the application charge. The fee is set by the Department and subject to change — check the Department of Home Affairs fee schedule before lodging.
5. Provide police clearances — for children aged 16 and over, obtain police certificates from each country where the child has lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.
6. Respond to requests — the Department may request additional information or documents. Respond promptly to avoid delays.
7. Visa decision — if approved, the visa is granted with a travel facility that allows the child to travel to and enter Australia.

If the sponsoring parent is currently applying for their own permanent visa — for example, a Partner (Subclass 309/100) or Partner (Subclass 820/801) — the child can sometimes be included as a secondary applicant on that application rather than lodging a separate Subclass 101. Whether that is the better approach depends on timing and circumstances. A migration agent can help you weigh the options.

For related background on permanent partner pathways, see our Partner (Migrant) Visa Subclass 100: Eligibility & Pathway, which covers how permanent residence is granted after the temporary partner stage.

Processing time trends

The Subclass 101 is assessed by the Department of Home Affairs' family stream. Processing times vary considerably depending on case complexity, how quickly health and character requirements are satisfied, and overall application volumes.

Historically, straightforward 101 applications — where all documents are complete, health exams are clear, and no character issues arise — have generally been finalised faster than complex family cases. However, the family stream as a whole has seen pressure from demand, and times can stretch significantly when additional information requests are issued or health matters require further review.

The Department publishes indicative processing times on its website, typically expressed as the time within which a percentage of applications are finalised. These figures change as caseloads shift, so treat any figure you read online (including here) as a rough guide rather than a commitment. Checking the Department's current published times before you lodge is the most reliable approach.

There is no points-based queue for the 101 — unlike skilled visas where your points score affects your position in the invitation pool, family visa applications are assessed broadly in order of lodgement and case readiness. Getting your documents, health exams, and police clearances in order before you lodge is the single biggest lever you have over your own timeline.

Consider speaking to a MARA-registered agent if your circumstances are complex — for example, if adoption law in the child's country of origin is involved, if there are dependency questions for an older child, or if there are any health or character matters to address.

Where to go next

For live processing time data and invitation round tracking across Australian visa subclasses, visit the Migrant Hub dashboard.