Family Visa Solutions Made Simple
There is nothing more important than family. If you are you an Australian citizen or permanent resident looking to reunite with your family members Stepping Stone Relocations can expertly manage your application and work with you to ensure any critical timelines are met, especially for onshore applicants with pending visa expiry issues.
Visa Options to Bring Your Family Home
Whether it’s your partner, children, parents or other extended family members, you may be eligible to sponsor them to come to Australia.
Partner Visas (820 / 801 and 309 / 100)
Partner visas are for couples in married or De Facto relationships and dependant children may also be included.
Applying for permanent residency as a partner is a two-stage process. Applicants are initially issued with a temporary visa and then assessed, after a minimum period of 2 years from the time of application, for the permanent visa. Both the temporary and permanent partner visas are applied for concurrently.
The essential difference between the subclasses is the location that visa applicants are required to be at the time of visa lodgement and at the time of visa grant.
- For Partner 820 / 801 applications the visa applicant must be in Australia at the time of application and time of decision
- For Partner 302/100 applications the visa application must be outside of Australia at the time of application and time of decision
Eligibility for the permanent visa usually depends on the continuation of the relationship, although there are special circumstances that may be considered if the relationship has ceased which would still allow the visa applicant to be granted permanent residency.
Key Features
- Your partner needs to be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or Eligible New Zealand citizen
- It will be necessary for your parter to sponsor you, meet sponsorship criteria and undertake sponsorship obligations
- You must be in a genuine and continuing relationship. Your relationship will be assessed against the four pillars: financial aspects; social context of the relationship; nature of the household and the nature of your commitment to each other
- Unless the relationship is registered in Australia, De Facto partners need to have lived in a De Facto relationship for at least 12 months immediately prior to application
Parent Visas
Family reunion is at the heart of Australia’s migration program. Parent visas provide a pathway for parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia either temporarily or permanently.
Most applicants must meet the balance of family test, which means at least half of their children or stepchildren must be settled permanently in Australia and hold Australian citizenship, permanent residence or be an Eligible New Zealand citizen.
You must be sponsored by an eligible sponsor, except in very limited circumstances. You would usually be sponsored by an eligible child but if your child is under 18 years you can be sponsored by an eligible relative or community organisation.
There are two main pathways:
- Non-contributory parent visa: a more affordable option with longer processing times (approximately 32 years) due to limited places in the migration program.
- Contributory parent visa: offers faster processing (approximately 15 years) in exchange for a higher application charge (around $50,000)
At Stepping Stone Relocations, we help you navigate the complex eligibility requirements, application process, and waiting periods involved with parent visas, ensuring the best possible outcome for you and your family.
Aged Parent Visa (804, 864 and 884)
Aged Parent Visas allow parents who are old enough to qualify for the Australian Age Pension to live in Australia with their children who are citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. These visas offer a pathway to permanent residency, with flexible options depending on your financial circumstances and desired processing time.
There are three main visa options for aged parents:
- Subclass 804 – Aged Parent Visa (Permanent, non-contributory): A low-cost option with very long processing times.
- Subclass 864 – Contributory Aged Parent Visa (Permanent): Offers faster processing in exchange for a higher visa application charge.
- Subclass 884 – Contributory Aged Parent Visa (Temporary): A two-year temporary visa that allows parents to split the cost over two stages by later applying for the Subclass 864 permanent visa.
Applicants must be in Australia to apply for an aged parent visa and can remain on a bridging visa while waiting. However, they must not hold a Subclass 870 visa or have left Australia since that visa ceased to be eligible.
Parent Visa (103, 143 And 173)
Australia offers several visa options for parents who wish to live with their children who are Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. The Parent Visa subclasses 103, 143, and 173 provide pathways to permanent residency, each with different processing times, costs, and conditions to suit varying family needs.
Applicants can be in or outside of Australia at time of application and any family members included in the application must be at the same location.
- Subclass 103 – Parent Visa (Permanent, Non-Contributory): This visa is a permanent residency option for parents at a lower government fee. However, it typically has very long processing times.
- Subclass 143 – Contributory Parent Visa (Permanent – Contributory): The Subclass 143 visa offers permanent residency with a faster processing time by paying a significantly higher application charge.
- Subclass 173 – Contributory Parent Visa (Temporary): This is a temporary visa valid for 2 years, designed as a stepping stone for parents who wish to enter Australia sooner and later apply for the Subclass 143 permanent visa. The 173 visa allows staggered payments of visa fees and lets parents live in Australia while awaiting permanent residency.
Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (870)
The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 870) allows parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia for up to 10 years without needing to meet the Balance of Family Test or applying for permanent residency.
This visa is ideal for parents who want to spend extended time with their children and grandchildren, and who are not yet ready or eligible for permanent parent visas. Parents can apply for a 3-year or 5-year visa, and may reapply to stay in Australia for a maximum of 10 years in total.
The applicant must be outside Australia to apply, unless permitted by the Department of Home Affairs to apply onshore.
Parent visa applications can be complex, with long wait times and strict requirements. Our experienced immigration specialists provide clear advice, help you prepare strong applications, and support you throughout the process – helping to bring your family closer together.
Child Visas
Thankfully, Australia offers a variety of Child visas that cater for dependant children and allow them to be united with their families in Australia. Multicultural Australia is a great place to bring up children with high quality education, the great Aussie lifestyle and opportunities for outdoor adventures.
All Child visa options are permanent visas that allow children to live, study or work indefinitely in Australia and provide the potential for them to apply for Australian citizenship in the future.
Adoption Visa (102)
Adopted parents and prospective adopted parents who are Australian citizens or permanent residents can bring their adopted children to live in Australia through the Subclass 102 Adoption Visa. This visa is only available for offshore applications and is intended for children who have been, or are being, legally adopted outside of Australia and wish to join their adoptive parents.
To be eligible, the adoption must meet Australian legal requirements, and the child must be under 18 years old at the time of application.
Child Visa (101 and 802)
Parents who are Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens can sponsor their dependant biological child, stepchild or adopted child to live in Australia. To be eligible, the child must be under 18 years of age, or a full-time student aged 18 to 25 who is financially dependent on their parents, or over 18 and unable to work due to a disability.
These visas can be applied for either onshore (Subclass 802) or offshore (Subclass 101).
Orphan Relative Visa (117 and 837)
The Orphan Relative Visa (Subclass 117 for offshore applicants and Subclass 837 for onshore applicants) allows a child who is orphaned, or whose parents are unable to care for them, to live in Australia with a relative.
This visa is intended for children under 18 years of age who do not have any parent able to care for them due to death, permanent incapacity, or unknown whereabouts.
The child must be sponsored by an eligible Australian relative—typically a sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or their spouse—who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa (461)
The Subclass 461 visa allows non-New Zealand citizens to live, work, and study in Australia for up to 5 years if they are a family member of a New Zealand citizen who holds a Special Category Visa (subclass 444) and is living in Australia.
This temporary visa is ideal for partners, dependent children, and other eligible family members of New Zealand citizens who are not themselves New Zealand or Australian citizens. It provides full work and study rights and can be renewed, allowing families to remain together in Australia long-term.
At Stepping Stone Relocations, we help you understand your eligibility, prepare a strong application, and ensure your family stays united in Australia.
Carer Visa (116 & 836)
Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens can sponsor their relatives to live in Australia through the Carer Visa. This visa is for individuals who need to provide substantial and continuing care for their Australian relative or family member who has a long-term medical condition, disability, or requires assistance due to age.
These visas can be applied for either onshore (Subclass 836) or offshore (Subclass 116).
The Carer Visa grants permanent residency, allowing the applicant to live, work, and access healthcare in Australia, with the potential to apply for Australian citizenship in the future.
Aged Dependent Relative Visa (114 & 838)
Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens can sponsor their elderly, dependent relatives to live in Australia through the Aged Dependent Relative Visa. This visa is for single people who have been financially dependent on their sponsor for at least 3-years and are old enough to receive the Aged Pension in Australia at the time of application.
These visas can be applied for either onshore (Subclass 838) or offshore (Subclass 114).
The visa grants permanent residency, allowing the relative to live, work, and access healthcare in Australia, along with the possibility of applying for Australian citizenship in the future.
Remaining Relative Visa (115 and 853)
The Remaining Relative Visa is a permanent visa designed for individuals whose only close family members live in Australia. If you have no immediate family outside Australia and wish to reunite permanently with your eligible relatives, this visa may be the right path for you.
Key features
To qualify, you must be sponsored by an eligible Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, and meet strict family relationship criteria. These visas are subject to long processing times due to limited places in the migration program.
This visa can be applied for either onshore (Subclass 835) or offshore (Subclass 115).
At Stepping Stone Relocations, we specialise in family reunion visas. We help you understand the eligibility rules, manage documentation, and support both you and your sponsor throughout the complex application process.