Child Visa 101 (Offshore)

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Offshore 101

What is the Child Visa 101?

The Child Visa 101 (offshore child visa) allows a dependent child outside Australia to join their parent(s) who are Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. This visa grants your child permanent residency, full work and study rights, and a pathway to citizenship.

Who Can Apply for a Child Visa 101?

You can apply for a child visa 101 if the child:

Is outside Australia at the time of application and decision
Is dependent on a parent who is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
Is:
- Under 18 years old; OR
- 18–24 years old, single, studying full-time, and financially dependent; OR
- 18+ with a disability (unable to work due to physical/mental impairment)
Is single (never married, engaged, or in a de facto relationship)
Meets health, character, and legal consent requirements

Who Can Sponsor?

The child’s parent (biological, adoptive, or step-parent from a former relationship)
The parent’s spouse or de facto partner (in certain cases)
Sponsor must be 18+ and be an Australian citizen, PR, or eligible NZ citizen

Important: Sponsorship must be approved by the Department of Home Affairs before the visa can be granted.

Special rules:

Adopted Children:

Must have been adopted before turning 18
If adopted after the parent became an Australian citizen/PR/NZ citizen, use Adoption Visa 102

Stepchildren:

Must be under 18
Step-parent must have a court order or legal guardianship

Citizenship by Descent:

If the child was born outside Australia to an Australian citizen parent, consider citizenship by descent as an alternative

What are the main benefits of the Child Visa 101?

Child receives permanent residency
Can live, study, and work in Australia
Access to Medicare (Australia’s public health system)
Pathway to citizenship (if eligible)
Access to free English classes (if eligible)
Sponsor other family members in future

Age & Status Details

Age/status	Requirements
Under 18	Single, dependent, can be biological/adopted/step-child
18–24	Single, full-time student, financially dependent on parent, not working full-time, must have commenced studies soon after finishing school
18+ with disability	Unable to work full-time due to total/partial loss of function, single, dependent

Consent & Child Protection

For children under 18, you must provide:
- Written consent from all people who can legally decide where the child lives
- OR evidence that migration is allowed under local law
- OR that the grant is consistent with any Australian court order
Sponsorship will be refused if the sponsor or their partner has certain criminal convictions involving children.

Need expert advice for your child visa 101 application?

Contact our team for an eligibility check, document checklist, and step-by-step support.

🚀 Call us: 0485 907 989
📧 Email: jade@jadeimmigrationlawyers.com.au
📝 Submit an online enquiry or
📅 Book a consultation We assist clients across Australia and internationally.

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FAQ

Get answers to frequently asked questions about our immigration services and processes. For additional assistance, please reach out to us.

Can I include multiple children?

Each child needs a separate application, but cases can be linked.

How does adoption affect eligibility?

See “Special Rules” above or consult with an expert for complex adoption cases.

How do I check processing times?

Use the Department’s visa processing time tool.

Does the child visa 101 allow Medicare and school enrolment?

Yes—children can enrol in Medicare and attend Australian schools as PRs.