Remaining Relative visa

From 23 July 2025, applicants for Other Family subclasses 114, 115, 116, 835, 836 and 838 can import their paper application into ImmiAccount. Some existing applications made outside of Australia before 25 June 2020 cannot be imported into ImmiAccount. For more information, see Update to ImmiAccount - new online services for paper-based Child, Other Family, Former Residents, and New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa applications.

Stay

Permanently

Cost

From AUD5,280.00

Processing times

For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.

For more information, see Other Family Visa Queue

With this visa you can

• stay in Australia indefinitely
• work and study in Australia
• enrol in Australia's public healthcare scheme, Medicare.
• sponsor your relatives to come to Australia
• attend free English language classes provided by the Adult Migrant English Program, if eligible
• if eligible, apply for Australian citizenship.

See all conditions

Check your eligibility

You must

• be in Australia when you apply for this visa and when we decide your application
• be a remaining relative of an Australian citizen or or
• have an eligible sponsor

Help with your visa

If you are getting help with your visa, before you pay someone, read information on Who can help with your visa application.

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Process

With this visa you can

Travel to and from Australia for 5 years

How long you can stay

Include family

Cost

Apply from

Processing times

Your obligations

Visa label

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With this visa you can

• stay in Australia indefinitely
• work and study in Australia
• enrol in Australia's public healthcare scheme, Medicare.
• sponsor your relatives to come to Australia
• attend free English language classes provided by the Adult Migrant English Program, if eligible
• if eligible, apply for Australian citizenship.

Travel to and from Australia for 5 years

You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want for 5 years from the date we grant this visa. This is as long as the travel facility on this visa remains valid.

If you want to travel after the initial 5-year travel facility:

• you will need to apply for and be granted a Resident Return (RRV) so that you can re-enter Australia as a permanent resident
• you might also want to consider Australian citizenship. If you become an Australian citizen, you don't require a visa to enter Australia. You will need to apply for an Australian passport and use it to leave and re-enter Australia. See more about eligibility requirements and current processing times for Australian citizenship

To see when your travel facility ends, use VEVO.

How long you can stay

This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely.

For citizenship purposes, your permanent residence starts on the day we grant the visa.

Include family

You can include  in your application when you apply. You can also add them to your application at any time before we make a decision.

Family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health and character requirements.

Family members who are not coming to Australia might also have to meet our health and character requirements.

Cost

This visa costs AUD5,280.00. There is an additional charge for each family member who applies with you.

You pay for this visa in 2 parts, called instalments. Pay the first instalment when you apply and the second instalment when we ask you to.

You might also have to pay other costs for health checks, police certificates and . 

To work out what your visa will cost use the Visa Pricing Estimator. The estimator does not take into account the other costs.

See more about visa fees and charges.

Apply from

You must be in Australia when you apply and when we decide on your application.

Processing times

The demand for Other Family visas is greater than the number of places available each year. As a result, processing times for these applications can be lengthy.

For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.

Your application might take longer to process if:

• you do not fill it in correctly
• you do not include all the documents we need or we need more information from you and/or
• your information takes longer than usual to verify.

We can't process your application if you don't pay the correct visa application charge. We will notify you if this is the case and if necessary return your application.

Applications for this visa are subject to .

Learn more about the Other Family Visa queues and processing priorities.

The Reports on Migration Programs have further information on Migration Program outcomes against planning for each migration program year.

Your obligations

You and your family members must obey all Australian laws.

Visa label

We will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.

Have a sponsor

You must be sponsored by an eligible parent or step-parent, sibling or step-sibling, or an eligible partner of your relative.

We must approve the sponsorship.

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Not have other near relatives

We will not grant you this visa if:

• you or your partner have a  who usually live outside Australia, or
• you or your partner have a  who live in Australia on a temporary visa (and are not an ) or unlawfully. Temporary visas include bridging visas.

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Have assurance of support

You must be able to obtain an assurance of support.

An assurance of support assures us that you will not have to rely on government assistance after you enter Australia on this visa. The assurance is for you and any family members who come to Australia with you on this visa.

We will let you know when you need to provide the assurance of support.

Learn more about assurances of support.

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Meet the health requirement

You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health requirement.

Family members who are not coming to Australia might also have to meet our health requirement.

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Meet the character requirement

You and family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our character requirement.

We might also ask that other non-migrating family members meet the requirement.

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Have paid back your debt to the Australian Government

If you or any family members owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or have an approved arrangement to pay it back.

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Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused

We will consider your immigration history when we make a decision on your application, which means you might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused.

In some circumstances you may still apply for a permanent visa if you have had a visa cancelled or an application refused, see Limitations on applications in Australia (129KB PDF).

If applying for a visa from outside Australia, see Can I go to Australia.

If you want immigration assistance, see Who can help with your visa application.

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Sign the Australian values statement

If you are 18 years of age or older, you must:

• have read, or had explained to you, the Life in Australia booklet
• sign an Australian Values Statement that confirms you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws

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Best interests of the child

We will not grant this visa if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18.

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Meet all these criteria? Check how to apply in our step by step guide.

Step 1

Before you apply

Check your passport. If you need help with your application, get someone to act on your behalf.

Check your passport

You don't have to have a valid passport to apply but you must provide details of your most recent passport.

However, we will only grant the visa if you have a valid passport.

Get help with your application

Only some people can help you with your application. If you appoint someone to give you immigration assistance they must be:

• a registered migration agent
• a legal practitioner, or
• an exempt person.

You can appoint anyone to receive documents on your behalf relating to your visa matter.

Step 2

Gather your documents

Provide documents to support your application. You will also need your sponsor documents.

Provide accurate documents

Provide accurate information. See what happens if you can't prove your identity or don't provide true information. 

Identity documents

We need proof of your identity. If you can't prove your identity:

• we will refuse your visa application
• we might not grant you another visa for 10 years
• we might not grant any family members you listed on your application a visa for 10 years

Provide the pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates.

Also provide:

• a national identity card, if you have one
• proof of change of name

Documents that prove a change of name include:

• a marriage or divorce certificate
• change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or the relevant overseas authority
• documents that show other names you have been known by

Sponsor documents

Your migration must be sponsored by your eligible relative or relative's eligible partner. The sponsor must be:

• aged 18 years or older and
• a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen

Your sponsor must complete Form 40 Sponsorship for migration to Australia (357KB PDF) (469KB PDF). To prove your relationship with your sponsor, you will need to give us:

• birth certificate
• marriage certificates
• death certificates
• adoption certificates
• family status certificates or family books if officially issued and maintained

To prove that your sponsor is an eligible citizen or permanent resident, give us:

• citizenship certificate
• passport
• valid visa (for eligible New Zealand citizens)

Character documents

We might ask you for character documents, including police certificates. Do not arrange for police certificates until we ask you to. Learn more about police certificates.

Tell us you are getting help

To nominate someone to:

• receive your correspondence, use Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (301KB PDF)
• provide immigration assistance, use Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person (308KB PDF).

Send written notification or your forms with your paper application.

Dependants under 18 documents

For every dependant under 18 years old who is applying with you, provide:

• identity documents
• proof of your relationship with them, like a birth or marriage certificate
• character documents, if applicable

Parental responsibility documents

You must get consent for any applicant under 18 years of age to migrate to Australia from anyone who:

• has a legal right to decide where the child lives and
• is not coming to Australia with the child

They must complete either:

• Form 1229 Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years (276KB PDF)
• a statutory declaration giving their consent for the child to visit Australia on this visa

Include:

• an identity document that shows the signature and photo of the person who completed the form or declaration, such as a passport or driver’s licence
• adoption papers or other court documents if applicable

If the child is not staying with a relative or legal guardian, provide Form 1257 Undertaking declaration (211KB PDF). The person they are staying with must sign the form.

Dependants over 18 documents

To be included in your visa application as a dependent child, your child must be:

• under 18 years, or
• over 18 years of age but not yet turned 23, and dependent on you or your partner, or
• over 23 years of age, unable to earn a living to support themselves due to physical or cognitive limitations and dependent on you or your partner

For every dependant 18 years old or older who is applying with you, provide:

• identity documents
• documents about their other relationships, if applicable
• character documents
• proof of dependency

Proof of dependency

You need to prove that this person is dependent on you. Provide:

• a completed Form 47a - Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over (307KB PDF)
• proof of your relationship with the dependent such as a birth certificate or adoption papers

You must also prove this person has been financially dependent on you for at least 12 months before you apply. You could provide:

• proof they live with you
• their tax records
• proof they are currently studying

Usually, your child or stepchild must be under 23 years old to be included in your application.

However, a dependant older than 23 years can be included if they are unable to earn a living to support themselves due to physical or cognitive limitations. In this case, provide information about the physical or cognitive limitation.

Partner documents

Provide:

• identity documents
• character documents
• documents about other relationships, if applicable

Provide either:

• your current marriage certificate or
• enough documents to prove you have been in a de facto relationship with your partner for at least 12 months before you apply

Documents that prove your de facto relationship include:

• joint bank account statements
• billing accounts in joint names
• joint leases or mortgages
• documents that show your partner has lived at the same address as you

Prepare your documents

Translate

Have all non-English documents translated into English.

Provide original copies and translated document in your application.

Translators in Australia must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.

Translators outside Australia do not have to be accredited. But on each translation, they must include their:

• full name
• address and telephone number
• qualifications and experience in the language they are translating

These details must be in English.

Certify

Do not certify police certificates. You need to send us the originals.

Have all other documents as a . This includes:

• non-English documents
• English translations

Keep

Keep a copy of your completed application.

Send

Send us:

• original police certificates
• certified copies of all other documents
• as much information as possible to help us decide on your application
• each document only once, even if you are using to show more than one thing
• all documents with your application, if you can

Step 3

Apply for the visa

You must apply for this visa on paper. You must be in Australia when you apply.

Provide accurate information

Provide accurate information. See what happens if you can't prove your identity or don't provide true information.

Apply on paper

Complete Form 47OF Application for migration to Australia by other family members (615KB PDF).

Your sponsor must complete:

• Form 40 Sponsorship for migration to Australia (469KB PDF)

Complete the form in English.

You can't pay for this visa in person.

You must pay the first instalment when you apply. Pay for the application before it is submitted using the online portal payment function in ImmiAccount. Include evidence the application is paid for with your application.

For other payment options see how to pay.

You can't submit this application in person. Send the application by post or courier to the Parent, Child and Other Family Processing Centre in Perth, Western Australia to at the address on the form. Include all required documents and forms with your application.

If any of the above steps are incomplete, your application may be invalid. We do not process invalid applications. We will notify you if this is the case, and if requested, return your application.

Do not send original documents with your application, only send certified copies. Keep a copy of your completed application for your own records, including any supporting documents.

Step 4

After you apply

We will let you know when we have received your application and documents. There may be other things you need to know and might have to do.

Importing your paper application

After you or someone else has submitted your paper application, import it into your ImmiAccount. You can do this after you get your acknowledgement letter.

Importing your application into ImmiAccount gives you access to online services, making it easier to manage your application.

You can use our online services in ImmiAccount to:

• attach supporting documents to your application
• view messages
• update your details
• view your application status
• apply for a Bridging Visa (BV)
• withdraw your application.

Follow these steps to import your application:

1. Create a new ImmiAccount or log into your existing ImmiAccount. Our website has instructions on how to use ImmiAccount.
2. Once you log in, import your application by entering your:
   • application ID
   • date of birth
   • identity document number (Passport, ImmiCard or Titre de Voyage number).

For more information, see Apply and Manage your application in ImmiAccount.

You can import any new and existing applications for this visa into ImmiAccount.

Status updates

We can't provide you with updates on your application's progress within normal processing times. We will let you know if you need to provide anything further.

Travel

Tell us if you want to travel outside Australia while we process your application. We need to know because you must be in Australia when we make our decision.

If you leave Australia, make sure you have a valid visa to return.

Learn about visa expiry.

Health exams

We will let you know if you need health examinations.

Biometrics

We might ask for  (fingerprints and photo). We will let you know if you need to provide them.

Send more information

If you did not include all necessary documents when you applied, provide them as soon as you can.

We might also ask you to provide more information.

If you have imported your application into ImmiAccount, to provide any additional documents upload them into ImmiAccount.

If you can’t use ImmiAccount, to provide any additional documents attach them to a completed Other Family Visa Processing Centre online form.

Stay lawful

Make sure you stay lawful by holding a valid visa while we process your application.

When you applied for this visa, you were granted a Bridging visa. If your current visa expires before we decide on your application, the bridging visa will start. You can stay in Australia on the bridging visa while we process your new visa application.

Do not cancel your current visa. If you do, you will:

• be in Australia unlawfully
• not be eligible for a bridging visa.

Learn more about visa expiry.

Pay the second instalment

Pay the second instalment when we tell you to. We will send you an invoice for the instalment after you have met all other requirements for the visa.

You must pay the instalment or we can't grant the visa.

Mistakes on your application

Let us know as soon as you can if you made a mistake on your application.

Complete Form 1023 Notification of incorrect answers (168KB PDF).

If you have imported your application into ImmiAccount, you can use it to upload the completed form.

If you can’t use ImmiAccount attach the completed form to a completed Other Family Visa Processing Centre online form.

Help with your application

Let us know if you no longer want someone to:

• receive your correspondence - complete Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (301KB PDF)
• provide immigration advice - complete Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person (308KB PDF).

If you have imported your application into ImmiAccount, you can use it to upload the completed form.

If you can’t use ImmiAccount attach the completed form to a completed Other Family Visa Processing Centre online form.

For more information see Who can help you with your application.

Tell us if things change

Things you need to let us know about after you have applied include:

• changes to your phone number, email, address or passport
• changes to your marital or de facto status
• the birth of a child
• you want to withdraw the application
• if you have experienced domestic or family violence see Family violence provisions.

See how to tell us if your situation changes.

Step 5

Visa outcome

You must be in Australia when we decide on your application. We will let you know our decision in writing.

If we grant you the visa, we will let you know:

• your visa grant number
• the date your visa starts
• your visa conditions

Keep a copy of our decision.

If we refuse your visa we will let you know in writing. We will tell you:

• why we refused the visa
• whether you have a right to a review of the decision

We will not refund the application fee if we refuse your application.

In Australia

Leaving Australia

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In Australia

What you must do when you have this visa

You and your family members must obey all Australian laws.

Tell us about a change in your situation

See what to do if your situation changes.

What you can do on your visa

Check your Resident Return visa expiry, visa conditions, work and study entitlements in VEVO.

See how long you can stay

This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely.

For citizenship purposes, your permanent residence starts on the day we grant this visa.

Access Australian Government benefits

As a newly arrived resident, you may have to wait before you are able to access certain Australian Government payments and benefits. Learn more about newly arrives residents’ waiting periods from Services Australia.

Travelling on your visa

You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want for 5 years from the date we grant this visa until the travel validity expires.

If you want to travel after the initial 5-year travel validity:

• you will need to apply for and be granted a Resident Return (RRV) so that you can re-enter Australia as a permanent resident
• you might also want to consider Australian citizenship. If you become an Australian citizen, you don't require a visa to enter Australia. You will need to apply for an Australian passport and use it to leave and re-enter Australia. See more about eligibility requirements and current processing times for Australian citizenship

To see when your travel condition ends, use VEVO.

Proving you have a visa

To prove you have a visa and show your conditions to someone, use VEVO.

Request your international movement records to get proof of your travel in and out of Australia.

Working

This visa lets you work and study in Australia as a permanent resident. You are protected by Australian workplace law. See your workplace rights and entitlements.

Becoming an Australian citizen

After a certain time, you might be eligible for Australian citizenship. Find out more about becoming a citizen. 

For citizenship purposes, your starts on the day we grant the visa.

Leaving Australia

Before you leave

Check your travel documents

You must have a valid passport or other travel document to leave Australia.

Ensure your visa is still valid

See what to do if your visa has expired or is about to expire.

At the border

Departures SmartGate

We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You might be able to leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.

After you leave

Proving you have been to Australia

Request your international movement records to get proof of your travel in and out of Australia.