Moving to Australia is exciting, but it's rarely a decision you make alone. Whether you're trying to bring a spouse, your children, or aging parents, Australia's family migration program offers several pathways — each with its own costs, processing times, and eligibility requirements. The family visa stream accounts for roughly 30% of Australia's permanent migration program, and understanding which option fits your situation can save you thousands of dollars and years of waiting. This guide breaks down every family visa option available in 2026 so you can make the right choice.
Overview of Australia's Family Visa Program
Australia's family migration program is divided into several categories based on the relationship between the visa applicant and the sponsor. The Department of Home Affairs manages all applications, and most require a sponsor who's an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
Family Visa Categories at a Glance
| Visa Type | Subclass | Base Application Fee | Typical Processing Time | Pathway to PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partner (offshore) | 309/100 | AUD $11,710 | 21-32 months (309) | Yes |
| Partner (onshore) | 820/801 | AUD $11,710 | 22-30 months (820) | Yes |
| Prospective Marriage | 300 | AUD $11,710 | 14-26 months | Via partner visa |
| Child (offshore) | 101 | AUD $4,040 | 24-33 months | Yes |
| Child (onshore) | 802 | AUD $4,040 | 21-31 months | Yes |
| Parent (standard) | 103 | AUD $8,665 (2 instalments) | About 42 years (new applications) | Yes |
| Contributory Parent | 143 | AUD $49,900 (2 instalments) | About 18 years (new applications) | Yes |
| Sponsored Parent (temp) | 870 | AUD $6,370-$12,440 | 7-9 months | No |
These fees were checked against Home Affairs on 28 October 2026 and don't include additional costs like health exams, police checks, or migration agent fees. Processing times are the 50% and 90% figures from the Home Affairs processing times guide; parent visa waits are Home Affairs estimates for new applications.
Partner Visas: Subclass 309/100 and 820/801
Partner visas are the most common family visa type, and they're also the most expensive. There's no getting around it — at AUD $11,710 as the base application charge, bringing your partner to Australia is a significant financial commitment.
Offshore Partner Visa (Subclass 309/100)
This is the option when your partner is outside Australia at the time of application. It's a two-stage process:
- Temporary Partner Visa (Subclass 309): Granted first, allowing your partner to live and work in Australia
- Permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 100): Assessed from two years after you first applied, provided the relationship is genuine and ongoing
Eligibility requirements:
- You must be married to, or in a de facto relationship with, an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- De facto relationships must have existed for at least 12 months (exceptions may apply)
- You must be outside Australia when you apply (you can be in or outside Australia when the temporary visa is decided)
- Both partners must be at least 18 years old
Onshore Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801)
If your partner is already in Australia on another valid visa, this is typically the better option. The structure mirrors the offshore pathway:
- Temporary Partner Visa (Subclass 820): Granted first
- Permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 801): Assessed from two years after you first applied
Key advantage: Your partner receives a bridging visa while their application is processed, meaning they can stay in Australia during the wait. Depending on their circumstances, they may be eligible for Medicare. Check the bridging visa's work rights.
What Counts as a "Genuine" Relationship?
The Department of Home Affairs scrutinises partner visa applications heavily. Home Affairs groups the supporting evidence into four areas:
- Financial aspects: Joint bank accounts, shared bills, financial dependency
- Household aspects: Living together, shared responsibilities
- Social aspects: Recognition by friends and family, joint social activities
- Commitment: Length of the relationship, future plans, knowledge of each other's background
Pro tip: Start collecting evidence from the beginning of your relationship. Screenshots of messages, joint lease agreements, photos together at family events, and statutory declarations from friends all strengthen your case.
Child Visas: Subclass 101 and 802
Bringing your children to Australia is more straightforward than other family visa categories, but there are still specific requirements depending on whether the child is inside or outside Australia.
Application Fees and Requirements
| Detail | Subclass 101 (Offshore) | Subclass 802 (Onshore) |
|---|---|---|
| Base fee | AUD $4,040 | AUD $4,040 |
| Child's age | Under 18 (or dependent under 25) | Under 18 (or dependent under 25) |
| Parent must be | Australian citizen, PR, or eligible NZ citizen | Australian citizen, PR, or eligible NZ citizen |
| Location at application | Outside Australia | In Australia |
Dependent children over 18 can be included if they're financially dependent on the parent and either a full-time student or have a disability preventing them from working.
Want to understand what schooling options are available once your children arrive? Check our guide on school enrolment for visa holders' children and the breakdown of school fees by state.
Parent Visas: The Long Wait or the Big Payment
Parent visas are where the system gets genuinely frustrating. You've essentially got two choices: wait decades or pay a large sum upfront. Neither is ideal, but those are the options in 2026.
Standard Parent Visa (Subclass 103)
- Application fee: from AUD $8,665, paid in 2 instalments
- Processing time: about 42 years for new applications, by Home Affairs' own estimate (not a typo)
- Assurance of Support: Required (bond of approximately $10,000-$14,000)
The queue for the standard parent visa is extraordinarily long. If you apply today, your parents could be waiting well into the 2060s. The government has acknowledged this issue repeatedly but hasn't increased the allocation significantly.
Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143)
- First instalment: paid when you apply
- Second instalment (before visa grant): paid when Home Affairs asks; the total is from AUD $49,900
- Processing time: about 18 years for new applications (Home Affairs estimate)
- Assurance of Support: Required
At nearly $50,000 in government fees alone, the contributory parent visa is expensive by any measure. But if you want your parents to become permanent residents within their lifetime, it's realistically the only option.
Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 870)
This newer option provides a middle ground:
- 3-year visa: AUD $6,370
- 5-year visa: AUD $12,440
- Further visas possible (maximum 10 years in total)
- No pathway to permanent residency
- No Medicare access — private health insurance is mandatory
The Subclass 870 works well for parents who want extended visits without the cost or commitment of a permanent visa. However, the lack of Medicare access means you'll need comprehensive private health insurance, which can cost $3,000-$6,000 per year for elderly applicants.
Comparing Parent Visa Options
| Feature | 103 (Standard) | 143 (Contributory) | 870 (Temporary) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total government fees | ~$8,665 | ~$49,900 | $6,370-$12,440 |
| Wait time | About 42 years | About 18 years | 7-9 months |
| Permanent residency | Yes | Yes | No |
| Medicare access | Yes (when granted) | Yes (when granted) | No |
| Work rights | Yes | Yes | No |
| Centrelink access | After NARWP | After NARWP | No |
Secondary Applicants on Skilled Visas
Here's something many people don't realise: if you're applying for a skilled visa, you can include family members in your application from the start. This is often the cheapest and fastest way to bring your family to Australia.
Who Can Be Included?
- Your spouse or de facto partner
- Dependent children (under 18, or under 25 if financially dependent and studying)
Additional Fees for Secondary Applicants
The fees vary by visa type but are significantly less than standalone family visa applications:
| Visa Type | Additional Adult | Additional Child |
|---|---|---|
| Subclass 189/190 (Skilled) | ~$3,070 | ~$1,535–$1,540 |
| Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) | ~$4,015 | ~$1,005 |
| Subclass 500 (Student) | ~$700-$1,000 | ~$350-$500 |
Including family members at the time of your primary application means they arrive on the same visa, with the same conditions and work rights. It's almost always the better financial choice compared to separate family visa applications later.
Adding Family Members to Existing Applications
What if you've already lodged your visa application and your circumstances change? Perhaps you've recently married, or you're expecting a child. You can generally add family members to a visa application that hasn't been decided yet.
Steps to add a family member:
- Notify the Department of Home Affairs through your ImmiAccount
- Complete Form 1436 (Adding an additional applicant after lodgement)
- Pay the additional visa application charge
- Provide all required documents for the new applicant (health exams, police checks, identity documents)
Important: If you've already been granted a visa and want to add a family member, you can't simply "add" them. They'll need to apply for a separate visa — usually a partner or child visa.
Family Reunion and the "Balance of Family" Test
For parent visas, there's an additional hurdle called the "balance of family" test. Your parents must have at least half of their children as "eligible children", or more eligible children than children living in any other single country. An eligible child is an Australian citizen, or a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen usually resident in Australia.
Example: If your parents have three children — one Australian citizen in Australia, one in India, and one in Canada — they do not pass. Only one of three children is eligible, and Australia does not have more of their children than India or Canada. With two children (one in Australia, one in India), they pass, because half are eligible.
This test doesn't apply to partner or child visas, but it's a common reason parent visa applications get rejected. Plan accordingly and check whether your family composition meets this requirement before investing in an application.
Health and Character Requirements
All family visa applicants must meet health and character requirements:
- Health examinations: Chest X-ray, medical examination, and possibly additional tests depending on age and country of origin
- Police clearances: From every country the applicant has spent a total of 12+ months in during the last 10 years (since turning 16)
- Biometrics: May be required depending on nationality
For health insurance considerations once your family arrives, particularly around Medicare eligibility, the rules differ based on visa type. Permanent residents get immediate Medicare access, while temporary visa holders generally don't.
Tips for a Successful Family Visa Application
- Start gathering documents early. Police clearances from some countries take months to obtain.
- Be thorough with relationship evidence. Weak evidence is the number one reason partner visas are refused.
- Budget for the full cost. Beyond visa fees, factor in health exams ($300-$500 per person), police checks ($40-$100 each), translation costs, and potentially a migration agent ($3,000-$8,000).
- Consider your cost of living carefully. Bringing family members means higher expenses for housing, food, and insurance.
- Don't overstay. If a family member is in Australia on a visitor visa while waiting for a decision, make sure their visa remains valid or a bridging visa is in effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my family to Australia if I'm on a temporary work visa?
Yes, most temporary work visas (such as the Subclass 482) allow you to include your spouse and dependent children as secondary applicants. They'll receive the same visa with full work and study rights. You can add them at the time of your initial application or, in some cases, after the visa has been granted through a subsequent application.
How long does a partner visa take to process in 2026?
Processing times vary. In the Home Affairs processing times guide (October 2026), 50% of offshore temporary partner visas (309) were decided in 21 months and 90% in 32 months. For onshore temporary partner visas (820) the figures were 22 and 30 months. The permanent stage (100 or 801) is assessed from two years after you first applied. Priority processing isn't available for partner visas.
Is the Contributory Parent Visa worth the $48,000+ cost?
It depends on your priorities. The cost is from AUD $49,900. The standard parent visa (Subclass 103) costs significantly less but Home Affairs estimates a 42-year wait for new applications, against about 18 years for contributory parent visas. If your parents are elderly or you want them to access Medicare and live permanently in Australia within a reasonable timeframe, the contributory pathway is effectively the only realistic option. Some families use the Subclass 870 temporary parent visa as a stopgap while saving for the contributory visa. Note that you cannot apply for a permanent or temporary parent visa while you hold, or have applied for, the 870.
Can my parents work in Australia on a parent visa?
Parents granted a permanent parent visa (Subclass 103 or 143) have full work rights in Australia. However, the Subclass 870 temporary sponsored parent visa does not come with work rights. Keep in mind that superannuation obligations apply to employers of all workers with valid work rights, including those on parent visas.
What happens if my partner visa application is refused?
If your partner visa is refused, you generally have the right to appeal to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), which replaced the AAT on 14 October 2024. The time limit depends on the decision type, so check your decision letter. The appeal involves an additional fee. Many refused partner visas are overturned on appeal, particularly when the original decision was based on insufficient relationship evidence that can be strengthened.
