Australia Orphan Relative
Australia
Residency
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See if you're a match →Australia's Orphan Relative visa lets a child live permanently in Australia with an eligible relative when the child's parents cannot care for them.
- Type
- Permanent family residence
- Sponsor
- Settled eligible relative in Australia
- Core requirements
- Under 18, no parent able to care, sponsor, and child consent rules
- What to know
- Narrow and highly fact-sensitive
Summary
Australia's Orphan Relative visa lets a child live permanently in Australia with an eligible relative when the child's parents are deceased, cannot care for them, or cannot be found.
Subclass 117 is the offshore version. Subclass 837 is the onshore version. Both are narrow family-protection pathways for children under 18.
Eligibility
The child generally must:
- Be under 18.
- Be single.
- Have no parent able to care for them because the parents are deceased, cannot care for them, or cannot be found.
- Have a settled eligible relative in Australia who can sponsor them.
- Meet health, character, consent, and best-interest requirements.
What This Route Allows
If granted, the visa gives permanent residence. The child can live in Australia with the sponsoring relative and may later become eligible for Australian citizenship if the separate citizenship rules are met.
What This Route Is Not
This is not a general route for children who prefer to live with relatives in Australia. It is for situations where no parent can care for the child.
Next Steps
- Confirm the child's age and family situation.
- Identify the sponsoring relative and their Australian status.
- Gather evidence about the parents' situation and the child's best interests.
- Check whether the onshore or offshore subclass applies.
Sources
- Department of Home Affairs - Orphan Relative visa (Subclass 117) - offshore route.
- Department of Home Affairs - Orphan Relative visa (Subclass 837) - onshore route.