Bringing families together across borders. Our migration lawyers provide expert guidance across Australia's family stream visas, ensuring your application is built with precision and care from the outset.
Australia's family stream migration program allows Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens to sponsor certain family members to come and live in Australia permanently. At SDA Immigration Lawyers, we understand the emotional importance of these applications and combine compassionate client care with rigorous knowledge of the Migration Act 1958 and associated regulations.
Family visa applications involve strict eligibility criteria, evidential requirements, and processing queues that can span years for some categories. We navigate these complexities on your behalf, building thorough applications to the Department of Home Affairs.
Parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens may be eligible to migrate permanently through the parent visa stream. Key visa subclasses include:
The balance of family test applies to most parent visa applications — at least half of a parent's children must live permanently in Australia, or more children must live in Australia than in any other single country.
Children of Australian citizens or permanent residents may be eligible to migrate through child visa subclasses 101 (offshore) and 802 (onshore). Eligibility depends on the child's age, relationship to the sponsor, and dependency status. Adopted children and stepchildren may also qualify under specific provisions. We prepare complete applications addressing all evidentiary requirements including birth certificates, relationship evidence, and legal parenting documents.
Additional family stream categories include:
Many of these subclasses have extremely long processing queues. We provide honest and detailed advice on realistic timeframes and any bridging visa arrangements that may apply.
We assess your family's circumstances, identify the correct visa subclass, and provide clear advice on eligibility, processing times, and costs.
We compile a comprehensive evidence bundle addressing all requirements of the Migration Regulations, including relationship evidence and statutory declarations.
We prepare and lodge your application through ImmiAccount, ensuring completeness and compliance with the Department of Home Affairs requirements.
We monitor your application, respond to any requests for additional information, and advise on next steps throughout the processing period.
Processing times vary significantly depending on the visa subclass. Contributory parent visas (subclass 143) typically process in 2–4 years, while non-contributory parent visas (subclass 103) can take over a decade due to quota limitations. Child visas generally process in 12–24 months. We provide up-to-date processing time estimates during your consultation.
The balance of family test requires that at least half of the applicant's children live permanently in Australia, or that more of their children live in Australia than in any other single country. This test applies regardless of how many children are involved. We assess your family's eligibility carefully before lodgement.
Parents who apply onshore (e.g., subclass 804 or 864) are typically granted a bridging visa that allows them to remain lawfully in Australia while their visa is processed. Offshore applicants must remain outside Australia until their visa is granted. The specific conditions depend on the visa subclass applied for.
Typically required documents include the child's birth certificate (showing the sponsor parent), the sponsor's Australian citizenship or permanent residency evidence, the child's passport, and parental consent from any non-sponsoring parent. Additional documents may be required for adopted or step-children. We provide a detailed document checklist tailored to your specific circumstances.
Most family visa refusals can be reviewed by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). Time limits apply — typically 21 days from the date of the refusal decision. We advise on the merits of review and can represent you before the AAT. In some cases, a fresh application with strengthened evidence may be more appropriate than a merits review.
Speak with one of our specialist family immigration lawyers today for clear, practical advice on your options.