Family Visa in Australia – Helping Families Reunite
Bringing a loved one to Australia — or staying together while your visa is processed — is one of the most personal and important decisions in any migration journey. A family visa in Australia allows eligible relatives of Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia, either temporarily or permanently depending on the visa subclass.
At FTS Visa Services, our MARA-registered migration agents work with individuals and families from our offices in Parramatta, Sydney, and Melbourne to help them understand their options, prepare their documentation, and submit well-organised applications that meet current Department of Home Affairs requirements.
Whether you are applying from within Australia or overseas, understanding which visa pathway applies to your situation is the most important first step.
Types of Family Visas We Assist With
For spouses and de facto partners of eligible Australian sponsors, partner visas are lodged in two stages — a temporary visa followed by a permanent visa. The pathway depends on whether you are applying from inside or outside Australia.
- Partner Visa Subclass 820 (Onshore) — For applicants already in Australia. Provides temporary residence and work rights while the permanent stage is assessed.
- Partner Visa Subclass 801 (Onshore) — The permanent stage following the Subclass 820. Usually assessed after two years from the initial application date.
- Partner Visa Subclass 309 (Offshore) — For applicants outside Australia. Allows entry to Australia while the permanent visa is processed.
- Partner Visa Subclass 100 (Offshore) — The permanent counterpart to the Subclass 309.
Partner visa applicants must demonstrate that their relationship is genuine and ongoing. Evidence of financial, household, social, and personal commitment is assessed together, and insufficient evidence is one of the most common reasons applications are delayed or further information is requested.
Parent Visas
Parent visas allow eligible parents of settled Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to migrate to Australia. Processing times vary significantly depending on the subclass.
- Contributory Parent Visa Subclass 143 — A permanent parent visa pathway with generally shorter processing times than non-contributory options, though with higher associated costs.
Parent visa applicants must also satisfy the Balance of Family Test — at least half of their children must be lawfully and permanently resident in Australia, or more of their children must live in Australia than in any other single country.
Child Visas
Child visas are available for dependent children of eligible Australian sponsors who are not yet Australian citizens or permanent residents. The applicable subclass depends on where the child is located at the time of application and their relationship to the sponsor.
Remaining Relative Visas
This pathway may be suitable for applicants whose only near relatives permanently reside in Australia. Eligibility criteria are specific and must be carefully assessed before applying.
Career Visas
The Career Visa allows an eligible family member to move to Australia to provide ongoing, substantial care to a relative with a genuine long-term medical condition that limits their capacity for self-care.
Other Family Stream Visas
Australia’s family migration program includes additional visa subclasses for specific circumstances. Our team can assess your situation and identify the most appropriate pathway for your family.
What Makes Family Visa Applications Complex?
Many applicants underestimate the preparation involved in applying for a family visa in Australia. Beyond completing forms, each application involves:
Selecting the correct visa subclass. Applying for the wrong subclass wastes time, money, and can complicate future applications. Onshore and offshore pathways have different requirements, and some subclasses require specific eligibility tests — such as the Balance of Family Test for parent visas — before an application can succeed.
Sponsorship eligibility. The Australian sponsor must also meet eligibility requirements, including age, character, and in some cases financial support obligations. Sponsors can be refused, and this affects the entire application.
Providing sufficient relationship evidence. For partner visas in particular, the evidence file needs to be substantial and well-organised. The Department of Home Affairs assesses four areas of relationship evidence — financial, household, social, and personal commitment. Gaps in any area can attract requests for further information.
Health and character requirements. Most applicants must complete medical examinations with an approved panel physician and provide police clearances from all countries where they have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.
Responding to Department requests. During processing, the Department may issue formal requests for additional information. Responding accurately and within the timeframe given is critical — late or incomplete responses can lead to a decision being made on the existing file.
Keeping up with regulatory changes. Australian migration legislation changes regularly. What applied six months ago may not apply to your application today. Professional guidance ensures your application reflects current requirements.
How FTS Visa Services Assists With Your Application
Our team supports clients through every stage of the family visa process:
- Eligibility assessment — We review your circumstances and those of your sponsor to determine which visa pathways are open to you before any costs are committed.
- Visa pathway selection — We identify the most suitable subclass for your situation based on relationship type, location, timeline, and budget.
- Document preparation — We help you compile and organise your supporting evidence in line with what the Department of Home Affairs expects to see.
- Evidence review — Before lodgement, we review your relationship evidence, sponsorship documents, and identity materials to identify gaps.
- Application lodgement — We prepare and lodge your application through ImmiAccount, ensuring all forms are accurate and consistent.
- Responding to Department requests — If the Department issues a request for further information during processing, we help you respond promptly and accurately.
- Ongoing support — We keep you informed throughout the processing period and are available to answer questions as they arise.
Our goal is to help you submit a complete, well-prepared application — because a thorough application from the outset reduces the risk of delays and avoidable requests for further information.
Who Can Apply for a Family Visa in Australia?
Eligibility depends on the visa subclass, but generally requires:
- A sponsor who is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
- A genuine qualifying relationship between the applicant and the sponsor
- Satisfaction of health requirements through an approved medical examination
- Satisfaction of character requirements, including police clearances
- Meeting any financial or assurance of support obligations required for the relevant subclass
Every situation is different, and there are circumstances — such as previous visa refusals, health conditions, or complex relationship histories — that require careful assessment before an application is lodged.
Working With a MARA-Registered Migration Agent
Australian migration law is technical, regularly updated, and carries real consequences when applications are lodged incorrectly. A MARA-registered migration agent is legally authorised to provide immigration assistance and migration advice in Australia. Only registered agents can charge fees for immigration assistance with Australian visa applications.
At FTS Visa Services, all migration advice is provided by MARA-registered professionals. You can verify the registration of any migration agent through the official MARA register at mara.gov.au.
Working with a registered agent means you receive advice that is:
- Tailored to your individual circumstances and visa goals
- Based on current migration legislation and Department of Home Affairs policy
- Subject to professional conduct obligations under the Migration Agents Code of Conduct
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Visas
Processing times vary significantly by visa subclass. Partner visa temporary stages (Subclass 820/309) currently take approximately 14–26 months. Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143) processing typically takes 4–7 years. Non-contributory parent visas can take considerably longer. Always check the Department’s official processing time tool for current estimates.
If you lodge an onshore partner visa (Subclass 820), you will typically be granted a Bridging Visa A that includes full work rights while your application is being assessed.
The Balance of Family Test requires that at least half of your children live lawfully and permanently in Australia, or that more of your children live in Australia than in any other single country. This test must be satisfied at both application and grant stages.
Yes. The sponsor must meet age, character, and residency requirements for the relevant visa subclass. For some visas, sponsors are also required to provide an Assurance of Support — a legal commitment to repay certain government payments made to the visa holder.
Depending on the circumstances, you may have the right to seek a merits review at the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). Strict time limits apply. If your application has been refused, seeking professional advice immediately is strongly recommended.
Yes. We assist clients applying from overseas for offshore partner visas (Subclass 309/100) and other family stream visa subclasses. Phone and video consultations are available.
Speak With Our Team Today
Choosing the right visa pathway and preparing a thorough application can make a meaningful difference to your migration journey. If you are considering applying for a family visa in Australia, speak with the MARA-registered team at FTS Visa Services to understand your options and what’s required for your specific situation.
We assist clients from our offices in Parramatta, Sydney, and Melbourne, and by appointment for clients based overseas.