If a child’s parents have passed away, are unable to care for them, or cannot be located, they may be able to reside in Australia with a relative thanks to this visa.

Benefits of Subclass 117

With the Orphan Relative (Subclass 117) Visa, individuals can:

● Stay in Australia permanently
● Work and study in line with Australian law
● Travel to and from Australia for 5 years
● Enrol in Medicare
● Sponsor relatives to come to Australia
● Apply for Australian citizenship if eligible

Eligibility

The following eligibility criteria must be met before applying for Subclass 117:

● Have no parent/s to care for the individual due to the following circumstances:
○ Death
○ Permanent incapability of providing care
○ Not found

● Have a sponsorship:
○ From an eligible sibling, step-sibling, grandparent, step-grandparent, aunt, step-aunt, uncle, or step-uncle
○ That is approved by the government

● Be under 18 years

● A minor under the age of 18 will only be granted this visa if either:
○ the child’s native country’s laws permit them to leave,
○ everyone who may legally decide where the child lives have given their written agreement, or
○ the visa complies with every Australian child custody order regarding them.

● Meet the health requirements

● Meet the character requirements

Location when Applying

It is necessary for the child to be outside Australia when applying for Subclass 117 (Orphan Relative) Visa.

Including Other Children

If the child has siblings who wish to apply simultaneously, they must each submit separate applications.

Read more about Subclass 117 (Orphan Relative) Visa.

If an individual is in Australia on another visa, they can apply for a Subclass 837 (Orphan Relative) Visa provided they meet its requirements.