About this Visa

This is a permanent visa for children under 18 years of age who have been adopted, or are about to be adopted, from outside Australia.

An adoptive parent, or prospective adoptive parent, must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
See: Family Members - Definitions

An adoptive parent, or prospective adoptive parent, acts as a sponsor for the child and usually lodges the visa application on behalf of the child.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship is responsible only for assessing applications for visas. It cannot assist with adoption arrangements.

Who is this visa for?

This visa is for children outside Australia, who are under 18 years of age, and in the process of being, or who have been, adopted, by an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.

Further information on adopting a child outside Australia is available from the department's website.
See: Fact sheet 36 – Adopting a Child from Overseas

How much will this visa cost?

There is an application charge for this visa. This will not be refunded if the application is unsuccessful or if the application is withdrawn after lodgement. The application charge covers all dependents included in the application, as well as any siblings who are making their own applications at the same time and place.
See: Visa Charges ( 84KB PDF file)

What does the visa let me do?

This visa allows the child to:

• live permanently in Australia with their adoptive parent
• travel to and from Australia for five years from the date the visa is granted.

If the child wants to travel to and from Australia as a permanent resident after the five-year period, they will need to apply for and be granted a five-year Resident Return (subclass 155) visa or, if eligible, apply for Australian citizenship before travelling.
See: Returning Residents