Balance of Family Test
The following information may assist you in working out if you will pass the balance of family test.
Balance of family table
The table below gives some examples of families with different numbers of children. It shows how the location of the children's permanent residence affects the balance of family test.
| Total number of children | Number of children living in Australia | Number of children living in other countries | Passes balance of family test | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country 'A' | Country 'B' | Country 'C' | Country 'D' | |||
| 1 | 1 | Yes | ||||
| 2 | 1 | 1 | Yes | |||
| 3 | 1 | 2 | No | |||
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | No | ||
| 4 | 2 | 2 | Yes | |||
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | No | |
| 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | No | ||
| 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | No |
| 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Yes | |
| 5 | 3 | 2 | Yes | |||
| 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | No | ||
| 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | No |
For further examples of the balance of family table you should read the Parent Migration booklet.
See: Booklet 3 Parent Migration
Children included in the balance of family test
The following children are counted in the balance of family test:
- children of both parents, including children of previous marriages or de facto relationships of either parent, including adopted and step-children, and children in institutions
- children of both parents, whether they are dependent or self-supporting, single, married or divorced
- children whose whereabouts are unknown, or cannot be verified, are counted as being in their parents' country of usual residence.
Note: Step-children are only counted if they are:
- a natural or adopted child of the applicant's current spouse
or - under 18 and a natural or adopted child of a former spouse of the applicant, or a former spouse of the applicant's current spouse, and the applicant or the applicant's spouse has a legal responsibility to look after the child.
Children not included in the balance of family test
Children are not counted in the balance of family test if they:
- are removed from their parents' legal custody by adoption or court order
- are registered by the UNHCR as refugees and live in a camp operated by UNHCR
- live in a country where they suffer persecution or human rights abuse and cannot be reunited with their parents in another country.