Who can apply?

An applicant for an Orphan Relative visa must be under 18 and have no parents to care for them because they are dead, permanently incapacitated or of unknown whereabouts.

The sponsor must be either the child's brother or sister, grandparent, aunt or uncle, or niece or nephew (or step equivalents).

The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.

Visa requirements

Age requirement

The child must be under 18. If the child is under 18 at the time of the application but will turn 18 before the application is decided, they may still be eligible for a visa if they meet the other visa requirements.

Marital status

The child must not be married or living in a de facto (common law) relationship.

Custody requirement

Permission for the child to migrate must be obtained from every person who has a right to decide where the child will live. This may be in the form of a statutory declaration or a court order.

Best interests test

There must be no compelling reason why it is not in the best interests of the child to live with their relative in Australia.

You can obtain a free assesment for this category by following this link