Can you apply?

You are a remaining relative if:

• you have no close family ties outside Australia, and
• you are the brother, sister, child or step equivalent of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who is usually resident in Australia (your relative in Australia must be aged over 18); and
• you or your spouse do not have a near relative, who is:
• a parent, brother or sister, or
• a minor child who is not in your daily care and control, or
• an adult child over 18 who is not dependent on you, or
• step equivalents of the above residing in the same country (other than Australia), and
• you and your spouse (if any) together do not have more than three near relatives residing in a different country/ies (other than Australia), and
• you and your spouse (if any) have not had contact with such a near relative/s for a reasonable period before the application, and
• if you are a child under 18, who was adopted overseas by an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, your adoptive parent had spent the required 12 months living overseas prior to adoption visa application.

Sponsorship

You must be sponsored by that relative in Australia.

Your application cannot be approved if your sponsor:

• has previously sponsored/nominated a person who has subsequently been granted a visa on the basis of being a remaining relative, or
• was granted a visa on the basis of being a remaining relative.