The Adoption visa (subclass 102) is a permanent visa for a child who has been adopted, or is in the process of being adopted, by an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
The child generally needs to be outside Australia both when the application is made and when the visa is granted, which distinguishes it from the Child visa pathways used for existing family relationships.
Generally, the child needs to be:
and must have been, or be in the process of being, adopted by the sponsoring parent before turning 18.
As a permanent visa, the subclass 102 generally allows the child to:
Because this visa deals with the adoption process itself rather than an existing biological or step relationship, it can involve additional requirements relating to the adoption process, the child's individual circumstances, and the sponsoring parent's compliance with the relevant state or territory adoption authority and any applicable intercountry adoption arrangements. Getting the adoption paperwork properly aligned with the visa application is usually the trickiest part of this pathway.
I can assist with:
The information on this page is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute migration advice for your individual circumstances.
Visa requirements and adoption processes can change and vary between jurisdictions. Meeting the general requirements described above does not guarantee that a visa application will be approved.
Professional advice should be obtained based on your individual circumstances before lodging an application.
