Visitor Visa – Sponsored Family Stream

Built for visits where an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible relative is willing to sponsor you — typically a partner, parent or child. Sponsorship can strengthen a family-visit application, though the sponsor may be asked to lodge a bond, generally somewhere between $5,000 and $15,000, as assurance around the visit. Like the Tourist stream, it allows a stay of up to 12 months and doesn't permit work.

Key Requirements

You'll generally need to show that:

• you have an eligible Australian sponsor who is willing to sponsor your visit and, where required, lodge a bond;
• you're genuinely visiting temporarily and intend to leave again at the end of your stay;
• you can financially support yourself for the length of the visit — Visitor visa holders aren't covered by Medicare, so private health cover is worth arranging;
• you meet the relevant health and character requirements; and
• you can show evidence of your circumstances at home and the genuine purpose of your visit.

What You Can Do on a Sponsored Family Stream Visa

A Sponsored Family stream visa may allow you to:

• visit family and friends;
• enjoy a holiday or undertake tourism activities;
• take a cruise; and
• undertake study or training for up to 3 months, where permitted.

You cannot work in Australia on a Visitor visa, and each family member travelling needs their own separate application — a Visitor visa can't be granted to a group under one application.

Applying for a Sponsored Family Stream Visa

The process generally comes down to three steps: gathering your supporting documents (including the sponsor's), getting anything not in English translated and everything scanned or photographed clearly, and lodging online. Some Visitor visa applications are decided very quickly, while others take longer depending on how complete the application is — I'd treat any specific processing estimate as a guide rather than a guarantee, since it shifts with the Department's workload.

Visa Cost

The visa application charge depends on the visa stream and where the application is lodged. Additional costs may apply for health examinations, biometrics, police certificates or other requirements, and a sponsorship bond may be required.

How I Can Help

I can assist with:

• Sponsored Family stream eligibility assessments;
• sponsor eligibility and bond requirements;
• preparation of supporting statements and documentation;
• evidence of genuine temporary stay intentions;
• financial capacity documentation;
• preparation and lodgement of Visitor visa applications; and
• responding to Department of Home Affairs requests.

Important Information

The information on this page is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute migration advice for your individual circumstances.

Visitor visa requirements, streams, processing times and government fees can change. Meeting the general requirements described above does not guarantee that a visa will be granted.

Professional advice should be obtained based on your individual circumstances before lodging a Visitor visa application.