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Child Visa 101 vs 802 Australia 2026: Offshore and Onshore Child Visas
Australia's Child visa category includes permanent pathways for eligible dependent children of Australian citizens, eligible New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residents. The key distinction between subclasses 101 and 802 is the child's location pathway.
Subclass 101: child outside Australia
Home Affairs describes subclass 101 as a permanent visa for a child outside Australia to move to Australia and live with their parent. The child must satisfy dependency, age, relationship and sponsorship criteria.
Subclass 802: child in Australia
Home Affairs describes subclass 802 as the corresponding Child visa pathway that allows a child to remain in Australia and live with their parents. Location and application criteria must be checked carefully before choosing the pathway.
How is subclass 445 different?
Subclass 445 is not the ordinary permanent Child visa. It is a temporary pathway used for an eligible dependent child connected to a parent's pending permanent Partner visa application.
Read our Subclass 445 Dependent Child Visa guide.
For the wider visa framework, see the Australian Visa Subclass Database.
Official sources
This article provides general information only. Child visa applications can involve age, dependency, custody, parental consent, best-interests and sponsorship requirements that must be assessed individually.
