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Remaining Relative Visa 115 and 835 Australia 2026: Eligibility and 22-Year Queue
The Remaining Relative visa is a permanent Other Family visa for an applicant whose only close family members are settled in Australia in the circumstances required by the visa rules.
Subclass 115 versus subclass 835
Subclass 115 is for an applicant outside Australia and requires the applicant to remain outside Australia at application and decision. Subclass 835 is the onshore version and requires the applicant to be in Australia at both application and decision.
Official offshore source: Department of Home Affairs — Remaining Relative visa 115.
Official onshore source: Department of Home Affairs — Remaining Relative visa 835.
The remaining-relative requirement is narrow
The visa is not a general pathway for any person with family in Australia. The statutory and regulatory definition of remaining relative focuses on whether the applicant has the relevant close relatives outside Australia and whether the Australian relatives satisfy the required settled status and relationship requirements.
The queue is extremely long
As at 31 May 2026, Home Affairs had released Remaining Relative applications only up to queue dates of 30 June 2013. For new Remaining Relative applications, the Department currently estimates a processing timeframe of about 22 years.
Current queue source: Other Family visa queue release dates.
Permanent residence
If ultimately granted, the visa provides permanent residence, including work and study rights and access to Medicare subject to the normal eligibility framework.
