115 Remaining Relative visa (subclass 115)

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Remaining Relative visa (Subclass 115)
Stay	Permanent
Cost	From AUD6,600
Apply/decision location	Outside Australia
Eligibility timing	Outside at application and decision
Work rights	Work in Australia
Study	Study in Australia
Medicare	Can enrol in Medicare
Travel facility	Multiple travel for five years
Citizenship	May apply if eligible
Family sponsorship	Can sponsor relatives
Include family	Family unit may be included
Visa record	Digitally linked to passport
Processing	Capped and queued; potentially lengthy

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Purpose

This permanent visa lets a person move to Australia to be with their only close family members.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be outside Australia when you apply and when the decision is made.
• Be a remaining relative of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Have an approved eligible sponsor.
• Obtain an assurance of support when requested.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Repay Australian Government debts, or have an approved repayment arrangement.
• Meet immigration-history requirements; a cancelled visa or refused application may affect eligibility.
• Sign an Australian Values Statement if aged 18 or older.
• Satisfy the best-interests-of-the-child requirement for applicants under 18.

Remaining-relative requirement

The visa will not be granted if you or your partner have a near relative who:

• Usually lives outside Australia; or
• Lives in Australia on a temporary visa, unlawfully, or on a bridging visa, unless they are an eligible New Zealand citizen.

Sponsor requirements

Your sponsor must be an eligible parent, step-parent, sibling, step-sibling, or eligible partner of your relative. They must:

• Be aged 18 or older.
• Be a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Complete Form 40 Sponsorship for migration to Australia.

Stay and Rights

This is a permanent visa. You can:

• Stay in Australia indefinitely.
• Work and study in Australia.
• Enrol in Medicare.
• Sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia.
• Attend free Adult Migrant English Program classes, if eligible.
• Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.

Newly arrived residents may need to wait before receiving certain Australian Government payments and benefits.

For citizenship purposes, you become a permanent resident when you enter Australia on this visa, or in specified circumstances when the visa is granted.

Family Members

You can include members of your family unit when applying, or add them before a decision is made.

You must declare all family members, whether migrating or not. Migrating family members must meet health and character requirements. Non-migrating family members may also be asked to meet these requirements.

Dependent children may be included if they are:

• Under 18; or
• Aged 18 to under 23 and dependent; or
• Over 23, dependent and unable to support themselves because of physical or cognitive limitations.

A dependent adult generally needs to show financial dependency for at least 12 months before application.

For applicants under 18, consent or other parental-responsibility evidence may be required.

Cost

The visa costs from AUD6,600. Limited concessions apply.

• Pay the first instalment when applying.
• Pay the second instalment when requested.
• Extra charges apply for family members included in the application.
• Additional costs may include health examinations, police certificates, and biometrics.
• The visa cannot be granted until the second instalment is paid.

From 1 July 2026, eligible citizens of specified Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste may receive a lower visa application charge. Eligibility is based on holding a valid passport from a specified country.

Processing

Other Family visa demand exceeds available annual places. Applications are subject to capping and queueing, and processing may be lengthy.

Processing may take longer if:

• The application is incomplete or incorrect.
• Required documents are missing.
• Further information is needed.
• Information takes longer to verify.

The application will not be processed if the correct visa application charge is not paid.

Documents

Provide accurate information and supporting documents.

Identity

Provide:

• Current passport pages showing photo, personal details, issue and expiry dates.
• National identity card, if available.
• Evidence of any name change.

Failure to prove identity can result in refusal and may affect future visa applications for up to 10 years.

Relationship and sponsor evidence

Provide evidence of your relationship with the sponsor, such as:

• Birth, marriage, death, or adoption certificates.
• Official family status certificates or family books.

Provide evidence that the sponsor is eligible, such as:

• Australian citizenship certificate.
• Passport.
• Valid visa for an eligible New Zealand citizen.

Family-member evidence

Provide identity, relationship, dependency, character, and parental-responsibility documents as applicable.

For dependent family members aged 18 or older, provide Form 47a Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over and dependency evidence.

For a partner, provide a marriage certificate or evidence of a de facto relationship lasting at least 12 months.

Translations and certification

• Translate all non-English documents into English.
• Send original police certificates.
• Send certified copies of other documents.
• Keep a full copy of your application and documents.

How to Apply

1. Complete Form 47OF Application for migration to Australia in English.
2. Have your sponsor complete Form 40 Sponsorship for migration to Australia.
3. Pay the first instalment through ImmiAccount’s online payment function.
4. Include payment evidence, forms, and required certified documents.
5. Send the paper application by post or courier to the Parent, Child and Other Family Processing Centre in Perth, using the address on the form.

You cannot submit the application in person or pay for it in person.

Incomplete applications may be invalid and will not be processed.

After Applying

After receiving an acknowledgement letter, you may import the paper application into ImmiAccount. This allows you to:

• Upload supporting documents.
• View messages and application status.
• Update details.
• Apply for a bridging visa.
• Withdraw the application.

Existing applications made outside Australia before 25 June 2020 cannot always be imported.

You may be asked to provide health examinations, biometrics, police certificates, further information, or an assurance of support.

Tell the Department promptly about changes to your:

• Contact details or passport.
• Marital or de facto status.
• Family circumstances, including a child’s birth.
• Decision to withdraw the application.

Use Form 1023 Notification of incorrect answers to correct mistakes.

Important Warnings

• Do not arrange travel until the visa is granted in writing.
• You must remain outside Australia when the visa decision is made.
• If you enter Australia on another visa, you cannot obtain a bridging visa to remain while this application is decided.
• The application fee is not refunded if the visa is refused.
• You must enter Australia before the first-entry date in the grant letter.

Travel and Obligations

You can travel in and out of Australia as often as you wish for five years from visa grant.

After the initial five-year travel period, you need a Resident Return visa to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident, unless you become an Australian citizen.

You and included family members must:

• Meet all visa conditions.
• Obey Australian laws.
• Maintain valid travel documents for travel.

The visa is digitally linked to your passport; no visa label is issued. Use VEVO to check visa details, conditions, and travel validity.