A stepchild only falls under the Child visa category if:

• the step-child is under 18 years old, and
• the sponsoring step-parent is legally responsible for the step-child, but is no longer the partner of the child’s related parent

To be eligible for the child visa pathway, the child must meet certain requirements. One of the requirements is that the child must be single, meaning they cannot be married, engaged, or in a de facto relationship. If the child is 18 years of age or older, they must not have been previously married or been in a de facto relationship. These requirements are put in place to ensure that the child visa is being used for its intended purpose, which is to reunite families and provide children with the opportunity to live with their parent sponsor in Australia.

For a child to be considered dependent on their sponsor under the child visa pathway, they must meet certain criteria. If the child is under the age of 18, they are considered to be a dependent child. However, if the child is over 18 years of age, they can still be considered a dependent child if they are more reliant on their sponsor than any other person or source of financial support. This reliance can be demonstrated if the child has relied on their sponsor for food, shelter, and clothing for a significant period of time, usually around 12 months. In addition, if the child has a disability that results in a partial loss of bodily or mental functions, they may also be considered dependent on their sponsor. These requirements are in place to ensure that the child is genuinely reliant on their sponsor and that the visa is being used for its intended purpose of reuniting families.

To be eligible for the child visa pathway, the child must be under the age of 25 at the time of application. If the child has turned 18 years old, they must be a full-time student and financially dependent on their sponsor, who is typically a parent. Full-time students must be enrolled in and actively participating in a post-secondary course that leads to a vocational or professional qualification. The child must have started their studies within six months of completing secondary school or after turning 18. It is important to note that if the child is in full-time employment, they will not be considered dependent on their parent. These requirements are in place to ensure that the visa is being used for its intended purpose of reuniting families and providing opportunities for education and career development.

• Relationship status of the child
• General health of the child
• Other factors that may influence eligibility, depending on the individual circumstances of the child and their sponsoring parent.

To ensure that new migrants do not place an undue burden on the Australian social security system, the Assurance of Support (AoS) requires a sponsor, family relative, or eligible organization to provide a legal undertaking to repay certain social security payments made to the sponsored person or their family members during their AoS period.

Assurance of Support ->