Like any other Australian visa, the Orphan Relative visa (subclass 117) has a specific set of requirements that must be met.
This visa allows a child to come to Australia to live with a relative if their parents are deceased, can't care for them, or can't be found.
Who can apply?
Mohammad Reza Azimi is an immigration agent from Shada Migration and Education Services in Sydney. He says that this visa is specifically designed for children who live outside Australia and do not have any parent or guardian that can care for them, for example if they're ill or missing.
The Orphan Relative visa (subclass 117) is designed for those overseas children, under the age of 18 whose parents have died or are unable to care for them...
Source: Getty Images/Anna Efetova
Who can become a sponsor?
To qualify for Orphan Relative visa, the child must be outside Australia and be sponsored by an eligible relative.
Dr Sirous Ahmadi, the General Manager and Principal Migration Agent at Visayab Migration in Sydney, he explains, "for this visa, the sponsor must be a settled Australian citizen or [an] eligible New Zealand citizen, or hold an Australian permanent visa."
The sponsor must be 18 years of age or older and must be a relative of the child.
According to the , a relative can be a sibling or step-sibling, grand parent or step grandparent, aunt, uncle, step aunt or step uncle, or the current spouse or de-facto partner of the relative.
Mr Azimi says the sponsor needs to meet a couple of requirements. The department of Home Affairs must approve of the sponsorship and may even request a police clearance, he explains.
If the sponsor has been charged or convicted of offences involving children, the sponsorship application maybe rejected.
Benefits of Orphan Relative visa (subclass 117)
Dr Ahmadi says there are several benefits of an Orphan Relative visa (subclass 117). This is a permanent visa, he explains, "therefore, the child can stay in Australia indefinitely."
A child who arrives to Australia on an Orphan Relative visa can study and work in Australia. They will be able to enrol in the Australian public health scheme or Medicare, can sponsor relatives to come to Australia and can apply for Australian citizenship, when eligible.
For further information regarding a visa application or need to find a registered migration agent visit .
Source: AAP