Overview
The Remaining Relative Visa (Subclass 115) is a permanent resident visa designed for individuals whose only near relatives are living in Australia. This visa allows applicants to move to Australia permanently to be with their family, provided they meet strict criteria regarding their family composition outside of Australia.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for this visa, you must:
- Be Offshore: You must be outside Australia when you lodge your application and when the Department of Home Affairs makes a decision on your case.
- Have an Eligible Sponsor: You must be sponsored by an eligible near relative (or their partner) who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Be a "Remaining Relative": You and your partner must have no near relatives living outside of Australia. "Near relatives" include parents, siblings, step-parents, step-siblings, or adult children.
- Meet Health and Character Standards: You must undergo medical examinations and provide police clearances for any country where you have lived for 12 months or more over the last 10 years.
- Assurance of Support: You must have a person or organisation provide a legal commitment to support you financially so you do not rely on Australian social security payments.
Sponsorship Obligations
The sponsor must be "settled" in Australia (usually meaning they have lived in the country for at least two years) and must be aged 18 or older. Sponsors are responsible for providing:
- Accommodation and financial assistance for your first two years in Australia.
- Assistance with settling into the community.
2026 Fees and Charges
The following rates represent the Base Application Charge and subsequent instalments for the 2026 program year.
| Charge Type | Amount (AUD) |
| Base Application Charge (Primary Applicant) | $5,280 |
| Additional Applicant Charge (18 and over) | $2,640 |
| Additional Applicant Charge (Under 18) | $1,325 |
| Second Instalment (Payable before grant) | **$2,065** |
Note: The second instalment is only requested when the Department is ready to grant the visa. Other costs such as medical exams, police checks, and biometrics are not included in these figures.
Processing Times and Capping
The Remaining Relative visa is subject to "capping and queueing." This means the Australian Government limits the number of visas granted each year. Once the cap is reached, no more visas are granted until the next migration year.
As of April 2026, the Department of Home Affairs reports the following benchmarks for the Other Family visa stream:
- 50% of applications: 12 years
- 90% of applications: 22 years
- Queue Release Date: Applications currently being finalised for those who received a queue date up to 30 June 2013.
Applicants should be aware that these timeframes are estimates and can fluctuate based on changes to the Migration Program planning levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for this visa if I am currently in Australia? No. The Subclass 115 is an offshore visa. If you are currently in Australia, you may wish to investigate the Subclass 835 (Remaining Relative) visa, which is the onshore equivalent.
Who counts as a "near relative"? For this visa, a near relative is defined as a parent, step-parent, sibling, step-sibling, child, or step-child (including adult children). If you have even one of these relatives living outside Australia, you are ineligible.
Can I work and study once the visa is granted? Yes. As a permanent resident, you have full work and study rights in Australia and can enrol in Medicare, Australia's public healthcare scheme.
Do I need a mobile number for my application? Yes, providing a valid mobile number and email address is essential for receiving updates through your ImmiAccount.
