Remaining Relative (Subclass 835) Visa

What is the Remaining Relative Subclass 835) Visa?

The Remaining Relative Subclass 835) Visa allows a near relative of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who has no other near relatives outside Australia to migrate to Australia to reunite with their family members.

What can you do on the 835 Visa?

  • Live in Australia permanently
  • Find employment
  • Study in Australia (at your own expense)
  • Enrol in Enrol in Australia’s public healthcare scheme (Medicare)
  • Include family members in your application
  • If eligible you can apply for Australian citizenship
  • Travel to and from Australia as many times as you’d like within the first 5 years of the visa being granted. After this you may need to apply for a resident return visa to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.

Note: If you are working you are protected by Australian workplace law. See your workplace rights and entitlements.

Am I eligible for the 835 Visa?

  • Be in Australia when you apply and when the department makes a decision on your visa
  • Be a remaining relative of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand Citizen
  • Not have any other near relatives who usually live outside Australia or are in Australia on temporary visas
  • Have an eligible sponsor (usually your relative)
  • You and any family members applying with you must meet health and character requirements
  • Have assurance of support
  • Not have had any previous visa application refused or cancelled
  • Have signed the Australian values statement
  • Have paid back any outstanding debt to the Australian government
  • If you are under 18, this visa may not be granted if the Department of Home Affairs decides it is not in your best interest

What is a near relative?

A near relative is your/your partners parents, siblings, stepsiblings, children, stepchildren, niece or nephew who is not a dependent child.

What is Assurance of Support?

An Assurance of Support is essentially a bond with the department of human services. It is an additional cost paid by the sponsor at the time of decision, for two applicants the bond is an estimated cost of $14,000, however, the assurer’s taxable income needs to be assessed. This is amount is an agreement that financial support will be provided to the applicant/s to settle down in Australia and in circumstances of financial hardship so that there isn’t a dependency on government income (Centrelink).

This amount is paid to the department of human services and is an agreement to re-pay the department for any income support provided. The amount is repaid (minus debt to the Australian government) two years after the parent (subclass 103) visa is granted.

The assurer must:

  • Give sufficient support so thatthe primary applicant or any accompanying family do not have to rely on any government support
  • Pay a security bond before the visa isgranted

How much does the 835 Visa cost?

From AUD5125(Update date:2024.07)

How long can you stay on the 835 Visa?

This is a permanent visa; it allows indefinite stay in Australia.

What is the processing time for the 835Visa?

As at 31 May 2024, we have released the following applications for final processing:

  • Contributory Parent visa applications with a queue date up to June 2017
  • Parent visa applications with a queue date up to December 2011
  • Aged Parent visa applications with a queue date up to January 2013.

What are my obligations on the 835 Visa?

  • You must obey Australian laws and meet all visa conditions
  • Inform the department if anything changes. This includes changes to your relationship status, the birth of a child (or stepchild) and any changes to personal details such as phone number, address or passport.

Health insurance on the subclass 835 Visa

Holders of a Subclass 835 Visa are eligible to enrol in Australia’s public-health cover (Medicare).

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