Bringing your people home to Australia.
Partner, parent, child and other family visas, with the new processing order explained simply. We do not quote waiting times we cannot control; we explain where you stand.
Ministerial Direction 117, in two lanes.
The Minister's direction tells the Department which family visa applications to look at first. It replaced the earlier family direction on 25 July 2026.
Made in Australia, grantable in Australia
Applications lodged while the applicant is in Australia, for a visa that can be granted in Australia, have the highest priority.
Other family visa applications
Everything else is processed after that, in the order the direction sets.
The order is not a promised date and does not change the criteria. Source: Department of Home Affairs, family migration latest news
A real relationship, shown with honest evidence.
Finances, household, social life and commitment: we help you organise evidence that tells your story consistently.
Partner visas
For the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Applying in Australia: Partner visa subclass 820 (temporary) then 801 (permanent).
- Applying from outside Australia: subclass 309 then 100. Since 25 November 2023 these can be granted whether the applicant is in or outside Australia.
- Prospective Marriage (subclass 300): for couples who plan to marry in Australia. Since 1 July 2024 it can also be granted in or outside Australia.
A partner application is about the real relationship: how you met, how you share your lives, your finances, your household, how others see you as a couple, and your commitment to a shared future. Honest, consistent evidence matters more than volume.
Partner visa charges are high and change each year. We confirm the current figure from the Department's Visa Pricing Estimator in your written quote.
Parent visas
For parents of a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. There are contributory options, which cost more, and non-contributory options, in and outside Australia.
- Applications that used to be lodged on paper (subclasses 103, 143, 804 and 864) must now be lodged online through ImmiAccount.
- There are 7,060 Parent places in 2026-27, down from 8,500 in 2025-26.
- Parent visas are family visas, so Ministerial Direction 117 sets their processing order too.
Because places are limited, parent visa planning is often about timing and cost over several years. We talk through every realistic option, including visitor visas for long family stays, before you commit.
Children and other family
Child visas cover dependent children, adopted children and orphan relatives. A small number of Other Family places (400 in 2026-27) cover carers and remaining relatives. These cases often turn on custody, dependency and identity documents from overseas, so we check what you have early.
If you are a student, note that since 2 October 2026 most Student visa applicants can no longer include family members. See bringing your family on a student visa.
Help from family members
A close family member, meaning a spouse or de facto partner, child, parent, sibling, step-child or step-sibling, may help you with an application without being registered, but must not charge a fee. Anyone else who is paid for visa help in Australia must be a registered migration agent or another person the law allows.
Family visas, page by page.
Comparing parent options? See parent visas compared or the parent visa comparer.
What families ask about these visas.
How long does a partner visa take?
We do not quote times. The Department publishes processing information, and Ministerial Direction 117 sets the order. We tell you where your application sits in that order and what could slow it, such as missing documents.
Should my partner apply from inside or outside Australia?
It depends on your partner's current visa, its conditions, and your plans. Applications made in Australia for visas grantable in Australia sit in the first lane of the processing order, but not every applicant can lawfully apply onshore. We work it out with you.
Can my parents come while we wait for a parent visa?
Often a visitor visa is used for family stays, but each application is assessed on its own merits and visitors must follow their visa conditions. We look at the whole family plan together.
What if the visa is refused?
We explain the decision in plain words and whether a review at the Administrative Review Tribunal is possible, including the deadline and the cost, before you decide anything.
Bring the whole family to the first conversation.
Many families decide together. You are welcome to bring someone you trust.