Orphan Relative (a) (Subclass  117) – Off Shore
                            (b) (Subclass 837) – Onshore

The Orphan Relative  (Subclass  117  or Subclass 837)  is a visa that lets a child who is ‘orphaned’ to live with a relative  In Australia if their parents are dead, incapacitated or unable to be found.

With this visa

Successful applicants will be entitled to live in Australia permanently. They will be able to study and access Medicare. When eligible, they may be able to apply for Australian Citizenship.

General eligibility criteria

To be eligible, the child must;

  • be sponsored by a likely sibling or step-sibling, grandparent or step-grandparent, aunt, uncle, step-aunt or step-uncle.
  • Sponsor must be approved by the Australia Dept. of Immigration
  • The child may be inside or outside of Australia
  • The child must not have a parent who can care for them
  • The grant of the visa must be in the ‘best interest’ of the child
    The child must meet Australian health and character requirements