Adopting a child is a life-changing decision filled with love, responsibility, and hope. If you’ve adopted a child outside Australia, the Subclass 102 Adoption Visa offers a permanent pathway for your child to live with you in Australia and start a new chapter as part of your family.
At Migration Guru, we help adoptive parents navigate the complex visa process with clarity, accuracy, and compassion—ensuring your child’s visa is lodged correctly and without delays.
✅ What Is the Subclass 102 Ado
ption Visa?
ption Visa?The Adoption Visa (Subclass 102) is a permanent visa that allows children adopted outside Australia to live in Australia with their adoptive parent(s), provided the adoption is recognised under Australian law and complies with the visa criteria.
With this visa, the child can:
• Stay in Australia indefinitely as a permanent resident
• Work and study in Australia
• Enrol in Australia’s public healthcare system, Medicare
• Travel freely in and out of Australia for 5 years
• Sponsor eligible relatives in the future
• Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible
👨👧 Intercountry Adoption and Visa Assessment
The Department of Home Affairs does not arrange adoptions or issue letters of no objection. Their
role is strictly to assess and decide on adoption visa applications.
Adoptions must be arranged in accordance with the guidelines provided by Intercountry Adoptions Australia. Currently, Australia does not accept Subclass 102 visa applications for children adopted in Pakistan.
📋 Who Can Apply?
The child must have been legally adopted outside Australia by an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. The adoption must have occurred before the child turned 18.
The child must be outside Australia when the visa application is submitted and when a decision is made.
🌍 Travel Rights
After the visa is granted, the child can:
• Travel in and out of Australia as often as they like for 5 years
• After this period, apply for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) to maintain their travel rights
• Alternatively, apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible, and receive an Australian passport
👨👩👧 Can Other Children Be Included?
Each adopted child must submit a separate application for a Subclass 102 visa.
If the adopted child has dependent children of their own, those children can be:
• Included in the application at the time of lodgement
• Added any time before the Department makes a decision
All children must meet health requirements, even if they are not travelling to Australia.
📌 When the Visa Is Granted
The Subclass 102 Adoption Visa grants the child permanent residency from the day the visa is approved.
The child must enter Australia before a specified date (usually within 12 months of the visa grant).
All visa conditions must be complied with, and the child must follow Australian laws while residing in the country.
The visa is electronically linked to the child’s passport—no physical visa label is provided.
🛫 Application Process and Timeframes
Applications must be submitted from outside Australia.
Processing times vary based on:
• Application completeness
• Document accuracy
• The need for additional verification
Applicants can track their visa status and travel rights through VEVO.
🤝 Why Choose Migration Guru?
Navigating the Subclass 102 Adoption Visa requires accuracy, legal compliance, and compassion. At Migration Guru, we understand the personal and emotional nature of this journey. Our MARA-registered experts will:
✔️ Guide you through adoption-compliant visa documentation
✔️ Assist with health, character, and sponsorship requirements
✔️ Provide step-by-step visa management from lodgement to grant
✔️ Ensure your child’s permanent migration pathway is stress-free
📞 Contact Migration Guru Today
- Phone: +61-7-3036 3800
- Email: info@migrationguru.com.au
- Website: migrationguru.com.au
- Facebook: Migration Guru
