Orphan Relative Subclass 837

Orphan Relative subclass 837

This visa allows the child to live permanently in Australia with their sponsoring relative.​ An Orphan Relative (subclass 837) visa is for a child whose parents are dead, permanently incapacitated or of unknown whereabouts. It allows a child in this situation to live permanently with their sponsoring relative in Australia. The sponsoring relative usually applies on behalf of the child, who must be inside Australia when the application is lodged and the visa is decided. The sponsoring relative must meet the parental responsibility or custody requirements.
To apply for this visa, a child must:

be in Australia
be younger than 18 years old
be sponsored by their relative who is:
the brother, sister, grandparent, aunt, uncle or step-equivalent of the child
older than 18 years of age
an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen
not be married or in a de-facto relationship
be in situation where their parents are unable to care for them
Meet health and character requirements.

This is a permanent residence visa. It allows the child to:

stay in Australia indefinitely
work and study in Australia
enrol in Medicare, Australia’s scheme for health-related care and expenses
apply for Australian citizenship (if they are eligible)
sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence
Travel to and from Australia for five years from the date the visa is granted – after that time they will need another visa to enter Australia.