Australia Family Visit Visa Application Process
Australia Family Visit Visa Application Process
An Australian family visit visa is a short-term visa that allows family members who have an invitation letter from a relative who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident to visit family in Australia.
The Australian family visit visa is a type of Australian standard visitor visa (Subclass 600) issued for short-term travel to Australia and can be issued in two different ways as a sponsored family visit visa or a tourist visa.
The rights granted to the Australian family visit visa holder include; residing in Australia for the duration of the visa, visiting family and friends and attending a short-term course for the duration of the visa.
What Types of Visas Are Available to Visit Family and Friends in Australia?
The types of visas available for visiting family and friends in Australia are listed below.
- Australian sponsored family visit visa
- Tourist visa for family visit to Australia
How to Get an Australian Sponsored Family Visit Visa?
The Australian sponsored family visit visa is obtained from the Home Affairs Office of the Australian foreign missions in Turkey through online application and a visa invitation letter must be obtained with the Sponsorship form (Form 1149) prepared by the sponsor residing in Australia before applying for the Australian sponsored family visit visa.
Among the documents required for an Australian visit visa, the contact information of the sponsor must be included in the travel plan, a document indicating the sponsor's location in Australia must be submitted (ID, passport or residence permit), and in some cases, sponsors are asked to deposit a certain amount of money as collateral.
All applications and payment procedures for the Australian sponsored family visit visa are made online and then an appointment must be made and fingerprints must be recorded at the intermediary visa centre.
What are the Australian Sponsorship Requirements for a Family Visit Visa?
The Australian sponsorship requirements for a family visit visa are listed below.
- Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- Be the applicant's parent, sibling, grandparent, child, aunt, maternal uncle, nephew or niece
- Be over 18 years old
- Depositing a security amount if requested
How to Get an Australian Tourist Visa for Family Visits?
Australian tourist visa for family visits is obtained through online application from the Home Affairs Office of the Australian foreign missions in Turkey, and after all application and payment procedures are completed online, fingerprint registration must be provided at the intermediary visa center.
Before applying for an Australian tourist visa for family visits, an invitation letter must be obtained from a first-degree family member or relative residing in Australia and a document proving their location in Australia (ID, passport or residence permit) must be submitted along with the inviting person's contact details in the travel itinerary for the visa.
What are the Required Documents for an Australian Family Visit Visa?
The documents required for an Australian family visit visa are listed below.
- Passport: A passport valid for at least 6 months after the end of the trip, a photocopy of the passport's ID page and copies of past passports, if any, must be submitted.
- Biometric photo: 1 biometric photo, 35 millimeters wide and 45 mm long, taken within the last 6 months must be submitted.
- Australian visitor visa application form: Must be completed online, in English, with complete and accurate information.
- Australia family visit sponsorship form: If a sponsored application is to be made, it must be filled in by the person who will sponsor the applicant, providing the applicant's personal and contact information, as well as the sponsor's information.
- Australian visa invitation letter: It must be written by a person who is a resident or citizen of Australia, must state the home address in Australia, must explain the degree of closeness between the two people, must include the reason for the visit, the date and where the applicant will be staying.
- Australia travel plan: A dated and detailed travel plan showing what will be done during the days spent in Australia must be submitted, and if there are tickets purchased from places to visit, tickets and transportation information must be submitted.
- Transport documentation: Return flight ticket reservations to Australia are required.
- Proof of financial status: Bank account statements or pay slips for the last 3 months must be submitted; if the expenses are covered by the sponsor, a visa sponsorship letter and documents such as title deed, rent, bank account statements showing the sponsor's financial status must be submitted.
- ID card: A photocopy of the ID card is required for citizens of the Republic of Turkey, and a photocopy of the TR residence permit is required for citizens of foreign countries.
- Population registration copy: A fully-fledged population registration copy showing the information of all family members must be downloaded from the e-government and printed.
- Criminal record: The applicant must prove that he/she has not committed any past or current crimes.
The documents required for an Australian visa, which vary depending on the accommodation status and the applicant's employment status, must be prepared with up-to-date, complete and accurate statements, and documents received in Turkish must be translated into English.
What is the Australian Family Visit Visa Sponsorship Form?
The sponsorship form for an Australian family visit visa is the type of form that must be filled out if the applicant is sponsored for the visit.
The sponsorship form for the Australian family visit visa must be filled in by the applicant's relative and sponsoring family member, and the information included in the form consists of sponsorship questions and personal and contact information about the family member to be sponsored.
When filling out the sponsorship form for an Australian family visit visa, care must be taken to ensure that it is filled out separately and completely for each applicant to be sponsored, and that it is scanned in high resolution and forwarded to the applicant.
What is an Invitation Letter for Australian Relative Visit Visa?
An invitation letter for an Australian relative visit visa is a type of letter that includes the degree of relationship between the applicant and the relative in Australia, as well as information about the visit.
For an Australian relative visit visa, the invitation letter must be written by the inviting relative, state the relative's home address in Australia, explain the degree of closeness between the two people, state the reason for the visit, the date and where the applicant will be staying. When writing an Australian visa invitation, care must be taken to use formal language, provide complete information and include information on whether the applicant is sponsored.
How Much Does an Australian Family and Friend Visit Visa Cost?
The Australian family and friends visit visa fee is 150 AUD and is paid by credit card during the online application.
For Australian sponsored family visit visa applications, the Home Office may request a deposit from the sponsor after the application is completed. For all Australian visa applications, an additional service fee of 63 TRY is charged in cash for biometric procedures carried out at the intermediary centre.
In 2024, the cost of a family visit visa to Australia is approximately 360 USD, including visa application fee, filling out the online visa application form, reservation procedures, travel health insurance, sworn translation, uploading documents to the online system and consultancy fees.
Where to Get an Appointment for an Australian Family Visit Visa?
Australia family visit visa appointment is made online from VFS Global after applying through the Australian government website.
Since the Australian Embassy and Consulate General do not accept visa applications directly, visa appointments cannot be made from foreign missions and biometric procedures are carried out in the Ankara, Istanbul and Gaziantep offices of VFS Global, an authorized intermediary institution.
How Long Does It Take to Process an Australian Relative Visa?
Family visit visa processing times announced by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship as of August 2024 are tabulated below.
| Visa application percentages | Tourist family visit visa processing time | Sponsored family visit visa processing time |
|---|---|---|
| 25% of applications | 16 days | 73 days |
| 50% of applications | 42 days | 3 months |
| 75% of applications | 63 days | 5 months |
| 90% of applications | 4 months | 9 months |
How Long Can You Stay in Australia with a Family and Friends Visit Visa?
With a family and friends visit visa, you can stay in Australia for a maximum of 90 days.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs assesses each family/friend visit visa on an individual basis and in some cases may grant a 6 or 12 month visa to the applicant.
Can a Family Visit Visa Be Extended in Australia?
The Australian family visit visa cannot be extended.
People whose Australian family visit visa is about to expire must apply for a new visa, but people who hold a sponsored family visit visa are not eligible to extend their visa or apply for a new visa in Australia, so they must leave the country before the visa expires.
What are the rights granted to an Australian Family Visit Visa holder?
The rights granted to the Australian family visit visa holder are to reside in Australia for the duration of the visa, visit family and friends, and attend a short-term course that continues throughout the validity of the visa.
Australian family visitor visa holders are not allowed to work for pay, but they can take part in volunteer projects.