Eligibility Criteria 

Adoptive Parents (Sponsors)

To sponsor a child under the Adoption Visa (Subclass 102), the adoptive or prospective adoptive parent must:

• Be at least 18 years old.

• Be the adoptive or prospective adoptive parent of the child.

• Be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.

In addition, the adoption process must satisfy certain requirements:

• The child must be adopted or in the process of being adopted with the involvement of an Australian state or territory adoption authority.

• If the adoption took place outside Australia, it must have been completed in accordance with the adoption laws of that country.

• If the adoption is occurring within Australia, the approval is only valid if the child’s country of origin has signed:

  • The Hague Adoption Convention, or

  • A Bilateral Agreement with Australia.

For details on international adoptions, visit the Department of Home Affairs website. Special rules apply if the adoption took place while the parent lived overseas.

Eligibility Criteria 
Child (Applicant)

To be eligible for the Adoption Visa, the child must:

• Be under 18 years of age at the time the application is submitted.

• Be outside Australia both when the application is lodged and when the visa is granted.

• Be already adopted, or in the process of being adopted by the sponsoring parent.

• Satisfy Australia’s health and character requirements.

• Possibly provide an Assurance of Support, if requested.

Note: If the child turns 18 after the application is lodged but before the visa is granted, they will no longer be eligible for this visa.