Family sponsorship immigration to Australia helps citizens and permanent residents bring spouses, children and parents to Australia to reunite and obtain permanent residence.
Common categories: partner visa (Partner 309/100 applied for outside Australia, 820/801 applied for in Australia), child visa (Child 101/802) and parent visa (Parent 103 or Contributory Parent 143).
Family sponsorship categories
Theo Australian Department of Home Affairs, the sponsorship relationship determines the visa type and processing time:
Spouse · partner
309/100 (applied outside Australia) or 820/801 (applied within Australia). Usually through 2 stages, temporary → PR.
Dependent children
Subclass 101 (outside Australia) / 802 (in Australia) for dependent children of permanent residents or citizens.
Parents
Parent 103 (long wait) or Contributory Parent 143 (faster, higher contribution fee).
Notes on timeline & cost
A spouse visa usually goes through two stages: a temporary visa first, then permanent residence assessment. The standard parent visa (Subclass 103) has a very long wait; the Contributory Parent (143) faster but with a higher contribution fee. M2W advises on the option that suits your budget and timeline.
Why choose M2W for Australia family sponsorship
Correctly determine whether it's Partner, Child or Parent so you know the actual timeline and cost from the start.
Guidance on preparing evidence of a genuine relationship for a Partner application — the aspect most often scrutinised.
Compare Parent 103 and Contributory Parent 143 to choose the right option.
Processing times and requirements are taken directly from the Australian Department of Home Affairs, with no promise of faster processing than reality.
Frequently asked questions about family sponsorship in Australia
Under which category can you sponsor a spouse to Australia?
Partner category: 309/100 if applying outside Australia, 820/801 if applying within Australia. It usually goes through 2 stages — a temporary visa before the permanent visa is assessed.
How long does parent sponsorship to Australia take?
The Parent 103 category usually has a very long wait time; the Contributory Parent 143 category is faster but has significantly higher contribution fees.
What must the Australian Partner visa prove?
Evidence of a genuine, stable relationship is required: shared finances, shared living arrangements, social commitment, and recognition by both families.
Under which category can you sponsor a child to Australia?
Dependent children use Subclass 101 (applied for outside Australia) or 802 (applied for in Australia), depending on where the child is and the sponsor's residency status.
Related Australia services
Study in Australia
A study pathway linked to permanent residency.
View details
Australia visitor visa
Visa application and interview process.
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Investment immigration to Australia
Investment immigration for investors.
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Australia settlement services
Support settling into initial life.
View detailsAustralia family sponsorship advisory
M2W identifies the right category and prepares documentation proving the relationship to the standards of the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
