Who Can Apply for the Remaining Relative Visa (Subclass 835) in 2026?
A 2026 guide to Subclass 835 eligibility, including approved sponsors, the remaining-relative test, onshore status and other requirements.
According to the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs official page “Remaining Relative visa (Subclass 835)”, as at July 2026, an applicant must be in Australia when applying and when the decision is made, be the remaining relative of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or Eligible New Zealand citizen, have an approved eligible sponsor, and satisfy every other eligibility criterion. The sponsor must be an eligible parent or step-parent, sibling or step-sibling, or an eligible partner of the relative, so a parent or spouse relationship alone does not establish eligibility for this visa. This article provides general information rather than personalised legal advice; individual circumstances should be assessed against current official requirements or professional advice.
What must an applicant prove to qualify for Subclass 835?
Subclass 835 is a permanent visa positioned within the Other Family migration context. Eligibility is cumulative: satisfying the relationship test is not enough if another mandatory requirement remains unmet.
| Requirement | What the official rule requires |
|---|---|
| Qualifying Australian relative | The applicant must be the remaining relative of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or Eligible New Zealand citizen. |
| Presence in Australia | The applicant must be in Australia when applying and when Home Affairs decides the application. |
| Eligible sponsor | The sponsor must be an eligible parent or step-parent, sibling or step-sibling, or an eligible partner of the relative. Home Affairs must approve the sponsorship. |
| Remaining-relative position | The applicant and their partner must not have another near relative in a position that disqualifies the claim. |
| Assurance of support | The applicant must be able to obtain an assurance of support for themselves and any family members travelling with them. |
| Other requirements | The applicant and relevant family members must meet the health, character, debt and other requirements described below. |
What does “remaining relative” mean in this visa?
The remaining-relative test looks beyond the proposed sponsor. Home Affairs states that it will not grant Subclass 835 if the applicant or the applicant’s partner has another near relative who:
- usually lives outside Australia;
- lives in Australia on a temporary visa and is not an Eligible New Zealand citizen; or
- lives in Australia unlawfully.
Temporary visas for this purpose include bridging visas.
This means an overseas parent, sibling, child or other near relative cannot necessarily be disregarded merely because the proposed sponsor is already in Australia. The applicant’s partner’s family circumstances may also affect eligibility.
The official page does not frame this as a simple test of whether the sponsor has another sibling. It requires examination of the wider family position, including the applicant’s partner. That is the central distinction between Subclass 835 and a general relative-based migration application.
How does Subclass 835 differ from parent and partner pathways?
Subclass 835 is not a general parent visa or spouse visa. Its purpose is narrower: it provides a permanent residence pathway for someone who independently meets the definition of a remaining relative and can obtain an approved eligible sponsorship.
At the pathway-selection level:
- Parent-focused migration: A parent-child relationship does not by itself make the parent eligible for Subclass 835. The parent must independently satisfy the remaining-relative, sponsorship, assurance-of-support and other requirements.
- Partner-focused migration: A spouse or partner relationship is not a substitute for the Subclass 835 eligibility test. A partner may still qualify under this visa in an appropriate family configuration, but the relationship alone is insufficient.
- Other family migration: Subclass 835 can be relevant where the applicant has no other disqualifying near relatives and an eligible parent, step-parent, sibling, step-sibling or relative’s eligible partner can sponsor them.
This distinction prevents a parent or spouse from being placed into Subclass 835 merely because another family member is an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
Which sponsor can support the application?
The approved sponsor must fall within one of these categories:
- an eligible parent;
- an eligible step-parent;
- an eligible sibling;
- an eligible step-sibling; or
- an eligible partner of the applicant’s relative.
The relationship creates a possible sponsorship route, but it does not guarantee one. Home Affairs must approve the sponsorship, and the applicant must separately satisfy the remaining-relative test and all health, character and public-interest requirements.
The sponsor’s relationship alone also does not resolve problems elsewhere in the family. For example, the existence of an eligible Australian sibling as sponsor would not overcome a disqualifying near relative who usually lives outside Australia.
What other eligibility requirements apply?
What is an assurance of support?
An assurance of support is required because it provides assurance that the applicant and accompanying family members will not need to rely on government assistance after entering Australia on the visa. Home Affairs will notify the applicant when the assurance must be provided.
The requirement is separate from identifying an eligible sponsor. Both must be satisfied.
Must the applicant meet health and character requirements?
Yes. The applicant and family members applying with them must meet the applicable health and character requirements. Family members who are not accompanying the applicant might also have to meet those requirements.
What happens if the applicant owes money to the Australian Government?
The applicant, and any relevant family members, must have repaid the debt or have an approved repayment arrangement. An outstanding government debt can therefore affect the entire application.
Does a previous visa refusal or cancellation prevent another application?
Not necessarily as an automatic, permanent bar. Home Affairs says it considers the applicant’s immigration history and may conclude that the applicant is not eligible if a visa has previously been cancelled or refused. The full circumstances therefore matter, but a previous refusal should not be treated as proof that every later application will fail.
Is there an Australian values requirement?
An applicant who is 18 years of age or older must have read or had explained to them the Life in Australia booklet and sign an Australian Values Statement confirming respect for the Australian way of life and compliance with Australian laws.
What is the rule for children?
Home Affairs will not grant the visa if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18. This is a mandatory consideration rather than an optional supporting factor.
Can family members be included in the same application?
Members of the applicant’s family unit can be included when the application is lodged and added before Home Affairs makes its decision. Inclusion is not automatic: accompanying family members must meet the relevant requirements, including health and character requirements.
The assurance of support also covers family members who come to Australia on the visa. Family members who remain overseas might still have to satisfy health or character requirements.
After Subclass 835 is granted, the permanent resident can sponsor relatives to come to Australia. That ability does not guarantee that a particular relative will satisfy the requirements of another visa.
Must the applicant remain in Australia throughout the application?
The official requirements apply at two decision points: the applicant must be in Australia when lodging the application and when Home Affairs makes the decision. Subclass 835 therefore cannot be treated as an offshore application pathway merely because the applicant intends to travel before applying.
This is a specific statutory eligibility requirement, not merely a preference for Australian processing.
How long can an application take?
Home Affairs states that demand for Other Family visas is greater than the number of available places each year. Applications are subject to capping and queueing, and processing can therefore be lengthy.
The Department’s processing-time guide is based on recently decided applications and is only an indication, not a prediction for an individual application. Incomplete forms, missing documents, requests for further information and verification delays can make processing longer.
No fixed processing time should be assumed merely because an applicant meets the basic relationship and sponsorship tests.
How are the visa charges structured?
The visa application charge is paid in two instalments: the first when applying and the second when requested by Home Affairs. An additional charge applies for each family member included in the application.
Health checks, police certificates and biometrics may also incur separate costs. The applicable visa application charge is the amount displayed in the official Visa Pricing Estimator at the relevant time; although concessions may apply in limited circumstances, Home Affairs also applies a lower visa application charge from 1 July 2026 where the primary applicant lodges a valid visa application while holding a valid passport issued by the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu or Vanuatu, and qualifying family members are also eligible for that lower charge.
What does Subclass 835 allow after a visa is granted?
Subclass 835 is a permanent visa. It allows the holder to:
- stay in Australia indefinitely;
- work and study in Australia;
- enrol in Medicare;
- sponsor relatives to come to Australia;
- attend free Adult Migrant English Program classes if eligible; and
- apply for Australian citizenship if eligible.
Permanent residence begins on the day the visa is granted for citizenship purposes. The visa holder and any included family members must comply with Australian laws.
Can the permanent resident travel freely after the visa is granted?
A five-year travel facility is included from the date the visa is granted. During that period, the holder can travel to and from Australia as many times as required while the travel facility remains valid.
To re-enter Australia as a permanent resident after the initial five-year travel facility, the holder must apply for and be granted a Resident Return Visa. Australian citizenship may provide a different travel pathway if the holder later becomes eligible and obtains an Australian passport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Subclass 835 a permanent residency visa?
Yes. Subclass 835 is a permanent visa that permits indefinite residence in Australia. It also provides work and study rights, access to Medicare and, subject to eligibility, a route to Australian citizenship.
Can Subclass 835 be applied for from outside Australia?
No. The applicant must be in Australia both when the application is lodged and when Home Affairs makes the decision. An overseas applicant cannot lodge this particular application outside Australia and rely on a later decision to grant it.
Can an Australian parent sponsor a remaining-relative applicant?
An eligible parent can fall within the approved sponsor categories, but Home Affairs must approve the sponsorship. The applicant must also pass the remaining-relative test and satisfy the assurance-of-support, health, character and other requirements.
Does a sibling living overseas prevent a Subclass 835 application?
The published remaining-relative test can prevent a grant where the applicant or their partner has a near relative who usually lives outside Australia. An overseas sibling therefore cannot simply be ignored when assessing eligibility, even if another relative is the proposed sponsor.
What is an assurance of support?
It is an assurance that the applicant and accompanying family members will not rely on government assistance after entering Australia on the visa. It is a mandatory eligibility requirement, and Home Affairs will advise when it must be provided.
Can children or partners be included in the application?
Members of the family unit may be included and added before a decision is made. Each included person must meet the applicable requirements; inclusion in the application does not create an automatic entitlement to the visa.
How long will a Subclass 835 application take?
Home Affairs says processing can be lengthy because demand exceeds the available places and applications are subject to capping and queueing. The published processing guide is indicative only and does not predict the outcome or processing time of a particular application.
Can a Subclass 835 holder leave Australia after five years?
The initial travel facility lasts for five years from the grant date. To re-enter Australia as a permanent resident after that facility ends, the holder must apply for and be granted a Resident Return Visa.