Last Remaining Relative

The Last Remaining Relative visa category is for people who are considering emigrating to Australia and who (and whose spouse or partner) have no close family ties in their home country or other country outside Australia.

Duration

This is an Australian permanent residence visa.

Eligibility Criteria

Relationship

The applicants can lodge an application if:

  • They have no close family ties outside Australia, and
  • They are the brother, sister, child, parent or step equivalent of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who is usually resident in Australia (their relative in Australia must be aged over 18); and
  • They and/or their spouse do not have any near relative (other than a near relative who is usually resident in Australia AND either an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen).

A near relative is someone who is:

  • a parent, brother or sister, or
  • a minor child who is not in your daily care and control, or
  • an adult child over 18 who is not dependent on you, or
  • step equivalents of the above; and

If you are a child under 18, who was adopted overseas by an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, your adoptive parent had spent the required 12 months living overseas prior to adoption visa application.

Sponsorship

An application to migrate to Australia or remain permanently as a Last Remaining Relative of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen must be sponsored by that relative.

The Last Remaining Relative visa application cannot be approved if the sponsor:

  • Has previously sponsored/nominated a person who has subsequently been granted a visa on the basis of being a remaining relative; or
  • Was granted a visa on the basis of being a remaining relative.

Dependants

A last remaining relative application may cover a family unit, i.e. a main applicant and, if applicable, spouse and dependants.

Spouse

The spouse is the person who the applicant lives with as husband or wife, either legally married or in a de facto (common law) relationship.

Dependant Children

A dependant child may be a natural child, adopted child or a step-child. A child of 18 years of age or over will not be considered dependant unless the applicant can show that they are wholly or substantially reliant on them for financial support for their basic needs of food, shelter and clothing. The applicant must also show that they have provided support for a substantial period and that the child is more reliant on them than on any other person or source. Unless this evidence can be provided, they should apply separately. Children of any age who have a total or partial loss of bodily or mental functions which stops them earning a living are regarded as dependant and part of the family unit (whether or not they migrate to Australia).

Health & Character

Australia has strict health and character requirements that must be met before any permanent visa of more than 12 months will be granted. People attempting to migrate to Australia on a Last Remaining Relative visa will be required to:

  • Undergo a medical examination and chest X-ray undertaken by one of a panel of doctors selected by the Australian authorities; and
  • Obtain police certificates for all countries in which they have lived for more than 12 months in the 10 years leading up to the application.

Processing Times

The current processing time for migration to Australia under the Last Remaining Relative visa is six - nine months from the start of the process. A Global Visas consultant will be able to advise you of the latest processing times.