The Remaining Relative category visa is a part of the Australian Family Stream migration programme. It is designed to allow a remaining relative of an Australian citizen or permanent resident to migrate to Australia in order to join his/her family.

The Remaining Relative category visa application must be sponsored by an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. The sponsorship 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.

A Remaining Relative visa application may cover a family unit, i.e. a main applicant and, if applicable, spouse and dependants. The spouse is the person that the Remaining Relative visa applicant lives with as husband or wife, either legally married or in a de facto (common law) relationship. A dependant child may be a natural child, adopted child or a step-child.

If you apply from outside Australia you will be applying to migrate. If you are applying in Australia you will be applying for permanent residence.

The Remaining Relative visa is an Australian permanent residence visa.

The processing time for migration to Australia under the category of Remaining Relative from 6 to 9 months.