In Australian visa and citizenship applications involving family relationships — such as child visas, family reunion, and citizenship by descent — applicants must establish that the claimed relationship exists. Documentary evidence such as birth certificates, adoption orders, and family records is the primary method of proof. Where documents are unavailable, inconsistent, or where DHA has reason to doubt a claimed relationship, the department may suggest DNA testing as an additional or alternative form of evidence. DNA testing is not a legal requirement — applicants may decline — but a refusal to test does not prevent the department from making a decision; the application will be assessed on whatever evidence is available. DHA provides information on how to arrange compliant testing through Form 1259i. Testing must be conducted at a NATA-accredited laboratory using the parentage testing category. This page explains when DNA testing arises in immigration and citizenship applications, the process, who pays, and how results are used.

For current DHA guidance on DNA testing for visa and citizenship applications, refer to the DHA DNA testing page and Form 1259i.

• Migration Act 1958, s 56 — DHA may request further information from a visa applicant; a failure to provide requested information can result in the application being decided on existing material
• Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2 — family visa criteria require that the relationship between the applicant and the sponsoring family member meet the specified definition (e.g., "child", "dependent child", "parent") — DNA evidence is one way of satisfying these criteria
• Australian Citizenship Act 2007 — citizenship by descent applications must establish a parent-child relationship; DNA testing may be used to establish biological parentage where documents are insufficient
• DHA: DNA testing information — Form 1259i — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-1259i

When DNA testing arises in immigration applications

DNA testing is most commonly requested in applications where documentary evidence of a family relationship is absent or in question. Situations that may prompt DHA to suggest DNA testing include:

• Child visa applications (Subclass 101/802): where a birth certificate cannot be produced, is not accepted as genuine, or where the identity of the claimed parent is in question
• Citizenship by descent applications: where the applicant must prove that one of their parents is or was an Australian citizen at the time of the applicant's birth, and documentary evidence of the parent-child relationship is unavailable or doubtful
• Refugee and humanitarian visas: offshore protection claimants from certain countries may lack reliable civil documentation; DHA uses DNA testing more frequently in these applications
• Other family stream visa applications: where a family relationship underpins the eligibility criteria and documentary proof is weak

DNA testing is not routinely requested — it arises only when there is a genuine evidential gap or doubt about the claimed relationship.

The DNA testing process

The standard process for DNA testing in Australian immigration applications is as follows:

1. DHA or the applicant's contact at the department will provide or refer to Form 1259i, which explains the testing requirements and how to find an accredited facility
2. The applicant locates a NATA-accredited laboratory for parentage testing — these can be found on the NATA website by searching the keyword "parentage"
3. Samples are collected — typically a mouth swab (buccal swab) or a blood spot — from both the applicant and the person whose relationship is being established (e.g., the claimed parent)
4. If the applicant is overseas, a departmental representative must be present during sample collection to verify identity and chain of custody — this is a strict requirement for offshore applications
5. The laboratory analyses the samples and produces a report; results are typically available within approximately 14 days
6. The test results are submitted to DHA as part of the visa or citizenship application

The DNA test must meet DHA's requirements for sample collection, chain of custody, and laboratory accreditation — tests that do not comply cannot be accepted.

Who pays for DNA testing

Cost responsibility depends on the visa type:

• Offshore refugee visa applicants: DHA pays for DNA testing where it is requested — applicants in this category are not charged
• Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) applicants: must pay their own costs, including laboratory fees and any required counselling
• All other visa and citizenship applicants: pay all costs themselves — DHA does not contribute to testing costs for non-refugee family visa or citizenship applications

Costs include the laboratory fee for sample analysis, any fee charged by the collection facility (doctor or pathology centre), and any counselling costs if required.

What the results show — and limitations

DNA testing for immigration purposes typically establishes biological parentage — it shows whether a claimed parent-child biological link exists. Key points:

• A positive result (confirming the biological relationship) is strong evidence in support of the visa or citizenship application
• DNA testing can only establish biological relationships — it cannot establish adoptive, step, or legal relationships, which are established through legal documents (adoption orders, court orders)
• If the result shows that the claimed biological relationship does not exist, the applicant does not automatically fail the visa criteria — but they must provide alternative evidence or explanation. Depending on the visa type, a negative result may be significant for the application outcome
• Unexpected results (such as discovering the claimed father is not the biological father) can have significant personal consequences — DHA advises applicants to consider counselling before and after testing

Declining to participate in DNA testing

Applicants are not legally required to undergo DNA testing. If an applicant declines:

• DHA will assess the application using the documentary and other evidence available at the time
• The application is not automatically refused because of a refusal to test — but the absence of DNA evidence may be weighed against the applicant if documentary evidence is also weak
• DHA will consider whether the available evidence is sufficient to satisfy the relevant visa criterion

DNA testing is encountered most frequently in applications involving family members from countries with limited civil documentation infrastructure — where birth certificates and family registries may be unreliable, unavailable, or subject to fraud. In humanitarian migration contexts, DHA uses DNA testing as part of its verification process for offshore refugee caseloads; the department has dedicated processes for offshore sample collection under departmental supervision. For family visa applicants in more developed documentation systems, DNA testing is less common and typically arises only where there is a specific reason to doubt the relationship. The NATA accreditation requirement and chain-of-custody rules for offshore testing are strict — applicants who arrange testing without following DHA's requirements risk having the results rejected. For current Form 1259i, the NATA laboratory search, and DHA's guidance on DNA testing requirements, refer to the DHA DNA testing page.