Subclass 115 — Remaining Relative Visa — Australia — immi.wiki

The Subclass 115 Remaining Relative visa is a permanent visa for people outside Australia whose only remaining close relatives (other than step-relatives) are settled in Australia. It allows the applicant to live in Australia permanently to be near those relatives. The onshore equivalent is the Subclass 835 Remaining Relative visa for people already in Australia.

The concept of a "remaining relative" refers to a person who has no living parent, sibling, or adult child (other than step-relatives) outside Australia — that is, all of their immediate family (in the defined legal sense) are settled in Australia. This is a narrow and carefully defined category, and the Department assesses it strictly.

The visa is part of the Other Family stream of the Family Migration Program, which is subject to an annual cap. As at 31 March 2026, applications with a queue date of up to 30 June 2013 have been released for final processing, indicating a backlog of over a decade. Applicants should expect very lengthy wait times.

For current Other Family visa queue release dates and for current application charges, refer to the DHA fee schedule.

The applicant must be a "remaining relative", which the Migration Regulations define as a person whose only brothers, sisters, and parents (other than step-brothers, step-sisters, and step-parents) are settled in Australia. This means:

• All of the applicant's full and half-siblings who are alive must be settled in Australia
• All of the applicant's living parents (not step-parents) must be settled in Australia
• If the applicant has an adult child, the adult child (and their partner, if applicable) must also be settled in Australia
• The applicant must have no close relative of this kind living outside Australia

A person is "settled" for this purpose if they are an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen and have been residing in Australia for a reasonable period.

Additional requirements for the applicant:

• Be outside Australia when the application is lodged and when the visa is decided
• Meet health and character requirements

The sponsor must:

• Be a settled Australian citizen, settled Australian permanent resident, or settled eligible New Zealand citizen
• Be the relevant sibling, parent, or adult child of the applicant
• Be aged 18 years or over
• Lodge Form 40 sponsorship

Note: Step-relatives do not count either way — a step-sibling outside Australia does not disqualify the applicant, and a step-sibling in Australia does not count towards making the applicant a "remaining relative."

Applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount from outside Australia. Key documents include:

• Evidence of all living relatives in the relevant categories (parents, siblings, adult children) and evidence that each is settled in Australia — birth certificates, Australian citizenship certificates or evidence of PR status, and evidence of Australian residence
• Evidence that no relevant relative lives outside Australia (this may include statutory declarations and evidence of death where relevant)
• Form 40 sponsorship lodged by the Australian relative
• Health examinations and police clearances

For current application charges, refer to the DHA fee schedule. For current queue dates, refer to the Other Family visas queue release dates.

The Subclass 115 is a permanent visa. Holders are permanent residents of Australia and may work and study without restriction. Holders may apply for Australian citizenship after meeting the residence requirements under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007.

An assurance of support may be required, depending on whether the applicant would be likely to access Australian Government income support payments. If required, the sponsor provides a financial security bond through Services Australia.