Australian Remaining Relative Visa (Subclass 115)

An (offshore) Subclass 115 visa, or Remaining Relative Visa, is a permanent visa for people living outside Australia who no longer have any close family members in their home country. It is meant for applicants whose only near relatives, such as parents, siblings, step-parents, or step-siblings, are living in Australia as citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens.

Benefits of a Subclass 115 visa

Included in the Australian Family visas, the Subclass 115 visa offers several benefits to eligible applicants:

• Live and work permanently in Australia.
• Access to Medicare, which provides subsidized medical expenses.
• Study in Australia at any educational institution.
• Work in Australia without restrictions.
• Travel to and from Australia for 5 years, then apply for a Resident Return Visa.
• Apply for Australian citizenship if you meet residency and other criteria.

Who Are The Eligible Relatives?

For the Subclass 115 Remaining Relative Visa, a near relative in Australia can be any of the following:

• Your parent or your partner’s parent, including biological or step-parents
• Your brother or sister
• Your stepbrother or stepsister
• Your child or stepchild aged 18 or over, as long as they are not dependent
• Your child or stepchild under 18 who is not in your or your partner’s daily care and control

Eligibility Criteria

The subclass 115 Remaining Relative Visa allows the applicant to live in Australia permanently. Below are the requirements for the subclass 115 applicants and sponsors:

For sponsors

To act as a sponsor for a Subclass 115 Remaining Relative visa, you need to meet the following requirements:

• Must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Must be from and over 18 years of age.
• Must be the applicant’s parent, sibling, step-parent, step-sibling, or the partner of one of these relatives.
• Must be able to provide support, such as accommodation, financial assistance, and general help for the applicant during their first two years in Australia.
• Not have sponsored someone under similar visa subclasses in the past, such as:
  • Subclass 115 Remaining Relative visa (offshore)
  • Subclass 835 Remaining Relative visa (onshore)
  • Subclass 104 Preferential Family visa
  • Subclass 806 Family visa

For applicants

• Don’t have any other near relatives living overseas (who are not Australian PR or citizens) 
• Have an Assurance of Support (AoS).
• Have never had a visa application refused before.
• Must be offshore when applying and being granted the Subclass 115 visa.

For both

• Meet health and character requirements
• Provide police certificates.
• No criminal record.
• No debt to the Australian Government.

If the applicant has other relatives, the Subclass 114 visa might be more suitable. Otherwise, if you want to come to Australia to care for a relative who is in urgent need of your care due to their health, a Carer visa (subclass 116) is a good option.

Application Process

Here’s a brief step-by-step guide for applying for a Subclass 115 visa (Remaining Relative Visa):

Step 1: Check eligibility

Ensure you are the only remaining relative of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, and meet the Balance of Family Test.

Step 2: Find a sponsor

Get sponsorship from a relative in Australia who is willing to support you.

Step 3: Gather documents

Collect necessary documents, including identity proof, relationship evidence, police certificates, and medical examination reports.

Step 4: Apply online

Create an ImmiAccount, complete the subclass 115 visa application form, upload documents, and pay fees.

Step 5: Wait for processing

Wait for the Department of Home Affairs to process your application.

Step 6: Visa decision

Receive notification of the visa decision.

Step 7: Travel and settlement

Document Checklist

The essential documents required for a Subclass 115 visa (Remaining Relative Visa) application include:

1. Identity documents:

• Passport or travel document
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)

2. Relationship evidence:

• Proof that you are the only remaining relative of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
• Evidence of your relationship with your sponsor in Australia
  • Character documents: Police clearance certificates from countries where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.
  • Health documents: Medical examination results.
  • Assurance of Support (AoS): From an assurer who will provide financial support.

3. Additional documents:

• Proof of the sponsor’s Australian citizenship, permanent residency, or eligibility as a New Zealand citizen
• Evidence to meet the Balance of Family Test (if applicable)

Ensure all documents are valid, translated into English (if required), and certified copies are provided where necessary.

Processing Times

Currently, there is no information on the subclass 115 processing time. When the latest information is available, VEM will promptly update it on our Fanpage and Website for your convenience.

Costs Of a 115 Visa

Below are the costs associated with applying for the Remaining Relative Visa (subclass 115), updated in 2026:

Note that you may not get any refund if your visa application is refused.

It is recommended to use the visa services provided by a registered migration agent (MARN: 1577877) to ensure your application is prepared correctly and to improve your chances of a successful outcome. 

By: Peter Phong D Cao – Registered migration agent

(MARN: 1577877, MIA: 12648)

Mr. Phong Cao

CEO and Founder of VEM

Mr. Phong Cao is a licensed migration agent by MARA (MARN: 1577877). He is also a member of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA: 12648), one of the most reputable organizations in the field of immigration in Australia. In addition, Mr. Phong Cao holds a QEAC certification in study abroad consulting (QEAC: K580) and Australian real estate investment (RA85931). With over 12 years of experience in Australian immigration, he provides comprehensive solutions for studying and settling in Australia.