If you already hold PR or citizenship, it’s usually smart to move to a 802 as soon as your child’s situation is stable (schooling, address, custody). If you’re still on a temporary visa and waiting for PR, we normally:

• map your expected PR grant window,
• plan how your child will stay lawful until then (Visitor, Student, dependent visa etc.), and
• line up documents so the 802 can be lodged quickly after PR.

That avoids gaps in status and reduces the risk of last-minute Visitor refusals or rushed applications.

A “no further stay” condition normally blocks onshore applications, including the 802, unless it is successfully waived. In practice this means:

• preparing a strong waiver request showing a genuine change in circumstances (not just a change of mind), and
• keeping your child lawful while the waiver is considered.

This is a complex, high-risk step, so it’s worth getting tailored advice before you let a current visa expire or assume a waiver will be granted.

The Department will look closely at parental responsibility and consent. If there are court orders giving you sole responsibility, that can be enough. If not, you’ll usually need:

• a properly drafted consent letter from the other parent, or
• evidence you’ve tried to obtain consent and any relevant family court proceedings.

We’ll review your custody situation first, then help you decide whether to seek new court orders, obtain consent, or wait before lodging.

Yes, but it has to be carefully planned. If your child is on a Bridging Visa A, they’ll usually need a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before leaving Australia. Too many or very long trips can also make it harder to show their real base is now Australia. We normally plan travel around school holidays and important events, so your child can visit family overseas without risking their onshore application.

The key questions are:

• what visa your child will be on between lodgement and grant, and
• whether that visa (or bridging visa) gives access to Medicare and domestic school fees.

Sometimes it’s worth timing the 802 so your child moves from an expensive international-fee Student visa onto a bridging visa with better conditions. In a consult we look at the exact visa trail and your state school rules so you can budget properly.

Name and date mismatches are a very common reason for extra questions. Before lodgement we usually:

• correct details where possible (new passport or amended birth certificate),
• prepare change-of-name evidence or statutory declarations, and
• make sure your own Australian records (student visas, PR grant, Medicare, tax) line up with your current legal name.

Cleaning this up early makes it much easier for the case officer to link you, your child and your sponsorship history.

Both structures are possible, but they work differently:

• Including the child in a Partner visa can simplify things if the Australian sponsor is your partner and everyone will move through the system together.
• A separate Child 802 can give more flexibility when the child’s other parent is involved, or when you want the child’s status to be independent of the relationship timeline.

We usually map out: who is sponsoring whom, any custody issues, and desired travel plans before deciding which option gives your child the fastest, safest path to PR.