Remaining Relative Visa (115/835) Explained

The Remaining Relative visa is one of the most strictly conditioned and most misunderstood family visas in Australia. The name sounds simple — a “remaining relative” — but its legal definition is very narrow, and a great many people think they qualify when in reality they do not. The visa has two subclasses: 115 for a person outside Australia, and 835 for someone already lawfully inside Australia.

What is this visa for?

The Remaining Relative visa allows a person to migrate to Australia (subclass 115) or stay in Australia (subclass 835) when almost all of their near relatives already live in Australia, and they effectively have no other near relatives anywhere else in the world. This is a permanent visa: if granted, the applicant becomes a permanent resident.

The idea behind the visa is: if a person’s entire near family is already in Australia and they are “left behind” almost alone, they may be allowed to reunite. But “almost alone” is defined here very specifically.

Who usually looks at this visa?

People whose siblings and parents are (almost) all already Australian citizens or permanent residents.
People who believe they have no remaining near relatives in their home country or any other country outside Australia.
Families looking for a reunion pathway for the last relative remaining outside Australia.

Common misconceptions to avoid

This is the most important part of this visa, because the misunderstanding is very common.

If the applicant (or their spouse/partner) still has a near relative outside Australia — including in their home country — they are usually not eligible. A “near relative” is defined in law and can include people you would not think of.
The definition counts the near relatives of the applicant’s partner, not just the applicant’s own blood relatives. Many applications fail on this point.
This is not a visa for “I have lots of relatives in Australia so I want to come over”. Having relatives in Australia is a necessary condition, not a sufficient one.
Having even one sibling or parent still in the home country is usually enough to fail the definition.

Key conditions to check

The core factors usually considered:

The definition of “remaining relative”: the applicant (and their partner, if any) has no near relatives — such as parents, siblings, adult children — other than those who are eligible Australian citizens/permanent residents usually resident in Australia.
The sponsor: usually an eligible Australian relative who sponsors the applicant.
A proven relationship: between the applicant and the sponsor.
Health and police-check requirements for the applicant.

The precise definition of “near relative”, who is counted, and how it applies to the partner as well, change over time and are very easy to misread; when you check the Home Affairs website, confirm the definition and conditions that apply to the exact subclass 115 or 835 and your specific circumstances.

The roles of sponsor and applicant

The sponsor is usually an eligible Australian relative (for example, a sibling who is already a citizen or permanent resident) who commits to support the applicant. The applicant is the “remaining relative” outside Australia (for the 115) or lawfully inside Australia (for the 835).

Because the definition counts the near relatives of the applicant’s partner, fully and truthfully identifying all the near relatives of both spouses is a mandatory step — under-declaring or misdeclaring can lead to refusal or more serious consequences.

Evidence you usually need to prepare

Documents proving the relationship with the sponsor and with the relatives in Australia (birth certificates, civil records, old household records).
Evidence of those relatives’ citizenship/permanent residence and usual residence in Australia.
A full declaration of all the near relatives of the applicant and of the partner, including those who have died or with whom contact has been lost.
The applicant’s own character documents.

The general process

In general: review all the near relatives of both the applicant and the partner to determine whether the “remaining relative” definition is genuinely met; choose the right subclass (115 if outside Australia, 835 if lawfully inside Australia); arrange an eligible sponsor; prepare the sponsorship application and the applicant’s application; lodge the application; then meet the health and character requirements. The detail and order are set out on the official page.

Fees, processing times, validity and visa conditions

According to the official Home Affairs page, the base application charge for the Remaining Relative visa 115 (lodged outside Australia) for the main applicant is from 6,600 AUDVerified 02/07/2026 · Source: Department of Home Affairs. Confirm using the official tools below. The application charge and processing times of the Remaining Relative visa change over time. This is a visa well known for a very long queue — the time from lodgement to a decision can be considerable due to the cap on the number of visas granted each year. When you check the Home Affairs website, confirm the fee figures, the current processing-time estimate, and any visa cap that applies to the exact subclass and your circumstances — and plan on the assumption that this is a long-term journey.

Two official tools to use before lodging:

Visa Pricing Estimator: select the exact subclass/stream (115 or 835) and number of dependants to estimate the application charge for your circumstances.
Visa Processing Times: updated monthly; match the exact subclass, stream and your circumstances rather than relying on figures heard second-hand.

Risk of refusal

The applicant or partner still having a near relative outside Australia under the definition — this is the most common reason for refusal.
The relationship with relatives in Australia not being fully proven.
An incomplete or inconsistent declaration of relatives, which can be regarded as not truthful.
The applicant not meeting the health or police-check requirements.

Common mistakes

Counting only your own blood relatives and forgetting the partner’s relatives.
Assuming that being “out of contact” with a sibling in the home country means that relative “no longer exists”.
Confusing the Remaining Relative visa with other family visas such as the Carer visa or the Parent visa.
Underestimating the length of the queue and not planning long-term for your living situation while waiting.

When to ask a registered migration agent

Because the “remaining relative” definition is very narrow and getting it wrong can lead to a failed application after a very long wait, checking eligibility before lodging is extremely important. A Registered Migration Agent registered with OMARA can help review all the near relatives of both spouses and assess whether the application genuinely meets the definition before you invest time and cost.

Self-check before you read on

Do I (and my spouse/partner) still have any parents, siblings, or adult children living outside Australia?
Are my near relatives in Australia citizens/permanent residents and usually resident in Australia?
Have I fully listed the relatives of both spouses, including those with whom contact has been lost?
Am I outside Australia (think 115) or lawfully inside Australia (think 835)?

Official sources

The Department of Home Affairs official page on the Remaining Relative visa (subclass 115). This is the only reliable source for the current definition of relative, fees, and processing times. Migration agent registration information is available at mara.gov.au.
Visa Pricing Estimator (fee estimate) — Home Affairs.
Visa Processing Times (processing times, updated monthly) — Home Affairs.

The Remaining Relative visa exists for a genuine and rare situation — but precisely because it is rare, its definition is surprisingly narrow. Do not conclude you are eligible based on a general feeling; check the official definition and consider professional advice before you begin.

Migration rules change frequently — always confirm the official source before lodging an application.