Sibling visa for Australia: can I sponsor my brother or sister, and through which visa?

A brother or sister can sponsor an eligible Remaining Relative applicant or Sponsored Family visitor, while an eligible sibling can also sponsor a child for an Orphan Relative visa.

The appropriate visa for a relative depends on the intended stay, the applicant’s circumstances and the route’s relationship and sponsorship requirements.

Is there a sibling visa?

Sibling sponsorship is available under specific visa routes, but the relationship alone does not satisfy their eligibility requirements. Remaining Relative subclass 115 allows an indefinite stay; Sponsored Family is a visitor route.

Remaining Relative: the one permanent route for a sibling

Remaining Relative subclass 115 is a permanent visa allowing an indefinite stay. This section’s heading does not exclude the separate Orphan Relative route for a qualifying child.

The applicant must be the remaining relative of the sponsor or the sponsor’s partner. The detailed remaining relative visa 115 guidance explains this route.

The Home Affairs Remaining Relative requirements include:

1. Near-relative restrictions: neither the applicant nor their partner can have a near relative usually living outside Australia, or living in Australia unlawfully or on a temporary visa unless an eligible New Zealand citizen.
2. Eligible sponsorship: permitted relationships include siblings and step-siblings, and eligible partners of relatives. The sponsor or their partner must be settled in Australia, aged at least 18, and an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
3. Previous visa restrictions: the sponsor and their partner must never have held, or sponsored someone granted, subclass 115, 835, 104 or 806.
4. Assurance of Support: the applicant must be able to obtain one. This is a legal commitment to repay Australian Government welfare payments made to the visa holder or accompanying family members.

For subclass 115, the applicant must be outside Australia when applying and at decision. For subclass 835, the applicant must be in Australia at both stages.

What does sibling sponsorship cost?

There is no application fee to sponsor a Remaining Relative applicant, but visa application charges apply.

Subclass 115 sponsorship obligations last for two years from first entry on the visa. Subclass 835 obligations last for two years from grant.

How long does sibling sponsorship take?

26 years was Home Affairs’ estimated processing time for new Remaining Relative applications on the Other Family processing page, updated 6 October 2026. This is an estimate, not an individual forecast.

As at 31 August 2026, Home Affairs had released Remaining Relative applications with queue dates up to 30 June 2013 for final processing; the page was updated 6 October 2026.

Visiting a sibling

Visiting a sibling can involve formal sponsorship or an invitation without sponsorship.

A Sponsored Family sponsor must be at least 18 and a settled Australian citizen or permanent resident, usually having lived in Australia for the last two years. An in-law cannot ordinarily sponsor under this stream; a narrow exception concerns a relative of another applicant who belongs to the applicant’s family unit.

The Home Affairs Sponsored Family rules specify a standard three-month stay, with up to 12 months in limited circumstances. The applicant must be outside Australia at application and decision, cannot work, and receives condition 8503 preventing a new visa application in Australia.

Step-siblings and half-siblings

Step-siblings are expressly included in the sponsorship relationships for these routes.

Orphan Relative: when the sibling is a child

The Orphan Relative visa (subclass 117) requires a child under 18 at application who has no parent able to care for them.

Under the Home Affairs Orphan Relative requirements:

• Parents must be deceased, permanently incapable of care or unable to be found.
• Capable parents who do not want to provide care do not satisfy the requirement.
• An eligible sibling or step-sibling can sponsor.
• The child must be outside Australia at application and decision.

Before you lodge

Related family visa guidance: list of family visas, sponsor a family member to Australia and who counts as a relative.

An application prepared by an Australian migration lawyer is more likely to succeed because the applicant’s and partner’s near-relative restrictions, sponsor history and application-location requirements can be addressed before lodgement. Enquiries from this site go to Australian Migration Lawyers.