It is generally not possible to be sponsored by a cousin to come to Australia as a permanent resident. The family sponsorship visa program is primarily for immediate family members, such as partners, children, and parents.
However, it may be possible for a cousin to sponsor you if they are able to demonstrate that they are your “remaining relative”, meaning that you have no other close family members (such as a spouse, child, parent, or sibling) who are able to sponsor you. In this case, your cousin would need to apply for a “Remaining Relative” visa on your behalf.
The “Remaining Relative” visa is a very limited category and is only available in certain circumstances.
It is generally not possible to be sponsored by an aunt or uncle to come to Australia as a permanent resident. The family sponsorship visa program is primarily for immediate family members, such as partners, children, and parents.
However, as in the above case of being sponsored by a cousin, it may be possible for an aunt or uncle to sponsor you if they are able to demonstrate that they are your “remaining relative”, meaning that you have no other close family members (such as a spouse, child, parent, or sibling) who are able to sponsor you.
In this case, your aunt or uncle would need to apply for a “Remaining Relative” visa on your behalf.
The specific documents that are required for a family sponsorship visa will depend on the type of visa you are applying for and your circumstances.
However, some of the documents that may be required for a family sponsorship visa include:
- Proof of your relationship to the person you are sponsoring (such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate)
- Evidence of your identity (such as a passport or driver’s license)
- Evidence of your citizenship or permanent resident status in Australia
- A police clearance certificate for any country you have lived in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years
- A sponsorship agreement, outlining your obligations as a sponsor
- A completed sponsorship form
You may also need to provide additional documents, such as financial documents, health and character documents, and employment-related documents.
In some cases, a sponsor may be required to pay a bond or security as part of the sponsorship process. This is known as a “security bond”. The security bond is a financial guarantee that is provided by the sponsor to ensure that the person being sponsored will not rely on public funds while they are in Australia.
The purpose of the security bond is to protect the Australian community and taxpayers from any potential financial burden that may be caused by the sponsored person.
The amount of the security bond will depend on the specific circumstances of the sponsorship, including the relationship between the sponsor and the sponsored person, the length of the sponsorship period, and the sponsor’s financial circumstances.
The security bond is generally refundable when the sponsorship period ends, provided that the sponsored person has not relied on public funds while in Australia.
Not all sponsors are required to pay a security bond. The requirement for a security bond will depend on the specific visa being applied for and the circumstances of the sponsorship.
The cost for a family sponsorship visa range from $8000 to $1500 each depending on the type of visa you are applying for, your relationship and the age of the applicant. If a security bond is required, it could be significant, up to $46 000 AUD.
It can take 6 to 18 months.