The new legislative instrument has been made setting out updated requirements for how Child(Migrant), Child (Residence) and Extended Eligibility (Temporary) visa applications must be lodged, replacing the previous 2016 arrangements.
The Migration (Arrangements for Child Visa Applications) Instrument 2026 was made on 31 August 2026 by the Assistant Minister for Immigration, Matt Thistlethwaite, and takes effect the day after registration. It repeals and replaces the Arrangements for Child Visa Applications 2016/051 instrument.
Key changes include:
- Form 47CH is required for both Child (Migrant) (Class AH) and Child (Residence) (Class BT) visa applications, while Form 918 applies to Extended Eligibility (Temporary) (Class TK) visa applications.
- Applications for Child (Migrant) visas must be either posted to the Department of Home Affairs’ Child and Other Family Processing Centre in Port Melbourne, VIC, or delivered by courier to the processing address in West Perth, WA.
- Pakistan has been specified as a country with no time limitation applying to relevant visa application periods under the instrument.
Applications that were already lodged at an address valid under the previous 2016 instrument will not be affected by the change.
Click here: Migration (Arrangements for Child Visa Applications) Instrument 2026
