Child and Other Family Migration
Please read the relevant booklet before lodging your application. Booklets can be downloaded free of charge from:
http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/booklets/booklets.htm
Original Documents & Certified Copies
All documents submitted with your application must be either the original or a copy that has been certified as a true copy of the original. In Australia, copies can be certified by a Justice of the Peace, Notary Public or Commissioner of Declarations. If you cannot arrange certified copies, please send original document(s) together with a copy to this office by registered mail when submitting your application. We will sight the original and keep the copies on file as true copies, and return the original document(s) to you. Evidence provided to support your claim of a genuine and ongoing relationship such as letters, cards and photographs will be returned to you when your application is finalised and you do not need to provide copies. Please enclose a list of document/s that you would like to be returned. Please do not place your application and supporting documents in a folder or file.
Translations of Documents
Any document that is not in English must be accompanied by an English translation done by a professional translator. The translation must be either on company letterhead or must have their official company stamp/seal and their contact details. Please refer to your local telephone directory and arrange through a company of your choice. Please note that we are unable to recommend particular translators, however you may wish to use the services of a translator who is accredited with the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.
More information:
http://www.naati.com.au
Japanese Documents
Evidence of birth, death, divorce, marriage, adoption and custody for Japanese nationals should take the form of the Japanese Family Register. Please ensure that you obtain the full register and not just an extract (i.e. you must provide a Koseki Tohon, not a Koseki Shohon), and that it shows all the relevant details. In some cases, you may need to obtain your parents’ register as evidence of your previous marriage/divorce. The original Japanese Family Register obtained from the Japanese authorities will be required and an English translation as specified above must be attached.
Health Requirement
For processing of your application, you will be asked to complete medical examinations for migration purposes using Form 160 and Form 26 at one of the panel doctors on the List of Panel Doctors.
For a list of Panel Doctors go to:
http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/panel-doctors/index.htm
Form 160 and Form 26 can be downloaded from our website. Once examinations are completed, medical reports will be forwarded to this office directly from the panel doctor. If received prior to lodgement of your application, the reports will be kept aside and added to your file once lodged. Please note that you are not required to undergo medical examinations before lodging your application, however doing so may reduce the processing time.
Note
If you are pregnant and do not wish to undergo a chest x-ray examination, this may affect processing of your application. Please contact this office prior to lodgement of your application for further information on health requirements.
Character Requirement
You will need to arrange police clearance certificates from each country in which you have spent 12 months or more (cumulatively) in the past 10 years (since turning 16). You will need to submit a letter from this office to the Japanese police authorities to obtain a police clearance certificate (Muhanzai Shomeisho). The Japanese police have requested that we not issue you with this letter until you have lodged the visa application. Please refer to the following link for instructions on obtaining police clearance certificates from other countries (including Australia).
"http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/character-requirements/character-penal.pdf
Please also complete Form 80 and submit it with your application. All forms can be downloaded from the DIAC website.
http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/index.htm
Correspondence with the Department
On receipt of your application, we will send you an Acknowledgment Advice letter, which will state your file reference number. Please quote this file number on all correspondence with this office.
Progress Enquiries
To assist us in providing you with an efficient service, we kindly ask that you refrain from making either written or telephone progress inquiries. If we require further information from you, we will advise you in writing. Should you need to contact this office however, you may do so by emailing us at immigration.tokyo@dfat.gov.au, or by telephoning us on 03-5232-4111 between 9:00 and 12:00, Monday to Friday.
If you have any additional information that you wish us to take into consideration or there is any change in your personal circumstances that may affect a decision on your application, please notify us in writing.
Important
Once your visa is granted you must enter Australia by the date specified on your visa. This date will usually be 12 months from the date on which medicals were conducted or your police clearance obtained. In some cases, however, it will be sooner than 12 months. Failure to enter by this date may lead to cancellation of your visa.
Please note that you should not take any irreversible action such as selling your house, purchasing airline tickets or leaving your employment in anticipation of being granted a visa.