Seeking Advice: Planning Childbirth in Australia vs India –...

Seeking Advice: Planning Childbirth in Australia vs India – Visa & Practical Considerations Hi everyone,

My wife and I received our 491 visa invitation about 2 years ago and lodged our application back in 2023. We're now expecting the visa grant in the coming weeks, as per current timelines. As we plan our future, we're also looking forward to starting a family. We’re thinking of planning for a baby during the Christmas holidays this year. Since we’re currently living in Australia just the two of us, and our families are offshore, we’re trying to weigh two possible scenarios for childbirth and postnatal care.

We’d really appreciate if anyone who has gone through similar situations – either from onshore or offshore experiences – could share their advice. Here are the two scenarios we’re considering:

Scenario 1: Delivery in India My wife will travel to India after completing 3 months of pregnancy. She will stay with our family for the rest of the pregnancy and deliver there. Family support will help with postnatal care. We plan to return with the baby when the child is 10-11 months old.

Questions: What are the visa implications for a baby born outside Australia to parents holding a 491 visa? What’s the process and cost involved in getting the baby a visa to return to Australia? Would this impact our residency pathway or future PR eligibility in any way?

Scenario 2: Delivery in Australia

We’ll invite my mother to come over when my wife is 5 months pregnant. She will stay through the delivery and provide postnatal care (for about 3-4 months). Once her visa ends, we’ll invite my mother-in-law to stay and support us for another 6 months.

Questions:

What kind of visitor visa would be best for each parent? (Duration, cost, medical insurance requirements, etc.) Is there a way to extend 3 months short stay visitor visas if needed? Would having the child in Australia be more beneficial in terms of citizenship, healthcare, and documentation?

If anyone has personal experience or insights – especially if you've had a baby while on a 491 visa, or brought parents over to support during childbirth – we’d love to hear how you managed it. Any tips on navigating the visa process, planning timelines, or even hospital recommendations would be very helpful!

Thanks in advance for your guidance and support.