This study explored international kinship care arrangement in Ethiopia, focusing on Ethiopian children who apply for an Australian Orphan Relative Visa. A qualitative exploratory research method with a cross-sectional case study strategy was used. The main research participants were Ethiopian children who were applying for orphan relative visas at the time of data collection. Additionally, key informants from MoWA and Federal First Instance Court participated in the study. With the help of a semi structured interview guide, in-depth interviews conducted on reasons that lead children to apply for an Australian orphan relative visa, expectations from such placements, availability of pre placement services and legal bases for such care arrangements. Additionally, data also was derived from observations, document reviews and secondary sources. The data collected from different sources were analyzed using thematic and cross case analysis methods. The study identified two main categories of children who apply for international kinship care placements in Australia: Children who cannot be cared for by family resources in the country because of permanent loss of parental care or inability of parents to take care of them, and Children who use this arrangement as a mechanism to access a better life in Australia. Children expect to get better education, employment, material benefits and living conditions after placement abroad. However, they express concerns about how well they will be treated by relatives abroad. Pre-placement services provided for these children lack a standardized and holistic approach. Furthermore, lack of clarity on the legal protection that should be given to children in international kinship care arrangement puts them in a precarious socio-legal situation