Parent Visas

Australia’s Parent visas are temporary and permanent visas which allow parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens to obtain visas in Australia. The program covers a number of visas, with various options being viable depending on the parents’ age, whether they seek temporary or permanent residence and financial capacity.

Types of Parent Visas?

If your parents pass the “balance of family test”, you may be able to sponsor them to live in Australia on temporary and / or permanent visas

Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) Visa

This is a temporary visa that let’s parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents visit and remain in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years. A sponsorship is required for this visa for each parent and the Balance of Family Test (BoF) does not apply. The maximum stay is up 10 years but all subsequent visa applications for this visa must be applied from outside Australia.

Aged Parent visa (subclass 804) or Parent visa (subclass 103)

This option has a very long waiting period for the visas to be processed, the Department of Home Affairs is currently advising that it could take up to 30 years for one of the above visas to be granted.

Contributory (temporary) Parent visa (subclass 173) or Contributory (temporary) Aged Parent visa (subclass 884)

When applying for this visa, it is a two stage process. If the requirements are met, you will be issued with your temporary visa and will then have two years to apply for your corresponding permanent visa.

General Requirements

The applicant must be the parent of an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident who has spent at least at least two years living In Australia.

What Is the family balance test?

You must pass the balance of family test which Is used to measure your connection and ties to Australia.

You pass the balance of family test requirement If at least half of the applicant’s children and step-children must be citizens or permanent Residents in Australia, or more of the main applicants children must be settled permanent citizen or residents of Australia than any other single country).

Additional requirements:

Criteria for Contributory Aged Parent visa

The main applicant of this visa must be over 66 years of age, however if they have a partner aged younger than 66, they can be included as a secondary applicant.

Health and Character

Your parents will need to meet health and character requirements and will need to undertake a medical assessment, chest x-ray and HIV test. Please note that if you go the non contributory parent visa route then your parent would be required to undertake a medical assessment before the visa is granted.

Key Takeaway

Australia’s Parent visas are temporary and permanent visas which allow parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens to obtain visas in Australia. The program covers a number of visas, with various options being viable depending on the parents’ age, whether they seek temporary or permanent residence and financial capacity. We are equipped to assist with whichever the circumstance of your parents.

Looking to bring a family member to Australia?

Children, parents and other family members may apply for migration to join their Australian citizen or permanent resident family members in Australia.