Parent Visa Australia
Parent visas allow parents to join their children who are Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens.
These visas are available in three main streams:
- Parent visas (non-contributory) – permanent visas with lower cost, but extremely long processing times (currently estimated at about 30 years).
- Contributory Parent visas – higher cost, but significantly shorter processing times. This stream includes both permanent and temporary subclasses.
- Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa – Subclass 870 – a separate temporary option that allows longer stays compared to tourist visas in Australia but does not lead to permanent residency.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for a parent visa, you must be sponsored by your biological, adopted, or step child who is living in Australia. Your spouse and other dependent family members may be included in your application if they meet the specified requirements.
To be eligible for this visa, you must also pass the Balance of Family Test (for most of these visa subclasses) and meet age requirements where applicable.
Balance of Family Test
A parent will pass the Balance of Family Test if:
- At least half of their children live permanently in Australia; OR
- They have more children living permanently in Australia than in any other single country.
These children must be:
- An Australian citizen, or
- An Australian permanent resident usually residing in Australia, or
- An eligible New Zealand citizen usually resident in Australia.
The Department does not consider a child eligible if:
- They live outside Australia, even if they are otherwise eligible, or
- They live in Australia but hold only a temporary visa.
The Balance of Family Test can be complex, with several possible combinations. If you do not pass the test, there may still be other ways to join your children through sponsored or visitor visas.
Please book a Consultation to discuss your requirements for a detailed assessment of your particulars towards migration to Australia.
Parent Visa Categories
Subclass 103 – Parent Visa
A permanent non-contributory visa. Costs are lower, but processing times are extremely long — around 30 years for new applicants.
Subclass 143 – Contributory Parent Visa
A permanent contributory visa. Costs are high, but processing times are shorter than the non-contributory option.
Subclass 173 – Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa
A temporary 2-year visa that provides a pathway to the permanent subclass 143. It allows families to spread the high visa costs across two stages. Applicants may also consider first applying for the temporary contributory parent visa and then transitioning to the corresponding permanent visa. This pathway allows the visa fees to be paid in two stages, making the overall cost more manageable.
Subclass 804 – Aged Parent Visa
A permanent non-contributory visa for aged parents (over the Australian pension age) who apply onshore. While costs are lower, processing times are extremely long — around 30 years.
Subclass 864 – Contributory Aged Parent Visa
A permanent contributory visa for aged parents. Costs are high, but processing times are shorter compared to subclass 804.
Subclass 884 – Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa
A temporary 2-year visa for aged parents, which can later be converted into the permanent subclass 864. It also allows for visa costs to be paid in two stages. Applicants may also consider first applying for the temporary contributory aged parent visa and then transitioning to the corresponding permanent visa. This pathway allows the visa fees to be paid in two stages, making the overall cost more manageable.
Subclass 870 – Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa
A temporary visa that allows parents to stay in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years at a time, with a maximum cumulative stay of 10 years. Unlike other parent visas, this visa does not lead to permanent residency.
Parent Visas
Parent Visa and Aged Parent Visa Australia (Subclass 103 & 804)
There are two Sub classes under Australia Aged Parent Visa i.e. Subclass 804 which is for applicants who apply onshore or while living in Australia for temporary basis, and second one is Subclass 103 which is for those applicants who apply offshore or outside of Australia.
Contributory Parent Visas (subclass 173 &143)
If you want to join your child in Australia, apply for contributory parent 173 or 143 visa. Need help? Give us a call!
Contributory Aged Parent Visas (Subclass 884 & 864)
The contributory aged parent visa (subclass 884 and 864) allows older parents to live in Australia if their child is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
Temporary Parent Visa (Subclass 870)
Temporary parent visa subclass 870 will allow parents to live temporarily in Australia for three or five years without needing to depart Australia.
Our Consultation Session
MIGRATION DOOR AUSTRALIA offers clients both in Australia and abroad, a FREE 10- minute Consultation Session with one of its experienced Registered Migration Agents.
During this initial meeting, which can be conducted virtually using zoom/skype or face to face in our Brisbane office, we will have a better understanding of your situation and will assess your options. What you should except is transparency and expertise. At the end of this consultation, we will advise you on the next steps.
If you need specialized in-depth assessment, you may need to book a Comprehensive Consultation Session, where all your questions are answered, and the best migration strategy and roadmap will be explored and determined.
