PARENT VISAS

These visas are for parents, including parents in retirement age who have a child / children in Australia who are a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen (sponsor).

There are different options: Temporary and Permanent parent visas.

Temporary:

Permanent:

You need to pass the test if you are applying for one of these visas:

103 – Parent

143 – Contributory Parent

173 – Contributory Parent (Temporary)

804 – Aged Parent

864 – Contributory Aged Parent

884 – Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary)

 

Applicant’s and their partner’s children, including stepchildren and adopted children, are counted in the balance of family test.

Children are not counted if they:

  • are deceased
  • have been removed from their parents’ exclusive legal custody by adoption, court order or operation of law
  • are registered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as refugees and live in a camp operated by the UNHCR
  • live in a country where they suffer persecution or human rights abuse and can’t be reunited with their parents in another country

A stepchild is:

  • your current partner’s child, or
  • your former partner’s child who is under 18 years of age and in relation to whom you have guardianship, custody or a parenting order in force under the Family Law Act 1975. Stepchildren born from polygamous or concurrent relationships are not counted in the balance of family test

Examples of calculating when a parent would pass the balance-of-family test
Total number of childrenChildren living permanently in AustraliaChildren in country AChildren in country BChildren in country CChildren in country DPasses test?
110000Yes
211000Yes
312000No
311100No
422000Yes
411110No
412100No
511111No
521110Yes
532000Yes
622200No

A child is an eligible child if they are:

  • an Australian citizen, or
  • tan Australian permanent resident usually resident in Australia, or
  • an eligible New Zealand citizen usually resident in Australia.

Children who are in Australia on a temporary visa are NOT considered as eligible children.

This visa allows you to live, work and study in Australia for up to 2 years. A holder of this visa can enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare. You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want within two years from the date the visa is granted. This visa leads you to permanent residency – you can apply for a permanent Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143).

You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for the visa. You must be outside Australia when the visa is decided (Covid-19 concession may be applied).

Primary Requirements for applicants:

  • Be sponsored
  • Meet the balance-of-family test
  • Meet health requirements
  • Meet character requirements (a police certificate from every country where you spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since you turned 16)
  • Not have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 870) visa when applying for this visa

Primary Requirements for sponsors:

  • An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
  • Settled and usually resident in Australia (have lived lawfully in Australia for a reasonable period, usually at least 2 years)
  • 18 years old or older
  • Must agree to provide accommodation and financial support for sponsored applicants

The Department of Home Affairs fee:

  • AUD 31,930
  • There is an additional charge for each family member who applies with you

You pay for this visa in 2 parts called instalments.

Applying for this temporary subclass 173 visa before the permanent subclass 143 visa lets you spread the costs of your immigration over a number of years.

This visa allows you to live, work and study in Australia for up to 2 years. A holder of this visa can enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare. You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want within two years from the date the visa is granted. This visa leads you to permanent residency – you can apply for a permanent Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864).

You must be in Australia when you apply for this visa and when the visa is decided.

Primary Requirements for applicants:

  • Be sponsored
  • Be pension age (see below)
  • The visa you currently hold when apply must not have a no further stay condition on it
  • Meet the balance-of-family test
  • Meet health requirements
  • Meet character requirements (a police certificate from every country where you spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since you turned 16)
  • Not have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 870) visa when applying for this visa

Primary Requirements for sponsors:

  • An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
  • 18 years old or older
  • Must agree to provide support, housing and financial help for the first 2 years the applicant lives in Australia

The Department of Home Affairs fee:

  • AUD 33,285
  • There is an additional charge for each family member who applies with you

You pay for this visa in 2 parts called instalments.

Applying for this temporary subclass 884 visa before the permanent subclass 864 visa lets you spread the costs of your immigration over a number of years.

This temporary visa lets a parent reunite with children, visit Australia for up to 3 or 5 years per visa. You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.

You can re-apply for further Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visas to visit up to a maximum period of 10 years in Australia.

You can NOT work in Australia while you hold this visa.

This visa does not lead to permanent residence.

You must be outside Australia when you apply for this visa, unless you have Permission to Apply in Australia. You can be in or outside Australia when the visa is decided.

Primary Requirements for applicants:

  • Be the biological, legal (including adoptive) parent, step-parent or parent in-law of the sponsor
  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Be sponsored
  • Meet health requirements
  • Meet character requirements (a police certificate from every country where you spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since you turned 16)
  • Must have access to sufficient funds to meet the costs and expenses of your intended stay in Australia
  • Must intend to stay only temporarily in Australia and do only the things the visa allows you to do
  • Must have and maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance from an Australian Health Insurance provider to cover any unforeseen medical treatment you might need while you are in Australia
  • Cannot include family members in your visa application

Primary Requirements for sponsors:

  • Be An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
  • Be settled and usually resident in Australia (have lived lawfully in Australia for a reasonable period, usually at least 4 years)
  • If you are sponsoring your Partner’s parents, your Partner must also be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
  • 18 years old or older
  • Have no debt to the Australian government
  • Taxable income must be at least equal to, or greater than AUD 83,455 per year
  • Meet character requirements (a police certificate from every country where you spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since you turned 16)
  • Must agree to provide support, housing and financial help while the applicant is in Australia and pay outstanding public health debts incurred by your parent in Australia
  • Must apply to become an approved Parent Sponsor

The Department of Home Affairs fee:

  • Visa application:

Up to 3 years – AUD 5,000

Up to 5 years – AUD 10,000

  • Sponsorship application – AUD 420

You pay for this visa in 2 parts called instalments.

This visa allows you to live, work and study in Australia permanently. A holder of this visa can enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare.

You can sponsor your family members to come to Australia.

You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want for 5 years from the date this visa is granted.

If you want to travel after the initial 5-year travel facility:

  • you will need to apply for and be granted a Resident Return (RRV)
  • if you become an Australian citizen, you don’t require a visa to enter Australia

Processing times for this visa can be 3-5 years.

You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for the visa.

Primary Requirements for applicants (excluding retiree path):

  • Be sponsored
  • Meet the balance-of-family test
  • Meet health requirements
  • Meet character requirements (a police certificate from every country where you spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since you turned 16)
  • Must be able to obtain an assurance of support
  • Must not have any debt to the Australian government
  • Not have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 870) visa when applying for this visa.

Primary Requirements for sponsors:

  • An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
  • Settled and usually resident in Australia (have lived lawfully in Australia for a reasonable period, usually at least 2 years)
  • 18 years old or older
  • Must agree to provide support, housing and financial help for the first 2 years the applicant lives in Australia.

The Department of Home Affairs fee

  • AUD 47,755
  • There is an additional charge for each family member who applies with you

You pay for this visa in 2 parts called instalments.

This visa allows you to live, work and study in Australia permanently. A holder of this visa can enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare.

You can sponsor your family members to come to Australia.

You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want for 5 years from the date this visa is granted.

If you want to travel after the initial 5-year travel facility:

  • you will need to apply for and be granted a Resident Return (RRV)
  • if you become an Australian citizen, you don’t require a visa to enter Australia

Processing times for this visa can be 3-4 years.

You must be in Australia when you apply for this visa.

Primary Requirements for applicants:

  • Be sponsored
  • Be pension age
  • The visa you currently hold when apply must not have a no further stay condition on it
  • Must be able to obtain an assurance of support
  • Meet the balance-of-family test
  • Meet health requirements
  • Meet character requirements (a police certificate from every country where you spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since you turned 16)
  • Not have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 870) visa when applying for this visa

Primary Requirements for sponsors:

  • An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
  • 18 years old or older
  • Must agree to provide support, housing and financial help for the first 2 years the applicant lives in Australia

The Department of Home Affairs fee

  • AUD 47,755
  • There is an additional charge for each family member who applies with you

You pay for this visa in 2 parts called instalments.

This permanent visa lets a parent immigrate to Australia to be with their children.

This visa allows you to live, work and study in Australia permanently. A holder of this visa can enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare.

You can sponsor your family members to come to Australia.

You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want for 5 years from the date this visa is granted.

If you want to travel after the initial 5-year travel facility:

  • you will need to apply for and be granted a Resident Return (RRV)
  • if you become an Australian citizen, you don’t require a visa to enter Australia

Processing times for this visa can be up to 30 years.

You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for the visa.

Primary Requirements for applicants (excluding retiree path):

  • Be sponsored
  • Must be able to obtain an assurance of support
  • Have health insurance
  • Meet the balance-of-family test
  • Meet health requirements
  • Meet character requirements (a police certificate from every country where you spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since you turned 16)
  • Not have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 870) visa when applying for this visa
  • Must not have any debt to the Australian government (you or any family members) or have an approved formal arrangement to pay it back.

Primary Requirements for sponsors:

  • An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
  • 18 years old or older
  • Must agree to provide support, housing and financial help for the first 2 years the applicant lives in Australia

The Department of Home Affairs fee:

  • AUD 6,415
  • There is an additional charge for each family member who applies with you

You pay for this visa in 2 parts called instalments.

This visa allows you to live, work and study in Australia permanently. A holder of this visa can enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare.

You can sponsor your family members to come to Australia.

You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want for 5 years from the date this visa is granted.

If you want to travel after the initial 5-year travel facility:

  • you will need to apply for and be granted a Resident Return (RRV)
  • if you become an Australian citizen, you don’t require a visa to enter Australia

Processing times for this visa can be up to 15 years.

You must be in Australia when you apply for this visa.

Primary Requirements for applicants:

  • Be sponsored
  • Be pension age
  • Meet the balance-of-family test
  • Meet health requirements
  • Meet character requirements (a police certificate from every country where you spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since you turned 16)
  • Must be able to obtain an assurance of support
  • Have paid back your debt to the Australian government
  • Not have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 870) visa when applying for this visa

Primary Requirements for sponsors:

  • An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
  • Settled and usually resident in Australia (have lived lawfully in Australia for a reasonable period, usually at least 2 years)
  • 18 years old or older
  • Must agree to provide support, housing and financial help for the first 2 years the applicant lives in Australia.

The Department of Home Affairs fee:

  • AUD 6,415
  • There is an additional charge for each family member who applies with you

You pay for this visa in 2 parts called instalments.

The pension age will be gradually increased from 65 to 67 years as set out in the table below.

Period within which a person was bornPension ageDate pension age changes
From 1 July 1952 to 31 December 195365 years and 6 months1 July 2017
From 1 January 1954 to 30 June 195566 years1 July 2019
From 1 July 1955 to 31 December 195666 years and 6 months1 July 2021
From 1 January 1957 onwards67 years1 July 2023

An assurance of support (Aos) is a legal agreement to help someone get a visa to live in Australia.

AoS is a legally binding and unconditional commitment by an Australian resident (the assurer) to repay certain Australian social security payments that have been paid to migrants (the assurees) during their respective AoS period.

It’s your promise to pay the Australian Government back for any social security payments that were given to the visa applicant.

To get some types of visas you must have an assurance of support. These are any of the following:

  • an aged dependent relative visa
  • a contributory parent or contributory aged parent visa
  • a parent or aged parent visa
  • a remaining relative visa.
Australian Parent Visas explained
This video explains common parent visa options for the parents of Australian permanent residents, Australian citizens and Eligible New Zealand citizens.