Interested in bringing your parents to Australia while you’re an Australian PR holder or citizen through Australia parent visa?
Citizens of Australia and Permanent Residents and eligible New Zealand Citizens may sponsor their parents to relocate permanently to Australia under the Australia Parent Migration Visa.
What are the steps for bringing parents to Australia?
Australia Parent Migration Visas fall into two categories:
The first is Non-Contributory Parent Visas, Australia
Unlike most other PR visas, this one has a low processing fee. Parental eligibility requires a sponsor, meeting health and character requirements, and passing the balance of family test. In order to pass the balance of family test, at least half of the parents’ children must reside permanently in Australia.
And the second is Contributory Parent Visas, Australia
It is a fast-track PR visa reserved for selected applicants, based on the queue and cap. In order to qualify, parents must have a sponsor, meet health and character requirements, pass the balance of family test, and provide proof of their financial support. It is the sponsor’s commitment to give their financial support that is called the assurance of support.
Differences between Contributory and Non-Contributory Parent Visas
Parents can apply for permanent residency in two ways: non-contributory and contributory. While the non-contributory visa takes a much longer time to process, it attracts a lower application fee from the Government. On the other hand, Contributory parent visas can be processed much faster, but their application fees are much higher.
However, the contributory parent visa costs can be spread over two stages. Application for a provisional visa is the first step, which is approved for a period of two years. After the provisional visa expires, you can apply for the permanent visa, paying the balance of fees, at the second stage of the application.
| Parent has eligible sponsor and meets balance of family test | Visa subclasses | Two stage process | Assurance of support required | Second instalment charge | Estimated Processing Timelines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parent is old enough to receive aged pension in Australia and applying onshore | 804 | N/A | Yes | $2,065 per applicant | More than 30 years |
| 864 | N/A | Yes | $43,600 per applicant | 3-5 years | |
| 884 | Yes. Must apply for 864 within 2 years after 884 approval | No. Required at 864 application stage | Two-thirds of $43,600 at 884 stage. Balance at 864 stage | 2-4 years | |
| Other parents | 103 | N/A | Yes | $2,065 per applicant | More than 30 years |
| 143 | N/A | Yes | $43,600 per applicant | 3-5 years | |
| 173 | Yes. Must apply for 143 (inside Australia) within 2 years after 173 approval | No. Required at 143 application stage | Two-thirds of $43,600 at 173 stage. Balance at 143 stage | 2-4 years |
How does an Assurance of Support work on a Parent Visa Australia?
An Assurance of Support (AoS) promises to reimburse any income support provided to a visa holder during their initial stay in Australia. Each visa type has a different AoS support period.
- 4 years for Parent Visas (Subclass 103/804)
- 10 years for Contributory Parent Visas (Subclass 143 / 864)
This period begins as soon as the parents receive any of these visas. In the event that they experience financial hardship during the AoS period, the ‘AoS bond’ will provide them with income.
It is necessary for an Assurer to:
- Must be an adult (over 18 years of age);
- Usually reside in Australia;
- Assurers must have sufficient income to be able to pay off any debts that arise – income, assets, liabilities, and spouse’s income may all be relevant to assessing their financial status.
- Provide the Australian Taxation Commissioner with notices of assessment for each of the last two years.
What is the Balance of family test in Parent Visa Australia?
In order to qualify for a parent category visa in Australia, you must meet the balance of family test. The purpose of this test is to determine the extent to which you have ties to Australia.
In order to meet the family balance requirements:
- At least half of your children live permanently in Australia
- The number of children living in Australia is higher than anywhere else in the world
Benefits of an Australia Parent Visa
What Can You Do With an Australia Parent Visa?
- You can stay in Australia for as long as you like
- No restrictions on travel to and from Australia
- You may be able to get health care through Medicare, the government’s health insurance program
- Work rights with fewer restrictions
- As soon as you meet the residency requirements in Australia, you can apply for Australian citizenship.
Australia Parent Visa Details
1. Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Subclass 870 Visa, Australia
An Australian citizen, Australian Permanent Resident or eligible New Zealand Citizen’s parent can visit Australia for up to three years or five years on this temporary visa. The application charges for this visa are:
- $5,000 for a visa of up to three years duration; and
- $10,000 for a visa of up to five years duration.
Benefits of Sponsored Australia Parent Visas
Your parents can use this visa to:
- visit Australia for up to 3 or 5 years per visa
- You can apply for further visas to stay in Australia for a maximum of ten years
- Reunite with family members and children
Eligibility requirements for your parents:
- In order to apply for this visa, you must have an approved Parent Sponsorship
- You must apply for this visa online
- If you are given Permission to Apply in Australia, you must lodge your visa application within 60 days of the sponsorship approval.
Note another key point: This visa does not allow your parents to work in Australia
2. Parent (Permanent) Subclass 103 Visa, Australia
Parents of settled Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens can apply for this permanent visa.
Your parents can use this visa to:
- Become a permanent resident of Australia
- Provide sponsorship to eligible family members for their arrival in Australia
- Obtain Australian citizenship if eligible
Eligibility criteria for your parents:
- They must have a settled Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen who is a settled citizen of one of these countries
- They must comply with all visa requirements and Australian law
- When applying for this visa, they cannot hold or have held a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 870) visa already
With this visa, your parents can:
- Indefinite stay in Australia
- Study and work in Australia
- Enroll in Medicare, Australia’s public health insurance program
- Bring your family members to Australia by sponsoring them
- If eligible, apply for Australian citizenship
3. Contributory Parent (Permanent) Subclass 143 Visa
Parents who are citizens of Australia, Australian Permanent Residents of Australia, or eligible citizens of New Zealand may move to Australia with this permanent parent visa.
Your parents can do the following with this visa:
- Become a permanent resident of Australia
- Provide sponsorship to eligible family members for their arrival in Australia
- If eligible, apply for Australian citizenship
It is essential that your parents:
- must have eligible children who are settled Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens, unless you are applying for the Retirement Pathway
- apply for the Retirement Pathway or hold a Subclass 173 visa, unless they meet the balance-of-family requirement
- must need an Assurance of Support unless they plan on applying for retirement
- must not have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 870) visa when applying for this visa
Contributory Parent Visa Benefits in Australia
Your parents can use this visa to:
- Stay in Australia indefinitely.
- Enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare
- Work and study in Australia
- Travel to and enter Australia for 5 years.
- Sponsor your family members to come to Australia.
- Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.
Five years of travel to and from Australia
Within five years of obtaining the visa, your parents can travel to and from Australia as many times as they like. Travel facilities on this visa remain valid as long as they are valid.
In the event that your parents wish to travel after the initial 5-year period:
- In order to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident, your parents will need to apply for and receive a Resident Return (RRV).
- It might also be a good idea for your parents to consider Australian citizenship. Citizens of Australia are not required to obtain a visa to enter the country. It will be necessary for your parents to apply for an Australian passport and use it in order to leave and re-enter Australia.
Apply for a Parent visa (subclass 143) as a retiree
Retirees do not have to do any of the following when applying for the subclass 103 visa:
- Meet the family balance test, or
- Have an assurance of support or a sponsor
The visa can be applied for inside or outside Australia.
Any family members who apply with you in Australia must also be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, at the time of your application. On the other hand, when you apply outside Australia, the family members who apply for the visa with you must also be outside Australia.
There are two types of Contributory Parent Visas available to non-pensioner parents of Australian residents:
- Temporary Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 173). Parent Visas in Australia like this are only valid for two years, after which you must apply for a permanent one. If you want to extend your stay, you must apply for the 143. This visa allows you to work and study, but it cannot be extended.
- Permanent Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143). It is a permanent visa type. It is possible to apply directly for this visa or to apply for the 173 Visa first and then switch to the 143 Visa.
- Contributory Aged Parent Visa. Pensioner parents of Australian residents are eligible for this visa. Australian law defines pension age as the age at which you are eligible for this visa type. Among them are:
- Subclass 884 Visa – You can use this visa to stay in Australia for two years and then apply for a permanent visa.
- Subclass 864 – This is the permanent version of the Contributory Aged Parent Visa. If you currently hold an 884, you may switch to the 864 or apply directly for it.
Conclusion
So, there are different parent visa types in Australia, including various time frames and requirements. When applying for any of the visas, you can go through each type of parent visa meeting your requirements that can lead to bringing both or one of your parents over to Australia for a family sponsorship.