Bringing Your Parents to Australia: Your Guide to Australian Parent Visas
If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you may want to bring your parents to Australia. However, applying for Australian Parent Visas can be tricky and confusing. There are different types of visas, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. You need to know the requirements, costs, and durations of each visa option before you choose one. That’s why Migrate 2 Oz is here to help you. We are experts in Australian Parent Visas and we can guide you through the whole process. In this article, we will explain the main visa categories for Australian Parent Visas and what you need to consider when applying for them.
Temporary Parent Visas:
These are visas tailored for parents seeking short visits or prolonged stays with their children in Australia. They encompass various prerequisites including sponsorship, health evaluations, and financial commitments. While they facilitate family reunions, not all provide a pathway to permanent residency or full access to Australian benefits.
Visitor Visas (Subclass 600):
These are short-term visas that allow parents to stay in Australia for up to 12 months at a time, within an 18-month period. They are easy to apply for and relatively cheap, but they do not lead to permanent residency or allow access to Medicare or other benefits.
- Tourist Stream or Sponsored Family Stream
- This is a short-term visa that allows you to stay in Australia for up to 12 months at a time, within an 18-month period.
- The benefits of this visa are that it is easy and quick to apply for and does not have many requirements.
- You. must be a genuine visitor
- You must have enough funds to support your stay and leave
- The drawbacks of this visa are that it does not lead to permanent residency or allow you to access Medicare or other benefits.
- We will guide you through your options but for more information, please also visit the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website
Sponsored Parent Temporary Visa (Subclass 870):
These are new visas that were introduced in 2019 to cater to parents who want to stay longer in Australia, but do not qualify for permanent visas. They allow parents to stay for up to three or five years per visa, with a maximum of 10 years in total. They require sponsorship from an eligible child in Australia and payment of a sponsorship fee and a visa application charge. They also do not lead to permanent residency or allow access to Medicare or other benefits.
- This is a new visa that was introduced in 2019 to cater to parents who want to stay longer in Australia, but do not qualify for permanent visas.
- The cost of this visa starts from $5,000 for a three-year stay and $10,000 for a five-year stay. The processing time starts from four months. Each case is unique and visa costs and processing times differ accordingly.
- The benefits of this visa are that it allows you to stay for up to three or five years per visa, with a maximum of 10 years in total, and does not require you to meet the balance of family test.
- The drawbacks of this visa are that it requires sponsorship from an eligible child in Australia and payment of a sponsorship fee and a visa application charge. It also does not lead to permanent residency or allow you to access Medicare or other benefits.
Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173):
The Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 173) provides an opportunity for parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to reside in Australia for a period of up to two years.
Essential Criteria:
- Applicant Eligibility: This visa category is exclusive to parents whose offspring are Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens.
- Duration of Stay: The visa permits a stay in Australia for a maximum duration of two years.
- Balance of Family Test: Applicants are required to satisfy the ‘Balance of Family Test’. This necessitates that either half or a majority of the applicant’s children are domiciled in Australia, relative to any other country.
- Financial Requirements: A substantial visa application fee is mandatory. Additionally, applicants must provide an assurance of support bond.
- Pathway to Permanent Residency: The Subclass 173 visa can serve as a precursor to permanent residency. Eligible candidates can pursue the Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143) before the expiration of their temporary visa.
Permanent Parent Visas:
These are visas that grant permanent residency to parents who meet certain criteria, such as the balance of family test, age requirements, health and character checks, and assurance of support. They offer full access to Medicare and other benefits, but they have very limited places available each year and very long waiting times.
Permanent Parent Visa (subclass 103):
Australia welcomes parents of its citizens, permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens through the Permanent Parent visa (subclass 103). It’s a golden opportunity to join your loved ones Down Under, while also enjoying the diverse benefits Australia has to offer.
- Eligibility Criteria: Must be a parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen and meet the balance of family test, health and character checks, and assurance of support.
- Visa Costs: The visa cost for the main applicant is $6,415, while each additional applicant is charged $3,210, and there may be other potential costs to consider.
- Processing Time: Can be extensive, taking up to 40 years or more. This duration is influenced by the annual quota and the demand for the visa.
- Benefits: The benefits of this visa include granting permanent residency, providing full access to Medicare and other benefits, and not requiring a high visa application charge or an assurance of support bond.
- Limitations: The limitations of this visa are the very restricted number of slots available each year, with only 4,500 places for the 2022-23 period, and the lengthy waiting times resulting from high demand.
- Application Procedure: You must apply offshore. This entails being outside Australia both when you apply and when the visa is granted.
Aged Parent Visa (subclass 804):
The Aged Parent visa (subclass 804) offers parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens an opportunity to gain permanent residency in Australia, aligning with the country’s commitment to family reunification.
- Eligibility Criteria: You must be the parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen. Additionally, applicants need to fulfil specific age requirements, meet the balance of family test, pass health and character checks, and have an assurance of support.
- Visa Costs: The cost for the main applicant stands at $6,415. For each additional applicant, a fee of $3,210 is applicable. Furthermore, applicants should be aware of other possible associated costs.
- Processing Time: Applicants should brace themselves for a long wait. The processing can take up to 40 years or more, largely influenced by the annual availability of slots and the overall demand for this visa.
- Benefits: This visa offers the privilege of permanent residency in Australia. It also ensures full access to Medicare and several other benefits. Notably, there is no high visa application charge or any assurance of support bond required.
- Limitations: One of the significant constraints of this visa is the tight quota, which was set at a mere 1,500 places for the 2022-23 period. Moreover, due to high demand, applicants can expect long waiting times.
- Application Process: One distinct aspect of this visa is its onshore application procedure. This means that applicants are required to be physically present in Australia during the application submission and when the visa gets granted.
Contributory Parent Visas:
These are visas that also grant permanent residency to parents who meet similar criteria as the permanent parent visas, but with a higher visa application charge and assurance of support bond. They offer faster processing times than the permanent parent visas, but they are still subject to annual caps and queues.
Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143):
The Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) is a pathway to permanent residency in Australia for parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens.
- Eligibility: Applicants must be parents of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. They also need to satisfy the balance of family test, health and character checks, and provide an assurance of support.
- Cost: The visa fee starts at $47,755 for the main applicant and $19,420 for each additional applicant. Additional costs may apply.
- Processing Time: The visa can take up to four years or more to process, depending on annual allocations and demand.
- Benefits: The visa offers faster processing than the Parent visa (subclass 103) and provides access to Medicare and other benefits. There’s also an option to first apply for the temporary Contributory Parent visa (subclass 173), allowing payment to be split into two instalments.
- Limitations: This visa comes with a high application charge and requires an assurance of support bond. It’s also limited by annual caps, leading to potential queues.
- Application Process: Application must be made offshore, meaning applicants should be outside Australia both when applying and when the visa is granted.
Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864):
The Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864) presents an avenue for parents to achieve permanent residency in Australia. Specifically tailored for aged parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens, this visa streamlines the process of reuniting families in Australia.
- Eligibility: Applicants must be parents of eligible Australians or New Zealanders, meet age criteria, pass the balance of family test, clear health and character checks, and have an assurance of support.
- Cost: The visa comes with a starting fee of $47,755 for the primary applicant. Each subsequent applicant incurs a fee of $19,420. There might be supplementary costs.
- Processing Time: Depending on annual place allocations and visa demand, processing can extend to four years or longer.
- Benefits: This visa is processed more rapidly than the Aged Parent visa (subclass 804). Additionally, it provides unhindered access to Medicare and several other benefits. A precursor to this, the temporary Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 884), lets applicants distribute the payment in two separate instalments.
- Limitations: With the perks come certain constraints. The visa is characterised by a sizeable application fee and a mandatory assurance of support bond. Applicants should also be aware of the visa’s yearly caps and potential waitlists.
- Application Process: This visa necessitates an onshore application. This means applicants must be within Australian borders during both the application and visa award phases.
Key Visa Requirements at a Glance
The visa requirements for parents vary depending on the visa type, but here are some common ones:
Sponsorship:
Your child in Australia must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen who has been living in the country for at least two years.
Balance of Family Test:
At least half of your children must be living in Australia as permanent residents or citizens, or more of your children must be living in Australia than in any other country. This test does not apply to the Subclass 870 visa.
Age Requirements:
Some visas require you to be old enough to qualify for the Australian age pension, which is currently 67 years old.
Assurance of Support:
A financial guarantor must agree to support you financially for a certain period of time after you arrive in Australia. This is usually your sponsor or another person who meets the income threshold.
Health and Character Checks:
You must undergo medical examinations and police checks to prove that you are in good health and have no criminal record.
Ready to Get Started?
Australia offers several parent visa options, each with distinct criteria. At Migrate 2 Oz, we simplify this complexity. Trust in our expertise to guide you through the process, ensuring a successful visa application outcome. Your path to family reunification is clearer with us. Complete our free online assessment and get started today.