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Parent Visas for Australia
So you’re settled and happy in Australia but there’s always this niggling feeling whenever you think of your parents living in a country many miles away. Whether it’d be for a visit or to move them over permanently, there are a number of options you can explore if you’re thinking of bringing mum and/or dad over to Australia.
Unless your parents meet the definition of an ‘Aged Parent’ (someone who is old enough to be granted the Aged Pension in Australia), all applications for a Parent visa must be lodged overseas. Depending on the category of the visa, the processing times vary significantly along with the visa application charges.
Ready to apply for a parent visa in Australia?
First you need to understand eligibility requirements and which visa is right for your situation.
Eligibility Requirements when applying for PR for your Parents
The Main Eligibility Requirements
- The balance of family test: at least 50% of your children (biological and step children) must be either Australian citizens or permanent residents or an eligible NZ citizen residing predominantly in Australia (for at least 2 years prior to time of application).
- The ability to meet health and character requirements.
- Have an eligible sponsor.
Trying to lodge a parent visa from within Australia?
Get to know the options you have as an onshore applicant
Permanent Visas for onshore applicants
Contributory Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 864)
- High visa application charges
- Upon grant, the applicant (and any secondary applicants) are entitled to reside in Australia indefinitely.
- An Assurance of Support is required in the form of a bond that is paid to the Australian Government to be held for a period of 10 years. The purpose of this payment is to provide financial support for the visa applicants and to ensure that they do not rely on social security payments for the first 10 years in Australia.
- Applicants often apply for this subclass as a subsequent visa to the Subclass 884 visa
Aged Parent Visas (Subclass 804)
- Much lower visa application charges
- Visa processing can span up to 30 years.
- An Assurance of Support is required.
Australian temporary parent visas for onshore applicants
Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 884)
- Visa has a duration of 2 years.
- Significantly higher visa application charges due to lesser processing times.
- Applying for this visa allows an applicant to subsequently apply for the permanent stage (Subclass 864) and spread the total visa costs between the processing times of the two subclasses.
Trying to lodge a parent visa from overseas?
You should know the options available to you as an offshore applicant
Permanent Visas for offshore applicants
Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143)
- Substantial visa application charges
- Upon grant, the applicant (and any secondary applicants) are entitled to reside in Australia indefinitely.
- Assurance of Support required in the form of a bond that is paid to the Australian Government to be held for a period of 10 years. The purpose of this payment is to provide financial support for the visa applicants and to ensure that they do not rely on social security payments for the first 10 years in Australia.
Temporary Visas for offshore applicants
Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 173)
- Has a visa duration of 2 years.
- Significantly higher visa application charges due to shorter processing times.
- Applying for this visa allows an applicant to subsequently apply for the permanent stage (Subclass 143) and spread the total visa costs between the processing times of the two subclasses.
Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Subclass 870
- Allows an applicant to visit and stay in Australia for up to 3-5 years at a time.
- Upon the expiry of the first visa, you may have the option to re-apply for a cumulative s stay of up to 10 years in Australia.
- Does not lead to any permanent visa pathways.
- Is essentially a Visitor Visa for Parents.
We can help with your parent visa application.
The Parent visa subclasses can be rather complex given that the processing times are quite lengthy and depending on which stream you’re applying for, may involve a significantly high visa application charge. As a result, you’d want to ensure that you’re getting the best advice in terms of visa eligibility prior to submitting your application. Not to mention, Parent visas are subject to capping and queuing so essentially, time is of the essence.
If you’re thinking of sponsoring mum and/or dad over to Australia, come and speak to us. We’ll go over your options, circumstances and most importantly, assess the eligibility of both you as the sponsor and your parents as the visa applicants.
Afterall, you really only get one chance to get it right.
