
Australia offers a range of visa options for parents of Australian permanent residents and citizens, allowing them to either move to the country temporarily or permanently. The eligibility criteria and application process for these visas vary, with some requiring an Assurance of Support (AoS) and others involving a two-stage process with a temporary visa granted initially. The subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa is a popular option, allowing parents to stay in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years. To determine the best visa option, it is recommended to seek professional advice and carefully review the requirements and restrictions of each visa type.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Visa type | Permanent or temporary |
| Visa subclass | 103, 143, 173, 884, 864, 870, 600, 601, 651 |
| Applicant's children | Australian citizens or permanent residents, eligible New Zealand citizens |
| Applicant's children (additional) | More of the applicant's children live in Australia than in any other country |
| Applicant's children (additional) | Applicant's child must have resided in Australia for at least two years |
| Applicant's age | 18 or above |
| Sponsor | Applicant's child, child's spouse or de facto partner, another eligible relative or a community organisation |
| Sponsor (additional) | Can sponsor no more than two parents per household at any one time |
| Sponsor's age | 18 or above |
| Applicant's health | Must have a chest x-ray and a medical examination as proof of good health |
| Applicant's finances | Must hold and maintain health insurance from an Australian provider |
| Sponsor's finances | Must provide assurance of support (AoS) |
| Visa fees | $4,765 for the main applicant, $1,605 for the dependent partner, $5,000 or $10,000 for the second instalment charge depending on the visa length |
| Visa fees (additional) | $43,600 per applicant to be paid as a contributory fee |
| Visa processing time | Up to 30 years |
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What You'll Learn

Temporary and permanent visa options
There are several visa options for parents of eligible sponsors that may lead to permanent residency in Australia. The visa options available to you will depend on your circumstances.
The subclass 870 Sponsored Parent temporary visa allows parents to remain in Australia for a period of 3 or 5 years. The subclass 405 Investor Retirement visa and subclass 410 Retirement visa also allow parents to stay in Australia for a period of time. The subclass 600 visa allows for stays of up to 12 months, while subclasses 601 (ETA) and 651 (eVisitor) visas permit stays of up to 3 months.
The Contributory Parent visa is a two-stage process, with a provisional visa granted first for a period of two years. The second stage of the application is applied for before the provisional visa expires, where you can apply for the permanent stage and pay the balance of the fees. The Contributory Parent visa subclass 173/884 and subclass 143/864 allow parents to work in Australia without restrictions. The subclass 103 Parent visa is another permanent visa option that lets a parent move to Australia if more of their children live in Australia than in any other country.
The Parent Visa enables parents of children who are Australian citizens or permanent residents to be sponsored for permanent residence in Australia. However, the Parent visa migration program is capped and queued, with some visa types having long processing times of up to 30 years.
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Visa application fees
To apply for permanent residency in Australia for your parents, they must have a child who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen settled in Australia. The child must obtain government clearance as a parent sponsor and meet certain requirements, including having a taxable income of AUD 83,454 for the previous financial year and passing police checks.
Regarding visa application fees, the costs can vary depending on the specific type of parent visa being applied for. Here are the fees for some common parent visa options:
- Subclass 103: This is the standard parent visa, which allows parents to live permanently in Australia. The current fee for this visa is AUD 4,785.
- Subclass 173: This visa allows parents to live in Australia temporarily for up to two years. The fee for this visa is AUD 2,460.
- Subclass 870: The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa has a fee of AUD 5,000.
- Subclass 884: The Contributory Aged Parent Temporary visa costs AUD 20,450.
- Subclass 864: For the Contributory Aged Parent Permanent visa, the fee is AUD 36,500.
- Subclass 804: The Aged Parent visa has a fee of AUD 4,350.
It is important to note that these fees are subject to change and may not include additional charges or surcharges. For instance, if your application has an urgent deadline and requires additional resources, a surcharge may be applied to the management fee. In case of a refusal, an appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) costs $3,496.
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Visa requirements
The visa requirements for parents to obtain permanent residency in Australia depend on their circumstances and eligibility. The Parent Visa program is capped and queued, with some visa types having long processing times of up to 30 years. The visa application process can be complex, and it is recommended to seek professional advice.
There are several visa options available for parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents. The most suitable visa option will depend on the specific circumstances and intentions of the applicant. The visa options include:
- Subclass 103 Parent Visa: This permanent visa is for parents who have more children living in Australia than in any other country.
- Subclass 143 Contributory Parent Visa: This visa allows parents to live in Australia permanently if their child is a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa: This visa allows parents to stay in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years and requires a second instalment charge of $5,000 or $10,000, respectively.
- Subclass 173/884 and Subclass 143/864 Contributory Parent Visas: These visas allow parents to work in Australia without restrictions and have a two-stage application process, with a provisional visa granted initially for two years, followed by the permanent stage upon payment of the balance of fees.
To be eligible for a Parent Visa, applicants must meet certain requirements. These include:
- Having a child who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Meeting the 'balance of family' test, which requires that at least half of the applicant's children reside in Australia or that more children live in Australia than in any other single country.
- Being sponsored by their child or their child's spouse/de facto partner, who must be over 18 years old and have lived in Australia for at least two years.
- Holding health insurance from an Australian provider for the intended period of stay in Australia.
- Providing an Assurance of Support (AoS), which is a legal commitment from an individual or organisation to provide financial support to the applicant.
- Paying the visa application fees, which are $4,765 for the main applicant and $1,605 for the dependent partner, in addition to the contributory fee of $43,600 per applicant.
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Visa processing times
The processing times for Australian visas for parents vary depending on the type of visa and individual circumstances. Here are some key points regarding visa processing times:
Parent Migration Visa
The Parent Migration Visa is a cap-driven visa, which means there is a limit to the number of visas granted each year. This can result in longer processing times, with reported wait times of up to 31 years for a general aged parent visa and 14 years for a contributory parent visa. The cost of the visa also varies, with the general aged parent visa costing $5,125 and the contributory parent visa costing $48,495. However, these long wait times have been criticised as "cruel and unnecessary".
Temporary Parent Visa
The Temporary Parent Visa allows parents to stay in Australia for a shorter period, typically up to two years. The Subclass 173 visa, for instance, lets parents live in Australia for up to two years if they have a child who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. To be eligible for this visa, applicants must not hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 870) visa and must meet other requirements such as having sufficient funds and health insurance.
Permanent Parent Visa
The Permanent Parent Visa, also known as the Aged Parent Visa, allows parents to move to Australia permanently. To be eligible, applicants must be over 67 years old and already in Australia when applying. The waiting time for this visa is approximately 30 years. Applicants are granted a bridging visa during the processing period, allowing them to remain in Australia.
Skilled Visa Options
If the parent has specific skills, they may be eligible for skilled visas such as the Skilled Independent (Subclass 189) Visa or the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 visa. The processing time for the Subclass 189 visa is approximately 8-9 months, while the Subclass 491 visa takes around 12-14 months. These visas are points-tested, and the invitation to apply is linked to the applicant's job code and points scored on the Australian immigration points system.
Other Considerations
It is important to note that visa processing times are subject to change and can be affected by various factors, including changes in government policies and resource availability. Additionally, there may be additional costs beyond the visa application fee, such as those for police certificates, health checks, and biometrics. Seeking professional assistance from an immigration lawyer or agent can help ensure a smooth application process and potentially expedite the visa processing time.
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Visa sponsorship
To sponsor your parents for a visa, you must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen settled in Australia. You must also obtain government clearance as a parent sponsor before your parents can apply for a visa. This involves meeting certain requirements, such as:
- Having a taxable income of at least AUD 83,454 for the previous financial year or a combined income with your spouse or de facto partner of AUD 83,454.
- Undergoing the necessary police checks.
- Having no public health or Commonwealth debts.
- Being prepared to financially support and house your parents in Australia.
As a sponsor, you can only sponsor up to two parents per household at any one time. Additionally, your parents must meet certain core requirements, including:
- Having sufficient funds to cover their expenses during their stay in Australia.
- Holding health insurance from an Australian provider for the duration of their visit.
- Meeting health, character, and other public interest requirements.
There are both temporary and permanent visa options available for parents. The subclass 173 visa, for example, allows parents to live in Australia for up to two years, after which they can apply for a permanent visa. The subclass 143 visa, on the other hand, is a permanent visa that lets parents live in Australia permanently. Another option is the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 870) visa, which allows parents to visit Australia for up to 3 or 5 years and can be renewed multiple times to stay for a maximum of 10 years.
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Frequently asked questions
The eligibility criteria for a parent visa in Australia include:
- The applicant must be a parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- The sponsor must have spent at least two years living in Australia.
- The applicant must meet the 'balance of family' test, which requires that at least half of their children reside in Australia or that more of their children live in Australia than in any other country.
- The applicant must be at least 18 years old.
- The applicant must hold and maintain health insurance from an Australian provider for their intended period of stay.
There are several types of parent visas available, including:
- Subclass 103 Parent Visa: A permanent visa for parents who meet the 'balance of family' test.
- Subclass 143 Contributory Parent Visa: A permanent visa that requires a higher application fee for faster processing.
- Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa: A temporary visa that allows parents to stay in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years.
- Subclass 600 Visa: A temporary visa that allows for stays of up to 12 months.
- Subclasses 601 (ETA) and 651 (eVisitor) Visas: Temporary visas that allow for stays of up to 3 months.
The application process for a parent visa in Australia typically involves the following steps:
- Determine eligibility: Review the eligibility criteria and consult with a migration agent or lawyer to assess your eligibility.
- Gather required documents: Collect all the necessary documents, such as passports, birth certificates, health insurance, and proof of relationship.
- Complete the application form: Fill out the 'Parent Category Residence Application' form accurately and provide all the required information.
- Pay the application fee: The fee varies depending on the type of visa and the number of dependents.
- Wait for processing: The processing time can vary from a few months to several years, depending on the visa type and the volume of applications.
The costs involved in applying for a parent visa in Australia include:
- Application fees: The visa application fee for a contributory parent visa is $4,765 for the main applicant and $1,605 for a dependent partner.
- Contributory fee: A contributory fee of $43,600 per applicant must be paid before the visa is granted. This is requested after health and police checks are completed.
- Assurance of Support (AoS): An AoS is required for permanent parent category visas. It is a legal commitment from an individual or organization to provide financial support to the applicant.
- Sponsorship costs: The sponsor may need to cover certain expenses, such as the cost of sponsoring and any related legal or migration agent fees.



























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