Parent Visas

Parent Visas

Australian citizens, Permanent Residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens can sponsor their parents to migrate or stay in Australia through several parent visa options, which include both permanent and temporary pathways. The choice depends on a combination of factors including intention to achieve permanent residency, ability to wait for the grant of the visa, and/or affordability.

 

Sponsored Parent Pathway (subclass 870)

  • Temporary visa permitting parents to stay for up to 5 years at at time, renewable for up to 10 years in total. Applicants need to leave and remain overseas for at least 3 months to renew this visa for a second term

  • Does not lead directly to Permanent Residency, but also does not require meeting the Balance of Family Test

  • Need to apply within 60 days of approval of sponsorship (for parents who are onshore) or 6 months (for parents who are offshore)

  • Fees are lower than Contributory Parent Visas (approx. $6,000 for a 3 year or $12,140 for a 5 year visa)

  • Processing times are currently 5 to 7 months

 

Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 173 and 143)

  • Temporary visa (173) with pathway to permanent residency (143)

  • An assurance of support is required unless applying as a retiree

  • Parents “contribute” to anticipated social or medical costs, making this a very expensive visa. Currently the 143 visa costs close to $50,000 per applicant and processing times are approximately 14 years. However the fee is paid in 2 stages, with the majority of the cost paid when the visa is ready to be granted

  • Applicants need to meet the Balance of Family test – at least half of the parent’s children are Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible NZ citizens living in Australia

  • Tip: a child could apply for this visa and then apply for a Sponsored Parent visa after lodging this application to bring the parent to Australia to wait whilst the Contributory Parent Visa is being processed

 

Contributory Aged Parent Visa (subclass 804)

  • Permanent visa allowing the parent to live in Australia indefinitely. A bridging visa (BVA) is granted for onshore applicants enabling them to remain in Australia whilst the visa is being processed.

  • Fees are lower than Contributory Parent Visas (approx. $7,345 for main applicant)

  • Applicants need to meet the Balance of Family test – at least half of the parent’s children are Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible NZ citizens living in Australia

  • The main applicant needs to be 67 years or older, be onshore at time of application and meet health and character requirements

  • An assurance of support is required

  • Processing time is very long (30 years), which means that parents will likely require private health insurance coverage as they won’t be eligible for Medicare until they visa is eventually granted