For countless Australians, the image of their parents holding their grandchildren for the first time on Australian soil, or simply being there for Sunday lunch, is the missing piece of their new life.
The moment you become a permanent resident or citizen of Australia, a new goal often takes hold: the heartfelt desire to share your new life with the people who gave you everything – your parents. Parent visa in Australia offers a formal pathway for parents to join their children permanently or for extended temporary stays.
Before you apply for the visa, learn the subclasses, processing time, fees, and other details that impact your visa application.
Permanent Visas: Two Key Pathways
Australia offers two main streams for permanent Parent Visas, distinguished primarily by cost and processing time: the Non-Contributory stream and the Contributory stream.
Low Cost, Long Wait: Non-Contributory Visas
The Non-Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 103) and the Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 804) offer a significantly lower application fee but come with an extremely long waiting period, often stretching into many years (currently 20+ years in the queue).
| Visa Subclass | Age Requirement | Application Location | Key Feature |
| Parent Visa (Subclass 103) | Under Pension Age | Outside Australia | Longest queue, lowest fee. |
| Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 804) | At/Above Pension Age | Inside Australia | Allows parents to remain in Australia on a bridging visa while waiting. |
High Cost, Faster Grant: Contributory Visas
The Contributory Parent Visas (Subclass 143, 173, 864, 884) require a substantial financial contribution to the Australian government (the second instalment of the Visa Application Charge), which helps offset the costs of health and welfare services for the visa holder. In return, they offer a significantly faster processing time, often a matter of a few years.
- Subclass 143 (Contributory Parent Visa): Permanent visa, generally faster.
- Subclass 864 (Contributory Aged Parent Visa): Permanent visa for parents at/above pension age, lodgable onshore.
- Temporary Contributory Visas (Subclass 173/884): A two-stage pathway to permanent residency, allowing the applicant to pay the large contribution fee in two instalments.
The Perks of Permanent Residency
A permanent Parent Visa provides the foundation for a new life in Australia. Key benefits include:
- Permanent Residency in Australia.
- Access to the government-subsidised healthcare scheme, Medicare.
- The right to work and study in Australia.
- The ability to sponsor other family members in the future.
Temporary Option: Extended Stays
For families who cannot commit to the cost of a Contributory visa or the wait for a Non-Contributory visa, the temporary visa option provides a valuable alternative for long-term visits.
Subclass 870: The Long-Term Visitor Visa
The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 870) allows a parent to visit and stay in Australia for up to three or five years at a time, with a maximum cumulative stay of 10 years.
- No Balance of Family Test: This is a key advantage, as it bypasses the family distribution requirements of the permanent visas.
- Visa Cost: The application fee is significantly higher than a tourist visa but much lower than a Contributory permanent visa.
- Sponsorship: The sponsoring child must meet a minimum household income threshold and assume certain financial obligations.
- No Pathway to PR: Importantly, this visa is purely temporary and does not lead to permanent residency.
Choosing Your Path: Key Decisions
Selecting the right parent visa requires a strategic assessment of your family’s circumstances, finances, and priorities.
The “Choose Wisely” Checklist
Your final choice will come down to a balance between:
- Cost vs. Time: Can you afford the high upfront costs of the Contributory stream for faster processing, or is the lower cost/multi-year queue of the Non-Contributory stream acceptable?
- Age: Is the parent at the Australian pension age? This determines if they are eligible for the onshore “Aged Parent” visas (Subclass 804, 864).
- Family Distribution: Do you pass the Balance of Family Test?
What Is the Balance of Family Test?
The Balance of Family Test is a critical hurdle for all permanent Parent Visas. It requires that at least half of the parent’s children (and step-children) must be Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens usually resident in Australia, OR that more of their children live permanently in Australia than in any other single country.
Who Can Sponsor?
To be an eligible sponsor for any Parent Visa, your child must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen who has been “settled” in Australia. For most permanent Parent Visas, this generally means they must have been lawfully resident in Australia for at least two years. The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 870) has a four-year residency requirement for the sponsor.
Where to Apply: Onshore vs. Offshore
- Onshore Application (in Australia): Only applicants for the Aged Parent Visas (Subclass 804/864/884), who have reached the Australian pension age, may apply while in Australia. This is a significant advantage, as it allows them to remain in Australia on a Bridging Visa while the application is processed.
- Offshore Application (outside Australia): Most non-aged Parent Visa applicants (Subclass 103/143/173) must be outside Australia for the final grant of the visa.
The Application Process: Your Step-by-Step Guide
Getting Your Documents Ready
A perfect application is critical to avoid delays. You’ll need to gather essential documents, including:
- Proof of the Parent-Child relationship (birth certificates).
- Sponsor’s evidence of settled status in Australia.
- Evidence to meet the Balance of Family Test (if applicable).
- Character (police clearance) documents.
Submission to the Department
All visa applications are lodged with the Department of Home Affairs. For Subclass 870, the sponsorship application must be approved before the visa application can be lodged. For permanent visas, the date of lodgement marks your spot in the queue.
The Waiting Game: Processing Times
Processing times for Parent Visas are notoriously long, due to annual caps on the number of visas granted:
- Contributory Parent Visas (Subclass 143/864): The queue can be several years.
- Non-Contributory Parent Visas (Subclass 103/804): The queue can be well over two decades.
- Temporary Visas (Subclass 870): These are generally processed much faster, often within a few months.
Securing Your Financial Future: Assurance of Support (AoS)
For all permanent Parent Visas, an Assurance of Support (AoS) is mandatory. This is a legal commitment by the sponsor (or a third-party Assurer) to financially support the visa applicant and repay any recoverable social security payments they may receive during the assurance period (usually 10 years). The AoS requires a refundable bank guarantee to be lodged with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA).
Health and Character Checks
All applicants must meet the required health and character standards. Applicants will be asked to undergo medical examinations and provide police clearances. This is a crucial, non-negotiable step in the process.
Life After Visa Grant: Setting Up in Australia
What Your Visa Allows: Understanding Conditions
Once the visa is granted, parents must strictly adhere to their visa conditions. Permanent visa holders have the freedom to live, work, and travel, while temporary Subclass 870 holders cannot work and must maintain adequate private health insurance.
Services and Benefits
Permanent visa holders may be eligible for social security benefits after a waiting period, typically 10 years for pensions and certain other payments. Access to Medicare is granted upon arrival.
Becoming a Citizen (Permanent Visa Holders)
After meeting the general residence requirements, parents can apply for Australian Citizenship. The requirements are primarily being a permanent resident for at least four years and having been lawfully present in Australia for 12 months immediately before applying.
Keeping PR Status
Permanent residents have a 5-year travel facility on their visa. To leave and re-enter Australia after this initial period, they will need to either apply for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) or obtain Australian citizenship.
Common Challenges and Solutions
Managing the Emotional and Financial Toll
The long processing times can be emotionally exhausting. Strategies for managing this include:
- The Subclass 870 bridge: Applying for the temporary 870 visa to spend time together while waiting for the permanent visa queue to clear.
- Tourist Visas: Utilising Visitor Visas (Subclass 600) for shorter, regular visits (though the “No Further Stay” condition must be considered).
Budgeting for Success
The total cost of a Contributory Parent Visa can easily exceed AUD $50,000 per parent after factoring in the Visa Application Charge, Assurance of Support bond, health checks, and migration agent fees. Financial planning is essential before you begin the process.
Complex Issues: Health and Character
If a parent has a pre-existing medical condition that may result in significant cost to the Australian community, or a complex character history, these issues must be addressed transparently and accurately. Specialist advice is often required to ensure compliance.
The Flawless Application
The Department of Home Affairs processes applications in the order they were submitted. An incomplete or poorly prepared application can be refused, resulting in the loss of application fees and a further delay in re-lodging, potentially pushing you years back in the queue.
Seeking Expert Guidance: Don’t Go Alone
When is a Migration Agent Essential?
Given the complexity of the Balance of Family Test, the substantial financial commitment, and the long processing queues, professional advice from a registered migration agent can save you immense stress, time, and money by preventing costly errors.
The Value of a Registered Migration Agent
A Registered Migration Agent (RMA) can:
- Thoroughly assess your eligibility for all visa options.
- Help you accurately pass the Balance of Family Test.
- Prepare a complete, decision-ready application to minimise delays.
- Guide you through the Assurance of Support and health/character requirements.
We understand the deep emotional significance of bringing your parents to Australia. eduaid Immigration Services is a Registered Migration Agent with the Migration Agents Registration Authority.
Our team of experienced migration professionals specialises in the intricacies of the Parent Visa subclasses. We offer tailored advice, comprehensive document preparation, and strategic guidance to ensure your application is as strong as possible.
Book a consultation today and take the first confident step towards reuniting your family.