Parent Visa Australia

Parent visa (subclass 103)

The subclass 103 is a permanent visa for a parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. It generally involves lower government visa charges than a contributory parent visa, but it is subject to capping and queueing and has a substantially longer estimated processing period.

This is normally treated as an offshore pathway. Applicants should confirm the location requirements that apply when lodging and when the Department is ready to decide the application.

Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143)

The subclass 143 is a permanent visa in the contributory parent category. It has a substantially higher government cost than subclass 103, including a significant second visa application charge, but more places are generally available to the contributory category.

An applicant may apply directly for subclass 143 or, where suitable, use the two-stage subclass 173 to subclass 143 pathway. The two-stage route spreads parts of the visa application charges across two applications, but it also requires a further application and compliance with the relevant time limits.

Aged Parent visa (subclass 804)

The subclass 804 is a permanent onshore visa for a parent who meets the age requirement. The applicant must be in Australia and able to make a valid application. A visitor visa condition such as condition 8503, or another legal restriction on applying in Australia, may prevent a valid onshore application.

Lodging an onshore application does not give an applicant unrestricted travel rights. Any bridging visa, travel permission and access to Medicare or other services must be considered separately.

Contributory Aged Parent visas (subclasses 864 and 884)

The subclass 864 is the permanent contributory aged-parent option. The subclass 884 is its temporary first stage and can be followed by a subclass 864 application, subject to the relevant requirements and time limits.

These pathways require the main applicant to meet the age requirement and be eligible to apply in Australia. They carry higher government charges than subclass 804 but sit within the contributory parent category, which currently has a shorter estimated queue than the non-contributory Parent and Aged Parent categories.

Assurance of Support

An Assurance of Support is a legal commitment to support the visa applicant and repay specified recoverable social security payments if required during the assurance period. The Department advises when it is required, and Services Australia assesses the proposed assurance.

Permanent contributory parent visas generally carry a 10-year Assurance of Support period. Other permanent parent visas generally carry a four-year period. The assurer does not have to be the sponsor, but must meet the applicable requirements. Temporary contributory parent visas and subclass 870 do not use an Assurance of Support.

An eligible and settled sponsor

For the permanent Parent and Contributory Parent categories, the sponsoring child will generally need to be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who is settled in Australia. In most cases, being settled means lawfully resident in Australia for a reasonable period, usually at least two years, although the assessment depends on the circumstances.

Subclass 870 uses a separate Parent Sponsor approval process with its own relationship, residence, income and sponsorship requirements.

Balance of Family test

Applicants for subclasses 103, 143, 173, 804, 864 and 884 must pass the Balance of Family test. A parent passes if:

• at least half of their children and stepchildren are eligible children;

• there are more eligible children living in Australia than in any other single country.

The test does not apply to subclass 870.

Health and character requirements

Applicants and relevant family members must meet the health and character requirements that apply to their visa. Because queued applications can remain undecided for many years, the Department may request updated checks or documents later in the process.

An eligible parent-child relationship

The applicant must be the parent of an eligible sponsor. Depending on the pathway, this can include a biological, legal or adoptive parent or, in specified circumstances, a step-parent or parent-in-law. Relationship and identity documents must support the family connection claimed in the application.

The first visa application charge paid at lodgement;

A second visa application charge before grant, where applicable;

A separate sponsorship application charge for subclass 870;

Health examinations, police certificates, translations and document preparation;

An Assurance of Support and bank guarantee for relevant permanent pathways; and

Professional fees where assistance is requested.

1. Compare the pathways. Check the parent's age, location, visa conditions, family composition, cost tolerance and intended length of stay.

2. Confirm sponsorship eligibility. Review the sponsor's status, residence, relationship documents and any subclass-specific requirements.

3. Work through the Balance of Family test. Count all relevant children and stepchildren under the Department's rules before choosing a permanent parent pathway.

4. Check onshore application restrictions. Confirm whether the applicant can make a valid application in Australia and whether any No Further Stay or other restriction applies.

5. Prepare the application evidence. This commonly includes identity, relationship, sponsorship, family-composition, health and character documents.

6. Lodge the correct application. Most permanent parent applications follow the Department's specified Parent Visa Centre process, while subclass 870 uses an online sponsorship-first process.

7. Keep the application current. Notify the Department of relevant changes and respond to requests for updated documents during the queue and final-assessment stages.

8. Complete later-stage requirements. Pay any requested second charge and arrange an Assurance of Support where required before grant.

Choosing an onshore aged-parent pathway without first checking the applicant's visa conditions and ability to lodge in Australia

Assuming a long-validity visitor visa or a subclass 870 application will automatically lead to permanent residence

Calculating the Balance of Family test without including all children and relevant stepchildren

Treating the sponsor and assurer as if they must always be the same person

Budgeting only for the first visa charge and overlooking the second charge, Assurance of Support and related expenses

Using old queue estimates as if they were guaranteed processing dates

Missing changes in family circumstances, passport details, address or contact information during a long queue period

Applying for subclass 870 without considering how its application restrictions may affect a later Parent visa strategy