Parent visas
Many migrants who move to Australia and stay permanently sacrifice a lot — careers, friendships, proximity to favorite places. It takes many years to settle confidently in Australia and ensure a great future for yourself and your children. Undoubtedly, one of the hardest decisions migrants make is to leave their parents behind, hoping that one day they will be able to bring them to Australia and reunite as a family.
Having parents in Australia not only provides peace of mind and the opportunity to care for them as they age, but it also offers irreplaceable help with the household and children, fulfilling the ultimate Australian dream.
Australian legislation provides for several types of parent visas — temporary and permanent, which can be applied for onshore or offshore. Parent visas require sponsorship. The sponsor must be 18 years of age or older, an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen, and who is settled in Australia. Usually it is a child who sponsors a parent. However, alternative sponsorship by the child's spouse, relative or guardian on behalf of the child is also possible. The sponsorship must be approved by the Department before the parent can apply for a visa.
We offer a comprehensive service that includes assessing your circumstances, identifying the best parent visa option, assisting with sponsorship approval, arranging assurance of support, and lodging your parent visa application.
Let's take a closer look at the Parent visa options.
The main features distinguishing Parent visas include the period of stay, whether the visa is normal (inexpensive) or contributory (expensive), where the applicant must be when applying and when the visa is granted, whether the applicant must be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia, whether the applicant must meet the balance-of-family test, and whether the applicant must have assurance of support. Additionally, the estimated visa application processing time is a key factor.
We have merged these features into a chart for your convenience. Here are the major differences:
Onshore vs Offshore Visas: Only the visas that have the word 'aged' in their title can be granted while the applicant is in Australia - these are also known as onshore visas. To be eligible for an onshore parent visa, the parent must be 67 years old, which is the current age for receiving a pension in Australia. When a valid application for such a visa is lodged, the parent is entitled for a bridging visa, so they can wait in Australia until the visa is granted. Parents who have not reached 67 years of age can only apply for visas that do not include the word 'aged' in their title (subclass 103, 143, 173, 870). While a parent can apply for a subclass 103, 143, or 173 from within or outside Australia, they must be offshore when the visa is granted. Also, even if the parent applies for a subclass 103, 143, or 173 while in Australia, they will not be entitled to a bridging visa.
Normal vs Contributory Visas: Contributory visas are much more expensive but have significantly shorter processing times. The long processing time for Parent visas is due to the limits set by the Australian government on the total number of Parent visas granted each year. Applications not considered in a given year form a queue for the following years. Contributory Parent visas are divided into temporary and permanent categories. Temporary visas are granted for 2 years and do not require assurance of support. After two years, if the parent wants to apply for a permanent visa, the visa application charge will be reduced by the cost difference between the temporary and permanent visas. This allows the applicant to spread the total cost over a longer period.
Subclass 870 Visa: This visa is for parents who do not wish to stay in Australia permanently but want to stay longer than a Visitor visa allows. It is also suitable for parents who cannot meet the balance-of-family test. Applicants must demonstrate their intention to stay temporarily, have sufficient funds to support themselves, and have adequate health insurance. This visa can be granted for up to 3 or 5 years; however, a person cannot stay in Australia for more than 10 years in total under this visa. There are also conditions to be met when applying for a second or third subclass 870 visa.
Parent Visas Comparison Chart (here )
The sponsor of a parent must be settled in Australia. If the sponsor is a permanent resident, they must also be usually resident in Australia. Not sure what this means? We will assess if you meet the requirements to sponsor your parent.
Expert advice
Although permanent Parent visas entitle the holder to the age pension, parents can only access it after 10 years of residence in Australia, including a requirement of at least 5 years of continuous residence. These residence rules, with some exceptions, apply to all Australian residents regardless of their visa or citizenship status. However, access to Medicare will be available as soon as a Parent visa is granted.
What is the balance-of-family test?
All Parent visas, except for subclass 870, require the applicant to meet the balance-of-family test. This test essentially means that the parent's family connections in Australia must be greater than those in any other country.
For the purposes of the test, Australian legislation defines an "eligible child" as a child who is either:
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An Australian citizen (regardless of where the child lives), or
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An Australian permanent resident who is usually resident in Australia, or
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An eligible New Zealand citizen who is usually resident in Australia.
A parent satisfies the balance-of-family test if:
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The number of eligible children is greater than or equal to the number of ineligible children, or
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The greatest number of ineligible children living in a particular overseas country is less than the number of eligible children.
For example, if a parent has three children, one of whom is eligible, the parent does not meet the test. However, if a parent has five children, two of whom are eligible and three of whom are ineligible but live in three different countries, the parent meets the test.
For the purpose of the balance-of-family test, all living children of the parent and their spouse or partner are considered. This includes birth children, adopted children, step-children, and children from previous marriages or other relationships. Children of a former spouse or partner who are under 18 years of age on the date of the visa application and for whom the applicant has guardianship or custody are also counted for the test.
Children not taken into account include:
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Children who have died by the date of the visa application.
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Children whose parent or guardian status has been terminated by adoption, court order, or operation of law.
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Children registered and living in a refugee camp under the responsibility of UNHCR.
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Children who live in a country where they are subject to persecution or human rights violations and cannot be reunited with their parents in another country.
What is the assurance of support?
To be eligible for a permanent Parent visa, a person must have an approved assurance of support. This involves depositing money with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia for a specified period (the period of assurance). During this time, if the Australian Government pays certain social benefits to the migrant, these payments must be refunded to the Government. The bond ensures that the refund will be made. Assurance of support also applies to some other family visas. The duration and amount of the assurance of support depend on the visa class and the number of assurees.