How to Bring Parent and Family to Australia Temporarily: Which Visa Is Right for You?

Bringing your family and parents to Australia is the dream of almost every migrant and international worker. Whether you want your family to visit you, take care of your old parents or you want them to live with you for a few years, there are options for each situation. Australia gives some visa options that match your every need.  Australia has a group of visa options that allow all families to reunite. However, selecting the visa which will be right for you can be confusing. Australia offers many family visa routes and each visa has its own different conditions, time span and eligibility rules.

This Parent & Family Temporary Visa Australia Guide will help you understand the best options. There are a few options to take your parents to Australia temporarily or invite other family members. We will describe the main visa types, their requirements and how to choose the right family visa Australia option for your situation. 

Knowing about the Family Visas in Australia

Australia offers several visa pathways that allow citizens and permanent residents to reunite with family members. These visas come under the Family Migration Program, which has both temporary and permanent visa options for parents and other relatives.  

Family visas may allow:

  • Parents to visit or stay temporarily
  • Partners or spouses to live in Australia
  • Children to join their parents
  • Other dependent relatives to reunite with the family

However, if your purpose is to take parents to Australia temporarily, you should focus on temporary parent visas and visitor visas.  

Why Many Families Choose a Temporary Parent Visa  

Permanent visas in Australia can take a lot of time to process because the number of applications is much higher than the yearly visa allotments.  Because of these long waiting times, many families prefer temporary visas so parents can still spend time in Australia. 

Temporary visas give benefits such as:

  • Faster processing
  • Lower costs compared to permanent visas
  • Flexibility for short-term visits
  • Opportunity to stay for several years

Now let’s see the main visa options available in this Parent & Family Temporary Visa Australia Guide. 

Sponsored Parent Temporary Visa - Subclass 870

The Sponsored Parent or Temporary Visa Subclass 870 is a very popular option for families who want to bring parents to Australia temporarily. This visa allows parents of Australian citizens, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizens to stay in Australia for a longer period than a regular tourist visa. 

Key Features

  • Stay in Australia straight for 3 or 5 years
  • Can be expanded up to 10 years total
  • Parents must be sponsored by their child
  • Does not lead directly to permanent residency

Parents must also leave Australia for at least 90 days before applying for another visa if they reach the maximum stay period.  

Why Should You Choose This Visa?

This visa is best for families who want their parents to live longer than a tourist visa allows them to stay. Also, those who desire multiple years together with family and do not need permanent residency immediately. For many families, this is the best family visa Australia option for temporary meetups.

Visitor Visa Subclass 600 

Another common and popular option to bring your family and parents to Australia is a visitor visa subclass 600. Your parents can visit you for a short period because it gives a temporary option not a permanent one. This visa gives permission for family visit, travel and short stays. 

Main Features of This Visa

  • Stay up to 3, 6, or 12 months
  • Multiple entry options available
  • Suitable for short visits
  • Faster application process

When This Visa Works Best

The visitor visa is ideal if parents want to:

  • Visit children or grandchildren
  • Attend family events
  • Travel around Australia
  • Stay for a few months

This visa is not made for long stays. However, if you want your parents or family to stay for a long time, then go for a Subclass 870 visa. 

Contributory Parent Temporary Visa - Subclass 173

Another temporary option under the family visa Australia system is the Contributory Parent Temporary Visa Subclass 173. This visa allows parents to stay temporarily while waiting for a permanent parent visa.  
Main Features of This Visa 

  • It is a Temporary visa
  • This visa allows parents to stay in Australia during the transition to permanent residency
  • Often used before applying for the Contributory Parent Visa Subclass 143

Who Should Apply For This Visa

Thus visa is usually chosen by the families who: 

  • Plan to apply for permanent residency later
  • Want parents to stay in Australia during the process

However, the costs are higher if you compare them to the other temporary visas.

Contributory Aged Parent Temporary Visa - Subclass 884

The visa subclass 884 is another option for parents who satisfy the age requirement for the Australian pension age. This visa is also for temporary visits; you can not stay longer while holding this visa. 

Key Features of this visa 

  • This visa allows aged parents to stay temporarily in Australia 
  • This visa is usually used before applying for the Contributory Aged Parent Visa Subclass 864
  • The visa subclass 884 requires a sponsor, usually a child living in Australia

This visa is best for families who want to bring older parents to Australia and finally apply for permanent residency.

Basic Eligibility Requirements for Parent Visas

While each visa has its own conditions and needs but most parent visas share some basic eligibility rules. 

To apply for a family visa in Australia, parents must meet these needs listed below: 

  • Parents must be the biological, adoptive or step parent of the sponsor 
  • Parents have a sponsor who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen 
  • Parents satisfy health and character requirements 
  • They pass the balance of the Family Test in some visa categories 
  • They have to show financial support assurance if needed

The Balance of Family Test means that at least half of the applicant’s children must live permanently in Australia.

The Difference Between Temporary and Permanent Visas

Before selecting a visa, it is very important to understand the difference between temporary and permanent options.

 

Temporary Parent Visa

Permanent Parent Visa

It gives a short-term stay

It gives permanent residency

It has faster processing

It has long waiting times

It offers a lower cost

It offers higher visa fees

It does not lead directly to PR

It allows parents to live in Australia permanently

 

For many families, temporary visas are the easiest way to bring parents to Australia temporarily while considering plans for the long term.

How to Select the Right Visa?

When you select a visa, it depends on a few factors that can make it easy for you to select the suitable one.

Some common factors are:  

Length of Stay 

If parents want to stay for a few monts then a visitor visa subclass 600 will be the best option. For some reasons, parents want to stay for years, then a visa subclass 870 will be a suitable option.  

Long Term Plans 

If you plan to live for years and then apply for a PR later, you may think of Contributory Parent visas. This will be the most suitable option for those who want to get a PR. 

Budget 

Some parent visas have high costs and financial commitments. So make sure you get all the information about the visa and its conditions. It will save you from getting rejected in the visa process. 

Processing Time 

Temporary visas usually process faster than permanent parent visas. So if you are trying to get a permanent visa, drop the idea and go for Temporary visas. 

Tips for a Successful Parent Visa Application

If you want to bring parents to Australia temporarily, these tips can help improve your chances of visa approval.

Prepare Complete Documents

Make sure you prepare the complete documents like passports, relationship proof, financial documents and sponsorship forms.

Show Genuine Temporary Intent

If you are applying for a visitor visa, make sure that your parents prove their plan to stay temporarily.

Meet Health Requirements

Medical examinations may be needed. Parents must satisfy the health needs as per the Australian rules and regulations.

Work With a Visa Expert

A migration agent like Jagvimal.au can help avoid these mistakes and help speed up the process.

Conclusion 

Reuniting with the family is one of the most common dreams of every migrant who lives outside their hometown, like in Australia or any other country. To overcome this situation, Australia offers a couple of visa options for families to spend some time together. There are several visa options available that allow families to stay for a long time with their loved ones. We learn about the main pathways available in this Parent & Family Temporary Visa Australia Guide. There are many possibilities if you want to bring your parents to Australia temporarily. The most popular options are the Visitor Visa Subclass 600, which is for short visits. 

If you desire longer temporary stays for your parents, go for a Sponsored Parent Visa Subclass 870. In other cases, the Contributory Parent Temporary Visa Subclass 173 and the Contributory Aged Parent Temporary Visa Subclass 884 are suitable options. When you select the right family visa Australia option, it should always match your family’s goals, finances and long term plans. With good planning and the right visa preference, you can make it possible for your parents to visit Australia and spend valuable time with their family.

FAQ’s

Q. What is the easiest way to bring parents to Australia temporarily?

The easy and good option is usually the Visitor Visa Subclass 600 for short visits. If parents want to stay for a long time, the Sponsored Parent Visa Subclass 870 is usually the best choice.

Q. How long can parents stay in Australia on a temporary visa?

It totally depends on the visa type; parents can stay from a few months up to 5 years on temporary visas like the Subclass 870 visa.

Q. Can parents work in Australia on a temporary parent visa?

Most temporary parent visas do not allow full time work. They are mainly made for the purpose of visiting family members. 

Q. Do parents need a sponsor for a family visa in Australia?

Yes. Most parent visas need a sponsor. It could be your child who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

Q. Can a temporary parent visa lead to permanent residency?

Some temporary visas, like Subclass 173 or Subclass 884, may lead to permanent parent visas later. However, visas like Subclass 870 do not directly lead to permanent residency.

 

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