Parent visas enable Australian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor their parents' immigration to the country. Parents who pass the family balance test are eligible for parent visas. Parents must have at least half of their children living in Australia in order to qualify for this. This implies that if you are an Australian citizen and you have a single sibling living abroad, you are able to sponsor your parents; however, if you have two siblings living abroad, you are unable to do so.
It is always welcome for parents to apply for a visitor visa in order to travel to Australia.
Before you can officially sponsor your parents' visa application, you must be a resident of Australia for a minimum of two years. Additionally, you have to promise in writing to help your parents out financially and with support during their first two years in Australia.
Parent visas come in several varieties. Parent visas are separated into three categories: place (i.e., whether your parents are currently in Australia or abroad), age (alternative visas are available for parents over 67), and ability to pay for medical costs at the time the visa is granted. Parent visas can also be permanent or provisional, indicating that they are visas that lead to permanent residency.
Non-contributory visa processing delays are exorbitant, typically taking up to 30 years. This is because the Australian government only issues a small number of Parent visas annually, and there are now a lot of people on the waiting list for the limited visas that are available.
The Australian government introduced the Contributory Parent visa in 2003. Before the visa is approved, applicants or their sponsors may pay the Australian government a flat amount of approximately AUD $43,000 for each parent. This payment is expected to support ongoing medical costs in Australia.
But currently, there is a six-year waiting period for Contributory Parent visas.
Your parents may apply for an Aged Parent or an Aged Contributory Parent visa if they are retired, over 67, and are in Australia on a Visitor visa. Your parents will be issued a bridging visa upon filing for the visa, allowing them to stay in Australia while the application is being processed.
Your parents are not eligible to apply for an on-shore Aged Parent visa if they are not in Australia or if they are not older than 67. They can apply for a visitor's visa and travel there, but they will have to wait for the parent visa to be approved if they also file for an offshore contributing parent visa.
We invite you to get in touch with us and schedule a consultation in order to learn more about this approach and receive general guidance.
Parents of an established Australian citizen, permanent resident, or qualifying New Zealand citizen may enter Australia for a maximum of two years at a time with the Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173). For the term of the visa, a parent is permitted to reside, work, and study in Australia with this temporary visa.
Sponsor:
You must be sponsored by an eligible child who is:
Family Balance Test:
You must meet the balance-of-family test. This means:
Location:
The processing timeframe for a Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 173) for offshore applicants can be quite lengthy. Unlike some other visas, the Department of Home Affairs doesn't publish specific processing times for this category due to variations depending on application complexity and overall workload. However, information suggests waiting periods can exceed 3 years.
To stay updated on the latest processing trends, you can consult the Department's webpage on "Visa processing times - Parent visas queue release dates." This resource provides information on how long applications lodged before a certain date are taking, offering a general idea of the current processing speed. For the most accurate and personalized estimate, contacting a registered migration agent is highly recommended. They have access to the latest information from the Department and can consider your specific circumstances to provide a more precise timeframe.
Visa Application Charges: The Australian Government charges a two-part application fee. The first installment is payable at the time of application and the second is requested later in the process. The total cost for the visa application charges can vary depending on the number of family members included in your application, but it generally falls in the range of $3,000 to $4,500 AUD.
Balance of Payment Bond: This is a substantial financial contribution you, as the sponsor, are required to make to the Australian government. The current bond amount is $29,130 AUD per applicant (you and your spouse, if applicable). This bond is refunded once your parents have spent ten years permanently residing in Australia.
If you are the parent of Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens, or settled permanent residents, you may be qualified to apply for the Contributory Parent Visa Subclass 143. Your child may be adopted, step-adopted, or your biological child. With this permanent resident visa, you are able to dwell in Australia for an extended length of time.
It is advisable that you acquaint yourself with all of your possible visa possibilities, as there are a minimum of six more parent visa types.
Sponsor:
Family Balance Test:
You must meet the balance-of-family test. This means:
Location:
Unfortunately, the processing times for the Contributory Parent (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 143) are notoriously long. The Department of Home Affairs doesn't publish specific wait times for this visa category as they can vary depending on application complexity and overall workload. However, information suggests processing times can stretch well beyond 12 years.
To get a sense of the current queue movement, you can visit the Department's webpage on "Visa processing times - Parent visas queue release dates." This resource shows the dates up to which they've processed applications for this visa. While it doesn't give a specific timeframe for your application, it can provide a general idea of how long applications are currently taking.
For the most accurate and personalized estimate on processing times, consulting a registered migration agent is highly recommended. They have access to the latest information from the Department and can consider your specific circumstances, such as your application lodgement date, to provide a more precise timeframe.
The Contributory Parent (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 143) involves a significant financial investment. There are two main cost components to consider:
Visa Application Charges: The Australian Government charges a visa application fee. This fee is payable at the time of application and can vary depending on the number of family members included in your application. It typically falls in the range of $4,500 to $6,000 AUD.
Contributory Payment: This is the major financial hurdle of the Subclass 143 visa. It's a substantial contribution you, as the sponsor, are required to make to the Australian government. The current contributory payment amount is $43,600 AUD per applicant (you and your spouse, if applicable). This payment is not refundable.
The aging parent of an established Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or qualifying New Zealand resident may visit Australia temporarily with the Contributory aging Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 884). At the time of your visa application, you must be in Australia.
Location:
Sponsor:
Age:
Balance of Family Test:
You must meet the balance-of-family test. This means:
Previous Visa:
No Further Stay Condition:
Health and Character:
Financial Support:
The processing times for the Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 884) can be quite lengthy, especially for onshore applicants. The Department of Home Affairs doesn't publish specific wait times due to variations in application complexity and workload. However, sources suggest processing can take up to 1.5 to 2 years.
Unfortunately, there's no reliable way to track your specific application's progress within the queue. While the Department provides "Visa processing times - Parent visas queue release dates" for other parent visa subclasses, this information isn't available for Subclass 884.
For the most up-to-date information and guidance on processing timelines, consulting a registered migration agent is recommended. They can access internal details and assess your individual circumstances to provide a more personalized estimate on how long your application might take.
The Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 884) comes with a two-part financial commitment. While it's generally considered less expensive than the permanent Contributory Parent visa option, there are still significant costs to consider:
Visa Application Charges: The Australian Government charges an application fee. This fee is typically in the range of $4,000 to $5,000 AUD and can vary depending on the number of family members included in your application.
Contributory Payments: Subclass 884 is a two-step process. The first stage involves a lower upfront payment. You'll need to pay an initial instalment of around $4,100 AUD. After a processing period, which can take up to 2 years, there's a second and much larger instalment. This final contribution sits around $29,130 AUD.
For elderly parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or qualifying citizens of New Zealand who want to visit Australia to be with their family, there is a Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent Visa. With the help of this visa, elderly parents can live, work, and study permanently in Australia.
The contributing component of the Subclass 864 visa, which requires the payment of substantial visa application fees, is a crucial component, just like it is in the Subclass 143 contributing Parent Visa. On the other hand, compared to parent visas that are not contributing, this contribution leads to quicker processing timeframes (Subclass 804).
Once approved, this visa gives elderly parents access to social security payments, healthcare, and the ability to seek for Australian citizenship, among other advantages of permanent residency in Australia. It also gives elderly parents the opportunity to live a high-quality life with their loved ones and fully integrate into Australian culture.
Age:
You must be of an age where you would be eligible to receive the Australian Age Pension (currently 66 years old or above).
Sponsor:
Balance of Family Test:
Previous Visa:
Health and Character:
You must meet health requirements. This may involve medical examinations and chest x-rays.
Financial Support:
The processing times for the Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 864) can be quite lengthy due to high demand and a capped application system. The Department of Home Affairs doesn't publish specific wait times for this visa category, as processing speeds fluctuate depending on workload and the number of applications already lodged. Information suggests processing times can be substantial, potentially exceeding 3 years.
Unfortunately, there's no reliable way to track the progress of your specific application within the queue. The Department's "Visa processing times - Parent visas queue release dates" resource, helpful for other parent visas, doesn't provide information for Subclass 864.
For the most up-to-date guidance on processing timelines, consulting a registered migration agent is highly recommended. They can access internal details and assess your individual circumstances, such as your sponsor's eligibility and the lodgement date, to provide a more personalized estimate on how long your Subclass 864 application might take.
The Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent) Visa (Subclass 864) signifies a significant financial investment for both the applicant and their sponsor. There are two main cost hurdles to consider:
Visa Application Charges: Similar to other parent visas, the Australian Government charges an application fee. This fee is typically in the range of $4,500 to $6,000 AUD and can vary depending on the number of family members included in your application.
Contributory Payment: This is the major financial commitment of the Subclass 864 visa. It's a substantial contribution your sponsor must make to the Australian government. The current contributory payment is a hefty $43,600 AUD per applicant (you and your spouse, if applicable). Unlike the temporary aged parent visa (Subclass 884), this payment is not refundable.
Applying for the Aged Parent Visa Subclass 804 may enable a parent to remain permanently in Australia with their children. But for some, the application procedure is intimidating and complicated. Obtaining knowledgeable and competent assistance is crucial to ensuring that the strongest case is made on your behalf.
Age: You must be of an age where you would be eligible to receive the Australian Age Pension (currently 66 years old or above).
Sponsor:
Balance of Family Test:
Health and Character:
Assurance of Support:
The processing times for the Aged Parent Visa (Permanent) (Subclass 804) are unfortunately quite lengthy and famously unpredictable. Unlike many visa categories, the Department of Home Affairs doesn't publish specific processing times for Subclass 804. This is because the queue for this visa can be extensive, and processing is largely dependent on the number of applications already lodged. Information suggests waiting times can range anywhere from 13 to a staggering 30 years.
While there's no reliable way to track your specific application's progress, the Department does provide a resource called "Parent visa queue release dates" for other parent visa subclasses. While not directly applicable to Subclass 804, this information can offer a general idea of how quickly applications are currently being processed.
For the most accurate and up-to-date guidance on processing timelines, consulting a registered migration agent is highly recommended. They can access internal details and assess your individual circumstances to provide a more personalized estimate on how long your application might take.
The Aged Parent Visa (Permanent) (Subclass 804) is considered the most affordable pathway for permanent residency for aged parents, but it's not without its financial requirements. Here's a breakdown of the main costs to consider:
Visa Application Charges: The Australian Government charges a visa application fee, typically in the range of $3,000 to $4,000 AUD. This fee can vary depending on the number of family members included in your application.
Assurance of Support Bond: This is a significant financial commitment for your sponsor. They will need to provide a bond to the Australian government as a guarantee of your financial support for ten years after arrival. The current bond amount sits around $18,600 AUD per applicant (you and your spouse, if applicable). This bond is refunded once the ten-year period is over.
A parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident of Australia, or eligible citizen of New Zealand may enter Australia for a maximum of three (3) or five (5) years using the Subclass 870 temporary visa.
It gives parents and grandparents a possibility to come back together and spend time together for up to five years straight in Australia.
Sponsor:
You must be sponsored by an eligible child who is:
Family Balance Test:
You must meet the balance-of-family test. This means:
Location:
Health and Character:
Financial Support:
No Work Rights:
The processing times for the Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 884) can be quite lengthy, especially for onshore applicants. The Department of Home Affairs doesn't publish specific wait times due to variations in application complexity and overall workload. However, sources suggest processing can take anywhere from 1.5 to 2 years. Unlike some visas, the Department doesn't publish specific processing times for Subclass 884.
The Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 884) offers a more affordable path to reunite with your parents in Australia compared to the permanent Contributory Parent visa option. However, it's not without its financial requirements. Here's a breakdown of the key costs to consider:
Visa Application Charges: The Australian Government charges an application fee, typically in the range of $4,000 to $5,000 AUD. This fee can vary depending on the number of family members included in your application.
Contributory Payments: Unlike permanent visas, Subclass 884 involves a staged payment process. You'll need to pay an initial instalment of around $4,100 AUD upfront. After a processing period that can take up to 2 years, there's a significantly larger second instalment of around $29,130 AUD.
You can apply for a visa to join your child or children if they are currently residing in Australia. The Subclass 103 Visa is one of the parent visas for Australia, enabling permanent residency and the potential to seek for citizenship at a later date.
One of the main disadvantages of this permanent visa is its lengthy processing period, even if it has several advantages. Although there are expedited parent visa options available for Australia, the cost of these visas is significantly higher.
Sponsor:
You must be sponsored by an eligible child who is:
Family Balance Test:
Location:
Health and Character:
Financial Support:
Processing Time for Subclass 103:
Unfortunately, the processing times for the Parent Visa (Subclass 103) are notoriously long due to a capped application system and high demand. The Department of Home Affairs doesn't publish specific wait times for this visa because processing speeds can fluctuate based on workload and the number of applications already lodged. However, information suggests processing times can be exceptionally lengthy, potentially stretching well beyond 13 years.
To gain some insight into the current processing queue movement, you can visit the Department's webpage on "Visa processing times - Parent visas queue release dates." This resource shows the dates up to which they've processed applications for this visa. While it doesn't provide a specific timeframe for your application, it can offer a general idea of how long applications are currently taking.
For the most accurate and personalized estimate on processing times, consulting a registered migration agent is highly recommended. They can access internal details and assess your specific circumstances, such as your sponsor's residency status and the lodgement date of any previous applications, to provide a more tailored timeframe for your Subclass 103 visa.
The cost of obtaining a Parent Visa (Subclass 103) involves two main components: visa application charges and potential health check and character check fees. While significantly less expensive than contributory parent visas, there are still costs to consider.
Visa Application Charges: The Australian Government charges a two-part application fee for Subclass 103. The first installment is payable at the time of application and the second is requested later in the process. The total cost can vary depending on the number of family members included in your application, but it generally falls in the range of $4,990 to $6,100 AUD.
Health and Character Checks: These are mandatory requirements for the application process. The cost for health checks can vary depending on the healthcare provider you choose, but it typically falls within a few hundred dollars. Character check fees also vary depending on the countries you have resided in for extended periods.
In conclusion, while sponsoring your parents' immigration to Australia can be a complex process, there are clear pathways to achieve this goal. Understanding the family balance test, your residency status, and the different visa options (permanent vs. temporary, onshore vs. offshore, age-related considerations) is crucial for a successful application. If you're unsure which visa best suits your parents' situation, consulting a registered migration agent can ensure a smooth and successful journey for your family's reunion in Australia.
Both are permanent parent visas, but subclass 864 (Contributory Aged Parent) is for parents over the pension age (66+) and offers a two-step application process. Subclass 143 (Contributory Parent) is for any age parent but has a higher upfront cost.
These visas allow permanent residency for parents to reunite with settled children in Australia. Explore options like subclass 143, 103 (sponsored), or 864 (aged parents).
Subclass 103 (Parent Visa) is a more affordable permanent residency option but has longer processing times compared to contributory visas.
Subclass 143 (Contributory Parent Visa) is a permanent visa with faster processing but a higher application fee.
Yes, parent migration visas (103, 143, or 864) offer permanent residency pathways for parents to live in Australia long-term.
Subclass 103 is a permanent visa for sponsored parents, with a lower cost but longer processing times compared to contributory options.
The "best" visa depends on your situation. Jagvimal Consultants can advise on factors like age, budget, and processing time to find the most suitable option for your parents.
.png)
