Parent Visa
Australia offers several types of parent visas for individuals who wish to migrate to Australia to live with their children who are Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens.
Here are the main categories of parent visas:
The Parent Visa (Subclass 103) is a permanent visa for parents who wish to migrate to Australia to live with their children who are Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. This visa allows parents to live in Australia permanently.
The Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143) allows parents of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia permanently. This visa is part of the Contributory Parent Visa program, which has a higher application fee but offers faster processing times compared to non-contributory parent visas.
This visa can be a pathway to Australian citizenship if you meet the eligibility requirements.
You can travel to and from Australia for five years from the date the visa is granted, after which you will need a Resident Return Visa (RRV) to re-enter Australia.
The Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 173) is a temporary visa for the parents of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. It allows parents to stay in Australia for up to two years.
Holders of this visa can apply for the permanent Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143) while in Australia.
You can enroll in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare, once you apply for the Subclass 143 visa.
The Contributory Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 864) allows older parents of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia permanently. This visa has higher application fees but offers faster processing times compared to non-contributory aged parent visas.
The Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 884) allows older parents of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia temporarily. This visa is often used as a pathway to the permanent Contributory Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 864).
You can enroll in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare, once you apply for the Subclass 864 visa.
The Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 804) allows older parents of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia permanently. This visa has a lower application fee compared to contributory parent visas, but the processing time is significantly longer.
Provides a pathway to Australian citizenship if you meet the eligibility requirements.
The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 870) allows parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to visit and stay in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years. This visa can be renewed to allow a cumulative stay of up to 10 years.
You can travel to and from Australia multiple times while the visa is valid.
This visa does not grant work rights in Australia.
| Total number of children | Children living permanently in Australia | Children in country A | Children in country B | Children in country C | Children in country D | Passes test? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Yes |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Yes |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | No |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Yes |
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | No |
| 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | No |
| 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | No |
| 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Yes |
| 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Yes |
| 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | No |
Questions & Answer
What is the "balance of family test"?
What is an Assurance of Support (AoS)?
Can I include my partner in my parent visa application?
What if my sponsor (child) dies during the visa processing?
Can I get Medicare on a parent visa?
Offshore applicants (e.g., Subclass 103, 143): Can travel freely while waiting for the visa decision.