Parent visas in Australia allow parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia on a permanent basis. These visas are designed to reunite parents with their children who are settled in Australia. There are several parent visa subclasses, and each has specific eligibility criteria and requirements. Here are some key parent visa options:
Contributory Parent Visa
(Subclass 143/173 and Subclass 864/884):
These are permanent parent visas that require a significant financial contribution. They are processed faster than non-contributory parent visas.
Subclass 143 (Contributory Parent Visa) is for parents who are outside Australia.
Subclass 173 (Contributory Parent (Temporary) is a temporary visa for parents who wish to live in Australia for a shorter period while waiting for their permanent visa.
Subclass 864 (Contributory Aged Parent) and Subclass 884 (Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary)) are for parents who meet the age requirement for an aged pension in Australia.
Non-Contributory Parent Visa
(Subclass 103 & Subclass 804):
These are permanent parent visas that do not require a substantial financial contribution but have significantly longer processing times.
Subclass 103 (Parent) is for parents who are outside Australia.
Subclass 804 (Aged Parent) is for parents who meet the age requirement for an aged pension in Australia.
Contributory Parent (Temporary)
Visa (Subclass 870):
This is a temporary parent visa that allows parents to stay in Australia for extended periods in multiple 5-year increments.
It is a pathway to the Contributory Parent (Permanent) visa subclasses 143 and 864.
Key Requirements for Parent Visas:
You must be sponsored by an eligible child who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
You must meet the balance of the family test, which requires that at least half of your children live in Australia or more of your children live in Australia than in any other single country.
You must meet health and character requirements.
Depending on the specific visa subclass, you may need to meet age requirements, pass a means test, and pay a visa application charge.
For contributory parent visas, you must make a substantial financial contribution, which is significantly higher than the non-contributory parent visas.
