Parent Visas

Parent visas are a great option for families wishing to reunite in Australia, but navigating the requirements and timelines can be complex.

Eligibility Requirements

Balance of Family Test (required for most parent visas):

At least half of the applicant’s children must be "settled" in Australia as citizens or permanent residents. Example: If there are three children, at least two must live in Australia.

Sponsorship:

Sponsors must be Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens.
They must have lived in Australia for at least 2 years before applying and commit to supporting their parents financially for the first 2 years after arrival.

Types of Parent Visas

Parent visas are divided by several factors:

Age:

Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 804): For parents aged 67 or older and retired, allowing them to apply while in Australia.

Location:

o Onshore Visas: Available if the parent is already in Australia on a Visitor visa.

o Offshore Visas: For parents applying from outside Australia.

Financial Contribution:

o Contributory Parent Visas: Require a large upfront payment (around AUD $43,000 per parent) to cover medical and social costs.

o Non-Contributory Visas: Much cheaper but have much longer processing times (up to 30 years).

Provisional vs. Permanent:

o Provisional visas allow temporary residency, transitioning to permanent residency later.

Processing Times

· Non-Contributory Visas: Approximately 30 years due to limited quotas.

· Contributory Parent Visas: Around 6 years, but involve significant financial contributions.

Types of Parent Visas

The Parent (Subclass 103) Visa is a pathway for parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to gain permanent residency in Australia.

Key Features of Subclass 103 Visa

1. Purpose: Allows eligible parents to live permanently in Australia with their child who is settled in Australia.

2. Sponsorship Requirement: The child or an eligible sponsor (such as the spouse of the child, a relative, or a community organization) must sponsor the applicant.

Eligibility Criteria

For Visa Applicants:

· Child's Residency Status: The applicant's child must be:

o An Australian citizen, permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.

· Balance-of-Family Test: At least half of the applicant's children must live permanently in Australia, or more of the applicant's children live in Australia than in any other single country.

· Health and Character Requirements: Applicants and family members must meet Australian health and character standards.

· Sponsorship: A sponsor must be confirmed and willing to support the parents.

Benefits

· Permanent residency, allowing indefinite stay in Australia.

· Eligibility to work, study, and access healthcare through Medicare.

· Ability to sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence.

· Pathway to Australian citizenship (after fulfilling residency requirements).

· Freedom to travel to and from Australia for five years from the visa grant date.

Processing Time

Currently, the processing time for the Subclass 103 Visa is around 30 years, making it a long-term option.

Additional Notes

· Due to the extended processing time, applicants may consider alternative parent visa options, such as the Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143), which has a shorter processing time but higher costs

The Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 804) offers aged parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens an opportunity to live in Australia permanently. It is particularly suitable for those who meet the age and family eligibility criteria but prefer a lower application fee and are willing to wait through the longer processing times compared to contributory parent visas.

Key Features of the Subclass 804 Visa:

· Permanent residency: Enables the visa holder to live indefinitely in Australia.

· Non-contributory: Lower application fees, but significantly longer processing times.

· Eligibility for Medicare: After applying, you may become eligible for Medicare while awaiting visa approval.

· Inclusion of dependents: Allows inclusion of certain family members in the application.

Eligibility Requirements:

1. Sponsorship:

o You must be sponsored by your child, who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.

o If your child is under 18, an alternative eligible sponsor (e.g., a community organization) is required.

2. Balance of Family Test:

o At least half of your children (including stepchildren) must be Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens, OR

o You must have more eligible children in Australia than in any other single country.

3. Assurance of Support (AoS):

o Your sponsor (or another assurer) must provide a financial assurance to ensure you won’t rely on government benefits. This involves a bond and financial commitment for up to 10 years.

4. Age Requirement:

o You must qualify as an "aged parent," which means being old enough to receive an Australian Age Pension (currently 67 years for individuals born after 1 January 1957).

5. Health and Character Requirements:

o You must meet Australian health and character standards.

Processing Time:

· The processing time for this visa is long, often up to 30 years, due to the high demand and limited places available.

Benefits of the Subclass 804 Visa:

· Provides a pathway to live permanently with family in Australia.

· Access to social security benefits after meeting residency requirements.

· Opportunity to apply for Australian citizenship, subject to eligibility.

The Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143) is designed to allow parents of eligible Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to live permanently in Australia. It offers many benefits and flexibility but comes with a significant application cost and waiting period. Here’s an overview of its key features:

Eligibility:

Must have a child who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
The child must be settled in Australia (usually for at least two years).
Meet the Balance of Family Test (have at least half of your children living in Australia permanently or more children in Australia than in any other single country).
Be sponsored by your child or an eligible relative.

Benefits:

Permanent Residency:
- Stay in Australia indefinitely.
- Access to work and study rights.
- Eligibility for Medicare, Australia's public healthcare system.
Family Sponsorship:
- Ability to sponsor eligible family members to join you in Australia.
Citizenship Pathway:
- Apply for Australian citizenship once you meet the residency requirements.
Travel Flexibility:
- Travel to and from Australia as often as desired for five years, as long as the visa's travel facility remains valid.

Application Process:

Direct Application for Subclass 143:
- Apply for the visa in a single step, with the full visa application charges paid upfront.
Two-Step Process (Spreading Costs):
- Apply first for a Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 173).
- After holding the temporary visa, apply for the Subclass 143 visa. This approach allows the visa cost to be spread over a few years.

Processing Time:

Current waiting time: 5 to 6 years.

Cost:

The Subclass 143 visa requires a significant financial contribution, reflecting its permanent residency benefits. Applicants should carefully plan financially if considering this visa or its two-step alternative given below.

Contributory Parent (Subclass 173) visa

The Contributory Parent (Subclass 173) visa is a temporary visa designed for parents of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. It offers a pathway to eventually apply for a permanent Contributory Parent (Subclass 143) visa while spreading out the associated costs. Below is a summary of the key features and benefits of this visa:

Key Features:

Duration: Allows you to live in Australia for up to two years.
Pathway to Permanency: Provides the option to transition to the permanent Subclass 143 visa during or after the two-year period.
Cost Distribution: Enables you to divide the full application costs into two payments across the two visa stages (Subclass 173 followed by Subclass 143).

Benefits:

Stay in Australia: Live in Australia with your family for up to two years.
Work and Study: You can work and study, but without access to government financial support.
Medicare Access: Enrol in Australia’s public healthcare scheme, Medicare.
Pathway to Permanent Residency: After holding the Subclass 173 visa, you can apply for the Subclass 143 permanent visa.

Key Points to Consider:

Application Timeframe: Current processing times for the temporary visa range from 5 to 6 years.
Family Eligibility: The applicant must be a parent of a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
Financial Considerations: The total cost is divided into two steps (Subclass 173 followed by Subclass 143), but the overall cost can be substantial.

Transitioning to Subclass 143:

After holding the temporary Subclass 173 visa, you can apply for the permanent Contributory Parent (Subclass 143) visa. The Subclass 143 visa grants:

Permanent residency;
The ability to stay in Australia indefinitely;
Eligibility for additional benefits, including government support.

The Contributory Aged Parent (Subclass 864) visa is a permanent visa designed for older parents of settled Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. This visa allows applicants to stay in Australia permanently and provides a pathway to Australian citizenship.

Key Features:

· Eligibility Criteria:

o Must be 67 years or older.

o Must be in Australia at the time of application.

o Must have a child who is a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.

o Must meet the balance of family test (at least half of your children live permanently in Australia, or more of your children live permanently in Australia than any other country).

· Waiting Period:

o The processing time is currently 5–6 years.

· Bridging Visa:

o Applicants are granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA) while waiting for the Subclass 864 visa decision, allowing them to stay lawfully in Australia during the processing period.

· Benefits:

o Permanent residency in Australia.

o Work and study rights.

o Access to Medicare, Australia’s public health care system.

o Ability to sponsor eligible relatives for Australian visas.

o Pathway to Australian citizenship when eligible.

o Unlimited travel in and out of Australia for 5 years from the visa grant date.

Application Process:

Applicants can choose between:

1. Direct Application: Apply directly for the Subclass 864 visa.

2. Two-Step Process:

o First, apply for the Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 884) visa, which allows temporary residency in Australia.

o Later, transition to the Subclass 864 visa. This spreads the visa costs over several years.

Cost:

The Contributory Aged Parent visas involve significant fees, typically exceeding AUD 47,000 per applicant. However, the two-step approach reduces the upfront financial burden.

Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 884)

The Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 884) provides a pathway for older parents of settled Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia temporarily, with the option to apply for permanent residency later via the Subclass 864 visa.

Key Details of the Subclass 884 Visa:

· Eligibility: Must be over 67 years old and meet the balance-of-family test.

· Duration: This visa is valid for two years.

· Pathway: After holding the Subclass 884 visa, you can apply for the permanent Subclass 864 visa.

· Processing Time: Estimated between 5 and 6 years.

· Cost: Allows spreading the cost by applying for the Subclass 884 first, followed by the Subclass 864.

Benefits of the Subclass 884 Visa:

1. Living and Working: You can live, work, and study in Australia during the visa's validity period (note: no access to government support).

2. Transition to Permanent Residency: You can transition to the Subclass 864 visa after the temporary period.

3. Bridging Visa A (BVA): If you apply while holding another valid visa (e.g., a Visitor visa), you will be granted a BVA to remain lawfully in Australia until the decision on your visa is finalized.

Application Process:

1. Temporary Visa: Apply for the Subclass 884 visa while in Australia.

2. Permanent Visa: After two years, apply for the Subclass 864 visa.

This two-step process is a financially manageable route to permanent residency for aged parents, allowing for temporary residence while awaiting final approval of the permanent visa.

This temporary visa lets a parent of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen visit Australia for up to 3 or 5 years.

What the visa allows you to do:

· Stay in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years (depending on the visa period granted).

· Reunite with your children who are Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens.

· Reapply for the visa, with a maximum stay of 10 years over multiple visas.

Restrictions:

· No work rights: You cannot engage in paid employment while holding this visa.

· It does not lead to permanent residency or allow you to apply for permanent parent visas while on this visa.

Sponsorship Requirements:

· You need an approved Parent Sponsor before applying for this visa.

· Sponsorship limits:

o Only one sponsorship is allowed per household at a time.

o Up to two parents can be sponsored in the same household at any given time.

If you need more details on the eligibility criteria, application process, or sponsorship requirements, please contact us.

Sangeeta Mahajan MARN 2518841

0421 399 797

Parent Visas

Types of Parent Visas

Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 884)