Bringing Your Parents to Australia #A Comprehensive Guide by Aussie Academics and Migration Services (A2MS) #UPdated May 2024
Our parents deserve our utmost honor and respect for giving us life and making countless sacrifices to care for us. As we establish our lives in Australia, many of us wish to reunite with our parents, ensuring they can share in our happiness and success.
However, the process of bringing parents to Australia can be complex and requires careful planning and strategy.
At Aussie Academics and Migration Services (A2MS), we are dedicated to helping you navigate through the various visa options available for parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens.
There are three main types of parent visa categories:
1. Contributory Parent Visas:
These permanent visas are also informally known as "expensive parent visas". There are separate subclasses for aged and non-aged parents.
Contributory Parent Visa Subclass 143 (granted offshore):
o Allows a parent to move to Australia.o Requires the applicant to be outside Australia when the application is decided.o Must have an eligible child who is a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.o Must meet the balance-of-family test.o Requires an Assurance of Support.o Visa Application fee: The application fee starts from AUD 48,365. There is an additional charge for each family member included in your application. The fee is paid in two parts: the first instalment is paid when you submit your application, and the second instalment is paid when requested by the authorities.o Avg. processing time: Approximately 5 years.
Contributory Aged Parent Visa Subclass 864 (granted in Australia):
o Allows an aged parent (over 67) to stay in Australia.o Requires the applicant to be in Australia when applying and when the application is decided.o Provides Bridging Visa A for onshore applicants.o Must have an eligible child who is a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.o Must meet the age pension age requirement in Australia.o Must meet the balance-of-family test.o Requires an Assurance of Support.o Application fee: The application fee starts from AUD 48,365. There is an additional charge for each family member included in your application. The fee is paid in two parts: the first instalment is paid when you submit your application, and the second instalment is paid when requested by the authorities.o Avg. processing time: Approximately 5 years.
2. Non-Contributory Parent Visas:
These permanent visas are less expensive but have very long processing times (up to 30 years). There are separate subclasses for aged and non-aged parents.
Parent Visa Subclass 103 (granted offshore):
o Allows a parent to move to Australia.o Requires the applicant to be outside Australia when the application is decided.o Must have an eligible child who is a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.o Must meet the balance-of-family test.o Requires an Assurance of Support.o Application fee: The application fee starts from AUD 4,990. There is an additional charge for each family member included in your application. The fee is paid in two parts: the first instalment is paid (AUD 4,990) when you submit your application, and the second instalment is paid (AUD 2,065) when requested by the authorities.
o Avg. processing time: Approximately 30 years.
Aged Parent Visa Subclass 804 (granted in Australia):
o Allows an aged parent to stay in Australia.o Requires the applicant to be in Australia when applying and when the application is decided.o Must have an eligible child who is a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.o Must meet the age pension age requirement in Australia.o Must meet the balance-of-family test.o Requires an Assurance of Support.o Provides Bridging Visa A for onshore applicants.o Application fee: The application fee starts from AUD 4,990. There is an additional charge for each family member included in your application. The fee is paid in two parts: the first instalment is paid (AUD 4,990) when you submit your application, and the second instalment is paid (AUD 2,065) when requested by the authorities.o Avg. processing time: Approximately 30 years.
3. Temporary Contributory Parent Visas with Permanent Pathway:
These temporary visas allow parents to stay for 2 years and then apply for permanent contributory parent visas as a two-step process.
Temporary Contributory Parent Visa Subclass 173 (granted offshore):
o Allows a parent to stay temporarily in Australia.o Requires the applicant to be outside Australia when the application is decided.o Must have an eligible child who is a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.o The temporary 173 visa allows spreading the migration cost over a few years before applying for the permanent 143 visa.o Must meet the balance-of-family test.o Application fee: The application fee starts from AUD 3,210. There is an additional charge for each family member included in your application. The fee is paid in two parts: the first instalment is paid (AUD 3,210) when you submit your application, and the second instalment is paid (AUD 29,310) when requested by the authorities.o Avg. processing time: Approximately 5 years.o Stay in Australia: Up to 2 years.
Temporary Contributory Aged Parent Visa Subclass 884 (granted in Australia):
o Requires the applicant to be in Australia when applying and when the application is decided.o Provides Bridging Visa A for onshore applicants.o Must have an eligible child who is a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.o Must meet the age pension age requirement in Australia.o Must meet the balance-of-family test.o Application fee: The application fee starts from AUD 4,765. There is an additional charge for each family member included in your application. The fee is paid in two parts: the first instalment is paid (AUD 4,765) when you submit your application, and the second instalment is paid (AUD 29,310) when requested by the authorities.o Avg. processing time: Approximately 5 years.o Stay in Australia: Up to 2 years.
4. Temporary Parent Visas without Permanent Pathway:
This temporary visa allows parents to visit and stay in Australia for 3 or 5 years at a time.
Temporary Sponsored Parent Visa Subclass 870:
o Eligibility: Biological, adoptive, step, or in-law parents of the sponsor.o Requires an approved Parent Sponsor before the application can be lodged.o Does not lead to permanent residency.o Stay in Australia: Up to 3 or 5 years, extendable up to 10 years.o Visa application fee: AUD 5,735 for a 3-year visa or AUD 11,470 for a 5-year visa.o Avg. processing time: Approximately 4 months.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
1. What is Balance of Family Test (BOFT)?• The Balance of Family Test is a critical eligibility requirement for both Contributory and Non-Contributory Parent Visas in Australia. The test is used to determine the extent of your ties to Australia by evaluating the location of your children. To pass the Balance of Family Test, you must meet one of the following criteria:o At least half of your children live permanently in Australia as Australian citizens or permanent residents.o More of your children live permanently in Australia than in any other single country.
2. What is Assurance of Support (AoS)?• The Assurance of Support (AoS) is a legal commitment from a sponsor (typically your child) to provide financial support to you as the visa applicant. This is required for certain Parent Visa categories, particularly the Contributory Parent Visas. The AoS aims to ensure that you do not become a burden on the Australian government's welfare system.
3. What is Income Test?• The Income Test is part of the Assurance of Support (AoS) requirement for Contributory Parent Visas. The sponsor (your child) must meet a minimum income threshold to demonstrate their ability to provide financial support to you. This is to ensure that you will not require financial assistance from the Australian government.
4. What are Age Requirements?• Age requirements vary depending on the specific Parent Visa subclass. Contributory Parent Visas generally do not have an upper age limit, while Aged Parent Visas are specifically for older parents (over 67).
5. What are the Sponsorship Requirements?• To be eligible to sponsor your parent for a Parent Visa, your child (sponsor) must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, among other requirements.• Sponsor must meet an income test requirement.• Requires the sponsor to meet a minimum income threshold (AUD 83,454/year).• Sponsorship can cover up to 2 parents per household.• Sponsor must provide financial support, accommodation, and meet other obligations.
6. Can I apply for a parent visa from inside Australia?• Yes, some parent visa subclasses allow you to apply from inside Australia, provided you meet certain criteria such as holding a valid visa that allows onshore application.
7. How long does it take to process a parent visa application?• Processing times vary depending on the visa subclass and individual circumstances. Contributory Parent Visas generally have faster processing times compared to non-contributory options.
8. Can I work in Australia on a parent visa?• Yes, holders of permanent parent visas generally have unrestricted work rights in Australia.
9. Can I appeal if my parent visa application is refused?• Yes, you have the right to appeal a decision if your parent visa application is refused. You may appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) within a specified timeframe and depending on you meeting other eligibility criteria. 10. Can I apply for a visitor visa while waiting for my parent visa application to be processed?• Yes, you can apply for a visitor visa to visit Australia while your parent visa application is being processed, provided you meet the criteria for a visitor visa. 11. How can I get help with my parent visa application?• Seeking advice from a Registered Migration Agent(RMA) can provide valuable assistance and may increase the chances of a successful parent visa application.
9. Can I appeal if my parent visa application is refused?• Yes, you have the right to appeal a decision if your parent visa application is refused. You may appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) within a specified timeframe and depending on you meeting other eligibility criteria. 10. Can I apply for a visitor visa while waiting for my parent visa application to be processed?• Yes, you can apply for a visitor visa to visit Australia while your parent visa application is being processed, provided you meet the criteria for a visitor visa. 11. How can I get help with my parent visa application?• Seeking advice from a Registered Migration Agent(RMA) can provide valuable assistance and may increase the chances of a successful parent visa application.