We spend our whole lives being loved, supported and cared for by our parents, so it’s no surprise that when we grow up we want to return the favour.
If you’ve decided to live in Australia indefinitely, it is not unusual to want your parents to join you. Australia offers a safe and relaxing lifestyle, with social security benefits such as Medicare and financial assistance. Unfortunately, it is exactly those reasons that can make bringing your parents to Australia such a challenge.
There are four visas available to parents that give them PR, and two temporary visas they may be eligible for. We’ll first look at the permanent visas, and then explain the temporary visas - which are the more realistic options for most people.
What are the requirements?
Generally, you and your parents will have to meet certain criteria to be eligible for any of the visas discussed here. These common criteria are:
The parent must have a sponsor, which is usually their child or child-in-law. To sponsor your parent, you must have PR or citizenship and be normally residing in Australia.
The parent must meet the character and health requirements, by submitting the results of a police check and medical exams requested by the department. Depending on the visa, your parent may have to undergo medical tests twice: first when they submit the application and again before the decision is made.
For permanent visas, each parent must have an Assurance of Support (AoS), which is usually the child. An AoS makes a legal commitment to the Australian government that they will support the parent financially for their first 4 years (for 103 and 804) or 10 years (for 143 and 864) living in Australia, so they do not rely on social security payments.
To apply for a permanent visa, your parent must pass the Balance of Family test. To pass the test, 50% or more of the parent’s children and step-children must be settled in Australia, or, more of their children must be living in Australia than any other single country. This means, if you have only one sibling, your parent can apply for PR regardless of where your sibling lives. But if you have two or more siblings who live outside of Australia, it is unlikely your parent will ever meet this requirement and a temporary visa may be their only option.
Let’s talk about Permanent Residency!
Subclass 143: Contributory Parent Visa &
Subclass 864: Contributory Aged-Parent Visa
In this context, the word “contributory” means “money”. Contributory visas have quicker processing times but they are expensive! These visas are currently taking a minimum of around 6 years to be processed, and they cost close to $48,000 for the main applicant, with further fees for any additional family members on the application.
If paying the whole amount upfront is impossible, your parent can first apply for the 2-year temporary version of these visas (173 and 884), later moving on to the permanent versions. Using this “stepping stone” pathway ends up costing a little bit more, but it spreads out the financial requirement over a longer period.
The only real differences between the 143 and 864 are the age of the applicant and place of application. Parents of pension age (over 67 years*) and in Australia at the time of applying can go for the 864. If both of your parents are applying, only the “main” applicant needs to be of pension age, whilst the secondary applicant can be younger. Parents of any age are eligible for the 143, which is usually applied for from outside of Australia.
Subclass 103: Non-Contributory Parent Visa &
Subclass 804: Non-Contributory Aged-Parent Visa
Non-Contributory visas are similar to Contributory visas, but they are significantly cheaper making them an often impractical option due to estimated waiting times of over 30 years. These visas cost around $6,600 and applications are added to a long queue with a very small number being granted each year. The processing times are so long that the department doesn’t even publish information in this regard, with the 30-year estimate being the only real insight we have.
If your parents apply for 143, 804 or 864 visas from within Australia, they may be granted a bridging visa. Whilst a bridging visa will allow them to stay in Australia, it will likely not permit them to work or access Medicare, and may include conditions preventing them from travelling abroad.
What about temporary options?
If bringing your parents to live in Australia permanently is not an option for you, there are some more accessible temporary visas available. As with all temporary visas, your parents will not be permitted to work whilst in Australia and will not have access to Medicare or other financial assistance, so it is crucial that you or your parents are prepared to cover their costs whilst they are here.
Subclass 600: Visitor Visa
The 600 is essentially a tourist visa with an extended validity of up to 12 months. Not everyone will receive their desired length of stay, so it is important that your parents justify their request, for example: are they coming to look after their young grandchildren so you and your partner can continue working full-time? These visas only cost $150 and have short processing times, although some may take up to 6 months. Whilst they cannot work in Australia, your parents may study for up to 3 months if they wish. Applications can be processed together but must be submitted individually.
Subclass 870: Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa
A longer-term temporary visa is the 870. With this visa, parents can stay up to 3 or 5 years, and re-apply after expiration allowing them to visit Australia for a total of 10 years. You do not need to meet the balance of family test for this visa and your parents can travel to and from Australia as often as they like whilst their visa is valid. The 870 costs around $5,000 for 3 years, and a bit over $10,000 for 5 years, and can be paid in two instalments. Your parent must be outside of Australia when they apply, and the majority are processed within 6 months, although it can take longer.
The 870 does not require an AoS, but it does require an approved sponsor who meets certain criteria. You must apply to become a sponsor, and once you are approved your parent has 6 months to submit their application. Your household can sponsor a maximum of two parents at once and must pass the income test, which currently requires you to have had an individual or combined** income of at least $83,455 in the previous financial year. As a sponsor, you are legally responsible to provide accommodation and financial support to your parents whilst they are in Australia.
One downside to this temporary visa is that parents are not permitted to apply for a permanent parent visa whilst on the 870. However, in cases where your parents are ineligible for PR due to the balance of family test anyway, this can be a fantastic option, allowing people from bigger families to spend some valuable years with their parents down under!
Which option is best for you?
Bringing your parents to Australia is not easy! At 4Migration we love having our parents visit to experience Ozzie life, so we really understand your desire to reunite with your biggest supporters. Contact 4Migration today to find out which parent visa could become a reality for you and your family.
*Minimum pension age is currently 66.6 years, but this will change to 67 years in July 2023. In future years, the minimum age may rise again.
**Your income can be combined with your partner or a sibling who also has PR or citizenship.