Parent visas are offered in multiple categories to non-Austrlaian parents who wish to migrate to Australia and live with their children who are already settled in Australia. The children are required to sponsor their parents for any parent visa and must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.

At times, the children’s partners may also be eligible sponsors.

Types of Australian Parent Visas

Australian Parent Visas can be categorized broadly into three types:

A) Contributory

B) Non-contributory, and

C) Sponsored.

Contributory and non-contributory parent visas each have their own subclasses of temporary and permanent visas. Contributory visas lead to permanent residence much faster (2 years) than non-contributory visas (usually 30 years) but are costlier. Both contributory and non-contributory visas can therefore lead to permanent residence (PR) in Australia for parents.

On the other hand, Sponsored Parent Visa has the fastest processing times (usually 6 months), however, this is only a temporary visa and does not have its permanent visa counterpart like the contributory and non-contributory visas.

Contributory Parent Visas

Contributory Parent Visas allow parents to move to Australia and live with their children either temporarily for 2 years or indefinitely as permanent residents. It comes with the advantage of a shorter wait period for PR and direct PR application.

Conventionally, parents apply for a temporary visa, Subclass 173 first, and then after 2 years, Subclass 143 for PR, however as stated, direct application for Subclass 143 is an alternative.

1. Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa – Subclass 173

Duration of Stay / Visa validity: 2 years

Cost: AUD 32,065 / Paid in 2 installments

• 1st instalment while lodging application
• 2nd instalment upon request by the DHA (while applying for PR)

To learn more about this visa, please visit this page.

2. Contributory Parent (Permanent) Visa – Subclass 143

Duration of Stay / Visa validity: Permanent Residence (PR)

Cost: AUD 32,065 / Paid in 2 installments (if direct PR application)

• 1st instalment while lodging application
• 2nd instalment upon request by the DHA

To learn more about this visa, please visit this page.

Contributory Aged Parent Visa

This visa is specifically for aged parents who are eligible by age (above 66 years) as per the Australian Age Pension criteria. The process is similar to the Contributory Parent Visa whereby parents can apply for the temporary visa Subclass 884 first, and apply for permanent residence with a Subclass 864 visa within the next 2 years.

This visa also offers the benefit of direct permanent visa application without holding a temporary visa first.

1. Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa – Subclass 884

Duration of Stay / Visa validity: 2 years

Cost: AUD 4,355 / Paid in 2 installments

• 1st instalment while lodging application
• 2nd instalment upon request by the DHA (while applying for PR)

To learn more about this visa, please visit this page.

2. Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent) Visa – Subclass 864

Duration of Stay / Visa validity: Permanent Residence (PR)

Cost: AUD  47,955 / Paid in 2 installments (direct PR application)

• 1st instalment while lodging application
• 2nd instalment upon request by the DHA

To learn more about this visa, please visit this page.

Non-Contributory Parent visas

Non-contributory visas are permanent visas; however, they come with the longest waiting period to finally obtain permanent residency, nearly 30 years.

1. Non-Contributory Parent Visa ( Permanent) – Subclass 103

Duration of Stay / Visa validity: Permanent Residence (PR)

Cost: AUD  4,560 / Paid in 2 installments (direct PR application)

• 1st instalment while lodging application
• 2nd instalment upon request by the DHA 

2. Non-Contributory Aged Parent Visa ( Permanent) – Subclass 804

Duration of Stay / Visa validity: Permanent Residence (PR)

Cost: AUD  4,560 / Paid in 2 installments (direct PR application)

• 1st instalment while lodging application
• 2nd instalment upon request by the DHA

Processing times for all contributory and Non-Contributory parent visas are subject to capping and queuing, similar to a first come-first served process.

Eligibility for Contributory and Non-Contributory Parent Visas

 Parent’s Eligibility

• Parents must have an eligible sponsor in their child or their child’s partner.
• Must be a parent of their sponsor biologically, legally (includes adoption), a step-parent or a parent-in-law to their sponsor.
• The parent must pass the balance-of-family test; the majority of the children must be eligible by being citizens or permanent residents of Australia or eligible New Zealand citizens.
• Have true intentions to stay only temporarily in Australia if applied for Subclass 173.
• Apply for health insurance.
• Have good character.

Sponsor Eligibility

Sponsorship applicants must satisfy the following requirements to be eligible sponsors.

• Be a legal child of the parent and aged above 18 years.
• Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
• At least 2 years of settlement with permanent residency (PR) in Australia or New Zealand before sponsorship application.
• Spouse or de facto partner can also sponsor their partner’s parents if their partner meets all the above requirements.

A sponsor must be able to show that they are settled and usually resident in Australia at the time you lodge your parent visa application. ‘Settled’ means that your Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, must have been lawfully resident in Australia for at least 2 years.

As a sponsor, you must give a written undertaking to provide support for your parent for the first two years of their stay in Australia. This also applies to any family members who came with your parent to Australia. During this period, you must provide:

• Support
• Accommodation
• Financial assistance.

Balance of Family Test

Passing the “Balance of Family” test is an eligibility requirement for Contributory and Non-Contributory parent visas of Australia. To apply for this VISA, the applicant must consider this following situation on basis of which a parent can apply.

Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa – Subclass 870

The sponsored parent visa grants parents a temporary stay period of 3-5 years in Australia to live with their children who are usually their sponsors for this visa.

Parents can apply for this visa again when it expires and live a total of maximum 10 years in Australia. This visa does not lead to permanent residency for parents unlike the contributory and non-contributory parent visas .

The visa provided the benefit of a very low cost compared to contributory visas and allows parents repeated chances to stay with their child in Australia. There is also no requirement for a ‘balance-of-family test’ or ‘Assurance of Support’.

Duration of Stay / Visa validity: 3 – 5 years temporarily. Maximum 10 years by consecutive re-application.

Cost: AUD 5,050 for 3 years stay & AUD 10,180 for 5 years stay

Processing times: 6 months (50 % visa approved within this time)

At Bridging West, we provide advisory and processing services for contributory and sponsored parent visas. Contact us if you and your parents meet the following eligibility requirements.