Parent Visa Options and Eligibility Requirements:

Australia offers a range of Parent Visas for individuals who are the parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents. These visas allow parents to live in Australia either temporarily or permanently. Below are the general eligibility criteria and requirements for Parent Visas:

1. General Eligibility Criteria:

• You must have a child who is either an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Before lodging your application, your child should have been living in Australia lawfully for at least 2 years.
• You must have a sponsor.
• You must meet the Balance of Family test criteria.
• You must meet health and character requirements.

2. Duration of Parent Visa:

• You can either live in Australia for up to 2 years as a temporary resident, or
• You can live in Australia as an Australian permanent resident.

3. Requirements for Sponsor:

• The sponsor must be 18 years of age or older.
• The sponsor must have resided in Australia lawfully for at least 2 years before the parent lodges their visa application

Australia offers several Parent Visa options for individuals who are the parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents. These visas enable parents to live in Australia either temporarily or permanently, depending on the chosen visa subclass. Here’s a detailed explanation of each Parent Visa option:

A. Parent (Subclass 103) – Permanent Residency:

This visa allows parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia indefinitely. However, the processing time for this visa is lengthy, often spanning several years.

Scenario:

• Applying from outside Australia.
• Have a child living in Australia who can sponsor you.
• Desire permanent residency in Australia.
• Must meet the Balance of Family test.
• Must meet health and character requirements.

B. Contributory Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 173/884) – Provisional Residency:

This visa offers provisional residency in Australia for up to 2 years at a lower cost compared to the permanent subclass 143 visas. Holders of this visa can later apply for the Contributory Parent (Permanent) visa (subclass 143) by spreading the cost of permanent residency across two visas.

Scenario:

• Applying from outside Australia.
• Have a child living in Australia who can sponsor you.
• Want to live in Australia temporarily for up to 2 years.
• Willing to pay higher visa application fees for faster processing.
• Must meet the Balance of Family test.
• Must meet health and character requirements.

C. Contributory Parent (Permanent) (Subclass 143/884) – Permanent Residency:

This visa grants permanent residency in Australia with work and study rights, along with access to Medicare (Australia’s Public Health Service). The application fee for this visa is higher and is paid in two installments.

Scenario:

• Applying from either inside or outside Australia.
• Have a child living in Australia who can sponsor you.
• Desire permanent residency in Australia.
• Willing to pay higher visa application fees for faster processing.
• Have an assurance of support.
• Must meet the Balance of Family test.
• Must meet health and character requirements.

D. Aged Parent (Subclass 804) – Permanent Resident:

This visa is for older parents (pensionable age in Australia) to live permanently in Australia. Applicants must be in Australia at the time of application and decision, and a bridging visa is typically granted during the processing period.

Scenario:

• Applying from inside Australia.
• Have a child living in Australia who can sponsor you.
• Want to live in Australia as a permanent resident.
• Meet the age requirement.
• Must meet the Balance of Family test.
• Must meet health and character requirements.

E. Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 870) – Provisional Residency:

This visa offers temporary residency in Australia for up to 5 years and is suitable for parents whose more children live overseas than in Australia. Unlike other parent visas, there is no “Balance of Family” test required for this visa.

Scenario:

• Must be sponsored by an approved parent visa sponsor.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must be outside Australia for at least 90 days if the applicant holds or has previously held a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa.
• The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Must provide evidence of health insurance.
• Must not have an outstanding public health debt.
• Must satisfy health, character, and national security requirements.
• The sponsor must have a taxable income of at least $83,454.80.
• No Balance of Family test is required.
• Visa fees range from $5,000 for up to three years to $10,000 for up to five years.