Parent visas allow Australian citizens, permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens to sponsor their parents to live in Australia.
The two things you need to know upfront
The non-contributory parent visa queue currently exceeds 30 years. That is not a typo. If your parent applies for a non-contributory parent visa today, they are unlikely to receive it within their lifetime.
The contributory parent visa costs tens of thousands of dollars per person, the second instalment alone is over AUD $40,000. Processing still takes five to seven years. We are straightforward about this because too many people start the process without understanding the true timeline or cost.
Is this your situation?
Your parents are overseas and you want them to come to Australia permanently. Or your parents are in Australia on a visitor visa and you want to know if they can stay. Or you have started looking into parent visas and the costs and wait times have shocked you.
We cannot change the wait times or the costs. What we can do is make sure you understand all your options and do not waste money on an application that does not make sense for your family's situation.
Contributory parent visa - subclass 143 and 173
The contributory parent visa has a second instalment charge of over AUD $40,000 per applicant (check the Department of Home Affairs website for the exact current figure). In return, processing times are significantly shorter than the non-contributory version, typically around five to seven years.
The subclass 173 is a temporary version that lets you pay the second instalment in two stages. You get a two-year temporary visa first, then apply for the permanent 143 before the temporary visa expires.
Aged parent visa - subclass 804 and 864/884
If your parent is old enough to receive the Australian Age Pension (currently 67), they may qualify for an aged parent visa. The same cost difference applies: the contributory versions (864 and 884) process faster but cost more. The non-contributory aged parent visa (804) has a wait time exceeding 30 years.
Remaining relative visa - subclass 838
The 838 is for people whose only near relatives are in Australia. Very few people qualify for this visa. The definition of "remaining relative" is narrow.
Balance of family test
For all parent visas, at least half of your children must be living in Australia, or more of your children must live in Australia than in any other single country.
Assurance of Support
Most parent visa applicants need an Assurance of Support, which requires the sponsor (or another person) to provide a bond to the Australian government.
Your parent is in Australia on a visitor visa - what are the options?
If your parent is visiting Australia on a subclass 600 and you want them to stay, check whether their visa has condition 8503 (no further stay). If it does, they cannot apply for most other visas while in Australia unless the condition is waived. See our condition 8503 waiver page.
Even without condition 8503, switching from a visitor visa to a parent visa onshore involves checking Schedule 3 requirements and timing. Get advice before lodging.
How Robbie Toor (MARN 1170356) helps
Robbie helps with parent visa applications including the balance of family test assessment, the Assurance of Support process, health and character clearances and the visa lodgement. He will give you an honest assessment of the timeline and costs before you commit.