The Parent visa allows parents to permanently live with their children in Australia.
The Australian government places a capped on the number of Parent visa that can be granted each financial year. Hence, applicants who apply and meet the criteria for Parent visa are placed in a global queue for processing.
There are different types of Parent visa subclasses:
- Subclass 103 Parent – Applicants of this visa may apply either in or outside of Australia. However, the applicant must be outside of Australia when the visa is granted.
- Subclass 143 Contributory Parent (Migrant) – Applicants of this visa may apply either in or outside of Australia. This visa can be granted inside of Australia if the applicant:
- Is the holder of Subclass 173;
- Is the holder of a substituted Subclass 600 visa;
- Is a member of the family unit of the holder of Subclass 173 visa; or
- Is a member of the family unit of a substituted Subclass 600 visa.
- Subclass 173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) – Applicants of this visa may apply either in or outside of Australia. However, the applicant must be outside of Australia when the visa is granted. This visa allows the holder to temporary live in Australia for up to 2 years.
The primary difference between Subclass 103 Parent from the other two Parent visa subclasses is the processing period. Depending on the number of allocated places for Parent visa each financial year, the processing of Subclass 103 Parent may take approximately between 20 to 30 years.
In contrast, Subclass 143 Contributory Parent (Migrant) and Subclass 173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) are processed faster as they attract higher visa application fees compared to Subclass 103 visa.
The following are the basic requirements for a Parent visa:
- Be sponsored by their child who is an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen settled in Australia;
- Must pass the balance of family test – To satisfy the balance of family test, the applicant must have at least half of their children living in Australia as an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen settled in Australia. If the applicant’s child is on a temporary Australian visa, this child is considered as living outside of Australia;
- Must have Assurance of Support (AoS); and
- Pass the health and character requirements.
What can you do as a holder of Parent visa?
- Live in Australia
- Work in Australia
- Medicare entitlement
- Apply for Australia citizenship if eligible
