Parents are eligible to migrate to Australia if their child (natural, adopted, or stepchild) is in Australia and is an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
Eligibility criteria
To apply for a parent visa, you must be sponsored by your child, or another eligible sponsor, in Australia. Your spouse and other dependent family members may be included in your application if they meet the specified requirements. To be eligible for this visa, you must pass the Balance of Family test and meet age requirements.
Balance of Family Test
The total number of children and their permanent residence location affects the balance of family tests. The text specifies that:
- at least half of your children should be permanent residents in Australia
OR
- you should have more children living permanently in Australia than in any other country
The Balance of Family test can be complex, with the possibility of several combinations. For ALL parent visas, it is necessary to pass the Balance of Family Test. Please contact us to confirm your eligibility and further requirements regarding your proposed application.
Age Criteria
An aged parentâ„¢ is one who is old enough to be granted an Australian age pension. However, there is a waiting period of 10 years before you can receive the Australian age pension (unless there is a reciprocal agreement with another country that pays you a pension). Feel free to contact us for more details about the eligibility criteria for you.
Note: The requirement to be an aged parent is necessary only for the main applicant for an onshore parent visa.
For a brief overview of what each visa entitles you to, see the quick reference table.
Note: There are a limited number of parent visa grants each year, and this number is reviewed annually by the Australian Immigration Authority.
Parent Visa Categories
Parents can migrate to Australia under two major categories:
- Contributory parent this non-permanent visa provides a one- or two-visa pathway to permanent residence. A contributory parent category visa is the higher cost/shorter wait option. The costs of a contributory parent category visa can be staggered over a temporary to permanent 2-visa process provided you apply for the corresponding permanent contributory parent category visa while you are still the holder of a temporary contributory parent category visa.
This visa has 2 subtypes:- Contributory Parent
- Contributory Aged Parent
- Parent this is a direct permanent residence visa. It is a lower cost/longer wait option, and has 4 subtypes:
- Contributory Parent (Migrant)
- Contributory Aged Parent
- Parent
- Aged Parent
Depending on where the applicants are located, they can apply for an onshore or offshore visa.
Please contact us to discuss your requirements or click here for a detailed assessment of your particulars towards migration to Australia.