Parent (Family) Visa

Parent Visas

The Parent visa options exist to allow Australian resident children to sponsor their overseas parents for permanent residency in Australia. There are two main categories:

Applications for a Parent/Aged Parent visa can take 18+ years to be granted. The reason for this is a capping system whereby the Government only allocates a limited number of places for Parent visa each year. Once the limit is reached then applications are placed in a queue.

In 2003 the Government introduced the Contributory Parent visas which are much quicker to be processed; on average between 18-24 months. For the Contributory Parent the applicant pays a high premium in extra fees to the Government plus a financial bond (the bond is refundable after 10 years).

These main criteria generally apply to all parent visas:

• You must meet the Balance of Family test. To pass this more of your children must live in Australia than in any other single country and be either permanent residents or Australian citizens. For example if you only have 1 child and they must be resident in Australia, for 2 children one of them must be resident in Australia or for 3 children then 2 of the 3 must be resident in Australia. This test includes any children (whether dependent or self-supporting, single, married or divorced) from previous marriages or de facto relationships and may include adopted and step-children.

• You must be the parent of a child who is a settled Australian citizen or settled permanent resident and who will sponsor your application; and
• Your sponsor must be approved (their application is lodged at the same time as yours); and
• You and your partner must both meet health, public interest, special return and character requirements.
• You will also be required to arrange an Assurance of Support

Please check your specific visa for any other criteria that might apply.