The contributory parent visa (subclasses 173 and 143) allows parents to migrate to Australia if their child is an Australian citizen, permanent resident of Australia, or eligible New Zealand citizen. A parent visa under subclass 173 allows parents to stay in Australia for at least two years. If the applicant wishes to extend their stay in Australia, they can apply for contributory parent subclass 143 within two years of arriving on a 173 visa. Permanent residency in Australia is possible with a subclass parent visa 143. Both visas require the applicant to be sponsored by the child.
How do you bring your parents to Australia?
There are two types of Parent Migration Visas for Australian citisens:
Visas for Non-Contributory Parents
This is a PR visa with a low application fee. Parents must have a sponsor, meet health and character requirements, and pass the balance of family test to be eligible. To pass the balance of family test, at least half of the parent’s children must live in Australia permanently.
Visas for Contributory Parents
Based on the queue and cap, this is a fast-track PR visa for select applicants. Parents must have a sponsor, meet health and character requirements, pass the balance of family test, and have an assurance of support to be eligible. The assurance of support is a legal promise from the sponsor to provide financial assistance.
Australia Parent Visa Advantages
What Can You Do With a Parent Visa?
- Continue to reside in Australia indefinitely;
- No restrictions on travel to and from Australia;
- Medicare, Australia’s government-run healthcare system, may be available to you.
- Reduced restrictions on workers’ rights;
- When the residency requirements in Australia are met, apply for Australian citizenship.
Details on the Australia Parent Visa
Subclass 870 Visa for Sponsored Parent (Temporary)
This temporary visa allows a parent of an Australian citizen, Permanent Resident, or eligible New Zealand Citizen to visit Australia for up to three or five years.
Benefits of a Sponsored Australia Parent Visa
Your parents can do the following with this visa:
- Visit Australia for up to three or five years, depending on the visa.
- Apply for additional visas to visit Australia for a maximum of ten years
Your parents are required to:
- You must have an approved Parent Sponsorship before you can apply for this visa.
- apply for this visa online
- lodge your visa application within six months of sponsorship approval or within 60 days if Permission to Apply in Australia is granted.
This visa allows your parents to do the following:
- Reconnect with children and family
- Visit Australia for up to three or five years, depending on the visa.
- Reapply for visas to visit Australia for a maximum of ten years
NOTE: Your parents are not permitted to work while on this visa.
Parent (Permanent) Visa Subclass 103
This permanent visa allows the parent of a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident of Australia, or eligible New Zealand citizen to move to Australia.
Your parents can do the following with this visa:
- move to or remain as a permanent resident in Australia
- sponsorship for eligible family members to visit Australia
- If you are eligible, apply for Australian citizenship.
Your parents are required to:
- have a settled Australian citizen, Australian Permanent Resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen as a child
- comply with all visa requirements and Australian law
- You must not have previously applied for or held a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 870) visa when applying for this visa.
Currently, the Department does not require Family visa applicants to travel outside the country. From March 24, 2021, eligible Parent visa applicants will be able to apply for visas in Australia under a temporary concession.
This visa allows your parents to do the following:
- Indefinite stay in Australia
- In Australia, you can work and study.
- enrol in Medicare, Australia’s public health care system
- sponsoring family members to visit Australia
- If you are eligible, apply for Australian citizenship.
Australia Parent Visa Benefits
For five years, You can travel to and from Australia. If the travel facility on this visa remains valid, your parents can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want for the next 5 years from the date the visa is granted.
If your parents wish to travel after the initial 5-year period:
- To re-enter Australia as a permanent residents, your parents will need to apply for and be granted a Resident Return Visa (RRV).
- Your parents may also wish to consider obtaining Australian citizenship. If your parents become Australian citizens, they will no longer need a visa to enter the country.
- Your parents will need to apply for and use an Australian passport to leave and re-enter Australia.
Apply as a retiree for a Parent visa (subclass 103)
If you apply for the subclass 103 visa as a retiree, your parents are exempt from the following requirements:
- meet the family balance test, or
- have a sponsor or assurance of assistance
This is a long-term visa. It allows your parents to remain in Australia indefinitely. Your parents’ permanent residence begins on the day the visa is granted for citizenship purposes.
Subclass 143 Visa for Contributory Parent (Permanent)
This permanent visa 143 allows the parent of a settled Australian Citizen, Australian Permanent Resident, or eligible New Zealand Citizen to relocate to Australia.
Your parents can do the following with this visa:
- move to or remain as a permanent resident in Australia
- sponsorship for eligible family members to visit Australia
- If you are eligible, apply for Australian citizenship.
Your parents are required to:
- Unless you are applying for the Retirement Pathway, you must have an eligible child who is a settled Australian citizen, Permanent Resident, or eligible New Zealand Citizen.
- Unless you are applying for the Retirement Pathway or have a Subclass 173 visa, you must meet the balance-of-family test.
- Unless you are applying for the Retirement Pathway, you must have an Assurance of Support.
- You must not have previously applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 870) visa when applying for this visa.
Contributory Parent Visa Benefits
This visa allows your parents to do the following:
- Indefinite stay in Australia
- In Australia, you can work and study.
- enrol in Medicare, Australia’s public health care system
- sponsoring family members to visit Australia
- travel to and enter Australia for a period of five years
- If you are eligible, apply for Australian citizenship.
For five years, your parents can travel to and from Australia. Your parents can visit Australia as many times as they want for the next five years from the date the visa is granted. This is valid for as long as the travel facility on this visa is still valid.
If your parents wish to travel after the initial 5-year period:
- Your parents must apply for and be granted a Resident Return (RRV) in order to re-enter Australia as permanent residents.
- Your parents may also wish to consider obtaining Australian citizenship. If you become an Australian citizen, you will not need a visa to enter the country. Your parents will need to apply for and use an Australian passport to leave and re-enter Australia.
Apply as a retiree
If you apply for the subclass 103 visa as a retiree, you are exempt from the following requirements:
- meet the family balance test, or
- have a sponsor or assurance of assistance
When you apply for this visa, you can be in or out of Australia.
If you apply in Australia, any family members who apply with you must also be in Australia at the time you apply, but not in immigration clearance. keep in mind that If you apply outside of Australia, any family members who apply with you must also be outside of Australia at the time of application.
If you are applying as a retiree, you must be in Australia at the time of application but not in immigration clearance. You can be in or out of Australia when the decision on your application is made.
