Types of Parent Visa Australia

There are several types of Parent Visas for Australia that allow parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia temporarily or permanently. Here’s an overview of the main options:

• Parent Visa (Subclass 103)
– Permanent visa
– Lower cost option, but usually hasa very long processing time due to capping and queueing
– Must be sponsored by an eligible child living in Australia.
– Must meet the Balance of Family Test (more children in Australia than in any other single country).
– Can be applied for onshore or offshore (but must be offshore at the time of decision).


• Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143)
– Permanent visa
– Higher cost, generally faster than Subclass 103, but still commonly takes years due to demand and queues
– Requires a sponsor (usually a child living in Australia).
– Must pass the Balance of Family Test.
– Option to apply for Temporary Visa Subclass 173 first, then transition to 143.


• Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 173)
– Temporary for 2 years
– Can transition to the permanent Subclass 143
– Requires a sponsor and the Balance of Family Test


• Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 870)
– Allows parents to stay up to 3 or 5 years at a time, renewable up to 10 years total
– Does not require Balance of Family Test
– Requires sponsorship by an Australian child who has been a citizen/permanent resident for at least 4 years

Requirement for Parent Visa Australia

• Sponsorship and relationship
– Have a child who is a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen (sponsor requirements apply)


• Balance of Family Test (for most permanent parent visas)
– For many Parent visa subclasses, applicants must pass the Balance of Family Test. A parent meets the test if at least half of their children are eligible children, or more of their children live in Australia than in any other single country.
– Note: Subclass 870 is exempt from this test.


• Health and character requirements
– Meet health and character requirements (applies across parent visa pathways)


• Assurance of Support (AoS) for some visa subclasses
– For some parent visa subclasses, an Assurance of Support is required prior to visa grant, and the assurer may need to lodge a refundable bond. Services Australia assesses AoS applications.
– Note: Subclass 870 does not require AoS.

Parent Visa Processing Time Considerations

• Parent visas (excluding Subclass 870) are subject to capping and queueing, and Home Affairs notes that exact processing timeframes cannot be guaranteed.
• For this reason, it’s best to treat processing estimates as indicative and plan based on visa strategy, budget, and family circumstances.

Documents Required for Parent Visa Australia

Common documents used across parent visa applications include:

• Identity documents for applicants and sponsors
• Evidence that the sponsor is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
• Evidence of family relationships (birth certificates, family register documents where relevant)
• Evidence supporting Balance of Family Test calculations (child residency and status evidence)
• Health and character documents when requested
• AoS-related documents where applicable (for relevant subclasses)

How to Apply for a Parent Visa Australia (Step by Step)

Home Affairs notes Parent visas are generally lodged using paper application forms (Subclass 870 is treated differently). A simplified process looks like this:

• Confirm the best pathway based on eligibility, budget, and timeframes
• Confirm sponsor eligibility and required tests (Balance of Family and AoS, where applicable)
• Prepare a document checklist and evidence set
• Lodge the application correctly and track requests for further information
• Complete health checks, police checks, and AoS steps when requested