Main criteria

The Australian Department of Home Affairs offers a Parent Visa to people who have children living in Australia as permanent residents or citizens who are “settled” there. Under the policy, a person must have been a resident in Australia for a reasonable period, usually two years.

An applicant must meet the balance of family test in order to qualify for this visa. The applicant must have at least half of their children living in Australia as Australian citizens or permanent residents. In addition, it states that more of their children live in Australia than in any other country. The balance of family test includes all children, including stepchildren and adopted children.

Furthermore, you must be sponsored by an eligible person, usually your child. Health and character requirements must also be met.

Visa types

Subclass 864 (Permanent) – This is a permanent visa that is also called a “Contributory” visa. This is because the initial application fee is $3,945 for the first applicant and $1,975 for additional applicants over 18 and $990 for additional applicants under 18. The second installment for each applicant is $43,600. Contributory parent visa applications that meet the criteria to be queued are likely to take at least 67 months to process.

The large “Contribution” of money that is called for upon the second installment is in order to offset the rights awarded to the visa holder under permanent residencies, such as health care, which they have not contributed towards as ordinary Australians have throughout their lives.

This is a temporary visa with an initial fee of $3,945 and an additional fee of $1,975 for each additional applicant. The second installment of $29,130 must be paid before the visa can be granted. An applicant is granted a temporary visa for two years. They must pay an additional $19,420 and apply for a permanent visa under subclass 864 before this visa expires. According to our estimates, it will take at least 67 months for new Contributory Parent visa applications that meet the criteria to be queued to be processed.

In all cases, the second installment of monies paid is only called for after each applicant has passed health and character tests and the AoS (Assurance of Support, see below for AoS details) has been lodged with the Australian government. Visas will not be granted if a second installment is not paid.  There is no refund the second installmentents under any circumstances.

Assurance of Support (AoS)

In addition, an AoS is payable at the time of decision. The current fee for two applicants is $14,000. A contributory parent visa holder’s bond is refunded ten years after entering Australia, less any debts owed to the government.

Bridging Visas

Health Insurance

Holders of Subclass 864 (Permanent) and Subclass 884 (Temporary) visas are eligible for health coverage called Medicare. A Medicare card may be issued to you if you have applied for a Contributory parent visa. The permanent Contributory visa will not be granted until you have applied for the permanent Contributory visa without holding the temporary Contributory visa.