Permanent Parent Visas
Australia’s parent visa program offers pathways for parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents to live in Australia on a permanent basis. Among the available options are the Subclass 143 Contributory Parent Visa, the Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent Visa, and the Subclass 804 Aged Parent Visa. However, demand for these visas significantly outweighs the available supply, leading to long processing times. Below, we explore the criteria for visa applicants and sponsors, who these visas are intended for, and what they entitle the applicant to do.
Who Are These Visas For?
- Subclass 143 Contributory Parent Visa: This visa is designed for parents who wish to live permanently in Australia and are willing to pay higher visa charges in exchange for faster processing compared to non-contributory parent visas. Applicants for this visa must apply offshore.
- Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent Visa: This visa is similar to the Subclass 143 visa but is specifically for older parents who meet the eligibility age for an Australian Age Pension (67 years or older). This visa can be lodged onshore, allowing applicants to remain in Australia while their visa is processed.
- Subclass 804 Aged Parent Visa: This is a non-contributory permanent parent visa available to aged parents. While it has lower visa charges, processing times are extremely long due to high demand and limited quotas. Applicants must be 67 years or older and can apply onshore if they meet the age requirement.
Criteria for Visa Applicants
- Parental Relationship: All applicants must be the biological, adoptive, or step-parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Balance of Family Test: Applicants must pass the Balance of Family Test, which means at least half of the applicant’s children must live permanently in Australia, or more of their children live in Australia than in any other country.
- Age Requirement: For the Subclass 864 and Subclass 804 visas, applicants must be 67 years of age or older to apply for these visas onshore, meaning they can remain in Australia while their visa is being processed.
- Health and Character Requirements: Visa applicants must meet health and character requirements, which usually involve medical examinations and police clearance certificates.
- Health Insurance: Applicants should maintain adequate health insurance to cover any healthcare needs while they are waiting for the visa decision, especially for those applying for onshore visas.
Criteria for Sponsors
The sponsor, usually the parent’s child or their child’s partner, must meet specific requirements:
- Australian Citizenship or Permanent Residency: The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen who is usually residing in Australia.
- Sponsorship Responsibility: The sponsor is responsible for financially supporting the parent and must be willing to provide an Assurance of Support (AoS). This AoS is a financial commitment to the Australian Government to ensure the parent will not rely on government support for a specified period (typically 10 years for the Subclass 143 and 864 visas).
What the Visas Entitle the Applicant To Do
The Subclass 143, Subclass 864, and Subclass 804 visas allow parents to:
- Live permanently in Australia: Once the visa is granted, parents have permanent residency status.
- Access Medicare: Permanent resident visa holders can access Australia’s public healthcare system.
- Work and Study: Visa holders have full rights to work and study in Australia.
- Sponsor Family Members: Parents can sponsor other family members to join them in Australia if they meet the requirements.
- Apply for Australian Citizenship: After meeting the residency requirements, visa holders may be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship.
The Reality of Processing Times: Demand vs. Supply
One of the most significant challenges for applicants is the length of time it takes for these visas to be processed. Due to the high demand and limited annual visa quotas, processing times for the Subclass 143 and 864 visas can range from 16 to 12 years, even for the contributory categories, which are designed to be faster. For the Subclass 804 Aged Parent Visa, processing times can stretch beyond 20 years, making it an impractical option for most families.
The Subclass 804 visa, being a non-contributory option, has a lower visa cost, but the extremely long processing times mean it may not be a viable choice for many applicants. The combination of limited supply and high demand makes it unlikely that non-contributory offshore parent visas, such as the Subclass 103 Parent Visa, will be processed in a reasonable timeframe. In most cases, there is no point in lodging an offshore non-contributory parent visa due to the excessive wait times.
The Onshore Option: Bridging Visa A
For aged parents who meet the age requirement (67 years or older), applying for the Subclass 864 or Subclass 804 visas onshore offers a significant advantage. Once the visa application is lodged onshore, the applicant will typically be granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA). This bridging visa allows the applicant to remain in Australia legally while awaiting the outcome of their parent visa application.
With a Bridging Visa A, the visa holder can:
- Stay in Australia indefinitely while their application is processed.
- Access Medicare, Australia’s public healthcare system.
- Apply for work rights, although work rights are not automatically granted and may need to be requested through a separate application, especially if financial hardship can be demonstrated.
However, it’s important to note that a Bridging Visa A does not allow travel outside of Australia. If the applicant wishes to travel overseas while their visa application is being processed, they would need to apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB), which allows travel and re-entry into Australia.
Contributory vs. Non-Contributory Parent Visas: What’s the Best Option?
While both contributory and non-contributory parent visas offer a pathway to permanent residency, the choice between them often comes down to a balance of cost and time. Contributory Parent Visas (Subclass 143 and 864) require a significant financial contribution, with total visa costs reaching up to AUD 47,955 per applicant as of 2024. However, the processing times are much shorter than for non-contributory visas, making them a more practical choice for families who want to reunite sooner.
The Subclass 804 Aged Parent Visa, while more affordable, comes with excessively long waiting periods, often beyond two decades. Given the impracticality of these long waits, most families are encouraged to consider the contributory option if they are financially able to do so.
Conclusion
The Subclass 143, Subclass 864, and Subclass 804 parent visas offer a pathway to reunite parents with their children in Australia on a permanent basis. However, the key challenges lie in the long processing times and high costs for the contributory visas. For aged parents who wish to stay in Australia while their visa is processed, lodging an onshore application offers the advantage of remaining legally in Australia on a Bridging Visa A with access to Medicare.
Families are encouraged to carefully weigh their options, considering both the financial commitment and the lengthy wait times, to make the best decision for their situation.
Frequently Asked Questions on Australian Parent Visas
What types of parent visas are available for permanent residency in Australia?
There are two main categories of parent visas for permanent residency in Australia:
- Contributory Parent Visas (Subclass 143 or 864 for permanent and 173 for temporary): These visas have higher application costs but are typically processed faster.
- Non-Contributory Parent Visas (Subclass 804): This visa has a lower application cost but a much longer processing time, often exceeding 20 years due to limited annual allocations. Additionally, there is the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 870), which allows parents to stay temporarily in Australia for up to 5 years but does not lead to permanent residency.
What is the Balance of Family Test, and do my parents need to meet it?
The Balance of Family Test is a crucial eligibility requirement for all permanent parent visas. It requires that at least half of your parent’s children live permanently in Australia, or more of their children reside in Australia than in any other country. For example, if a parent has four children, two must be living permanently in Australia as either Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents to meet the test.
What are the financial requirements for a Contributory Parent Visa?
The Contributory Parent Visas (Subclass 143 Offshore & Subclass 864 Onshore) involve significant costs. In addition to the initial visa application charge that is circa $A4895 for the main applicant, and the second visa application charge of A$43,600 per person is due when a Case Officer has been assigned and all applicants meet all the criteria for the visa grant.
Additionally, applicants must provide an Assurance of Support (AoS), which involves a financial bond that can be up to AUD 10,000 for the primary applicant and AUD 4,000 for each additional adult family member.
How long does it take to process parent visa applications?
Processing times for parent visas vary significantly depending on the visa type:
- Contributory Parent Visa: Processing time is approximately 6-12 years
- Non-Contributory Parent Visa: This visa can take over 20 years due to long waiting queues and limited quotas each year.
- Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa: Processing time is generally faster, between 3-12 months, but this visa does not lead to permanent residency. It’s important to consider the waiting period and plan accordingly.
Can my parents apply for a parent visa while they are in Australia?
Yes, your parents can apply for some parent visas while they are in Australia on if the main applicant is 67 years of age or older. Specifically, the Contributory Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 864) and the Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 804) allow applications onshore, provided the parent is 67 years of age at time of lodgement.
For other visas, such as the Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143) or the Non-Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 103), applications can be lodged offshore and there is no age restriction for offshore applications.
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