The parent visa is a great option for somebody who wants to join their children living in Australia.
In general, you should be aware of the following elements which are applicable to each parent visa:
Balance of family test - This requires you to be able to show that at least half of the applicants children live permanently in Australia
Sponsorship - The applicant must be sponsored by one of their children who has been settled in Australia for at least 2 years and is 18 years or over
Assurance of support - This is a guarantee that the applicant(s) won’t rely on Government support for the first two years of their visa. This can be provided by the sponsor or another person/entity.
There are many different types of parent visas.
Below is a summary of the different types of parent visas:
Parent Visa
subclass 103
Important features:
Permanent visa
No age restriction
Average processing time 30+ years
No Bridging Visa is available (can be submitted offshore or onshore, but must be offshore when a decision is made)
Less expensive
Aged Parent Visa
subclass 804
Important features:
Permanent visa
Primary applicant must be 67 years or over
Average processing time 30+ years
Onshore application - A Bridging Visa is granted which allows the applicants to reside in Australia whilst the application is processing
Less expensive
Contributory Parent Visa
subclass 143
Permanent visa
No age restriction
Very expensive application fee
Current average processing time aprox. 10 years
No Bridging Visa available (can be submitted offshore or onshore, but must be offshore when a decision is made)
Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa
subclass 173
Temporary visa - granted for 2 years (after which an application can be made for a permanent visa)
Splits the expensive application fees over two applications
Current average processing time minimum 6-10 years
No Bridging Visa available (can be submitted offshore or onshore, but must be offshore when a decision is made)
Contributory Aged Parent Visa
subclass 864
Permanent visa
Primary applicant must be 67 years or over
Very expensive application fee
Current average processing time aprox.10 years
Onshore application - A Bridging Visa is granted which allows the applicants to reside in Australia whilst the application is processing
Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa
subclass 884
Temporary visa - granted for 2 years (after which an application can be made for a permanent visa)
Splits the expensive application fees over two applications
Current average processing time minimum 6-10 years
Onshore application - A Bridging Visa is granted which allows the applicants to reside in Australia whilst the application is processing