How to bring your parents to live in Australia

Applying for a parent visa can be a complicated process, but it is worth it to be able to bring your parents to live in Australia. There are a number of parent visas available for this propose.

The first step is to make sure that you (the sponsor) meet the eligibility criteria. You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and you must be over 18 years of age. You will also need to show that you have enough money to support your parents financially. Once you have met the eligibility requirements, you can begin the application process.

There are mainly two types of parent visas: the contributory parent visa and the non-contributory parent visa. The type of visa that you apply for will depend on your financial situation, and the timeframes vary from contributory to non-contributory.

The most common parent visa is the Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa, which allows parents to live in Australia for up to two years. This visa requires a significant financial contribution from the applicant, as well as proof of health insurance. This is a provisional visa which means it can be converted to a Contributory Parent (Permanent) visa.

Contributory Parent (Permanent) visa allows parents to live in Australia indefinitely, the applicant must meet the balance-of-family test. Non-Contributory Parent visa does not require a financial contribution but has a longer processing time (currently over 20 years), the applicant must also meet the balance-of-family test. For Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa the applicant must have an approved Sponsor, with a certain lever of income, and for this visa subclass the applicant does not need to meet the balance-of-family test.

The subclasses of the Parent Visa, include:

- Subclass 804: Aged Parent visa allows the parent to stay in Australia as a permanent resident.

- Subclass 884: Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa allows the aged parent to stay in Australia for up to 2 years, work, and study.

- Subclass 864: Contributory Aged Parent visa allows the parent to stay in Australia as a permanent resident, to work and study in Australia.

- Subclass 173: Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa allows the parent to stay in Australia for up to 2 years, work, and study.

- Subclass 143: Contributory Parent visa allows the parent to stay in Australia as a permanent resident, to work and study in Australia.

- Subclass 103: Parent visa allows the parent to stay in Australia as a permanent resident, to work and study in Australia.

- Subclass 870: Sponsored Parent visa allows the parent to stay in Australia up to 3 or 5 years, but cannot work or study in Australia.

In case your parents only want to visit temporarily Australia, depending on their eligibility, they can also apply for a visitor visa. Parents of Australian permanent residents or citizens may be eligible for a visitor visa that enables longer stays in Australia of up to 12 months in any 18-month period.

If you're not sure which parent visa is right for you, our team of migration experts can help you assess your options and make the best decision for your situation.