Parent Visas
Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa
Subclass 884
This visa subclass allows aged parents of settled Australian citizens, Permanent Residents or Eligible New Zealand citizens to join their children in Australia temporarily, until eligible to apply for a permanent residency (Contributory Aged Parent Visa – Subclass 864).
You will be able to live, work and study in Australia for up to 2 years, however during this time you will not receive any government support.
If you hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa subclass 870 visa, you are not eligible to apply for this visa. You may include eligible family members on this visa such as your partner.
Your eligible child will be your sponsor (in most cases), but you may also be sponsored by an eligible relative or community organization. You must pass the balance-of-family test, which means that at least ½ of your children (including stepchildren) must be settled Australian citizens, Permanent Residents or Eligible New Zealand citizens.
Common requirements
- Be 30 of age*
- Be sponsored by an eligible child
- Pass the balance-of-family test
- Have assurance of support
- Meet health and character requirements
Contributory Aged Parent Visa
Subclass 864
This visa allows eligible aged parents to remain in Australia indefinitely, as permanent residents. You will be eligible to apply for Medicare. You may apply for an Australian Citizenship. If you hold a visa subclass 884, this is the 2-stage of the process. You may include eligible family members on this visa such as your partner.
If you hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa subclass 870 visa, you are not eligible to apply for this visa. You may include eligible family members on this visa such as your partner.
Aged Parent Visa
Subclass 804
This visa subclass allows aged parents of settled Australian citizens, Permanent Residents or Eligible New Zealand citizens to remain in Australia indefinitely, as permanent residents.
As this is a non-contributory visa, it has a very lengthy processing time, this means that it may take decades for a decision to be made.
Common requirements
- Be of age*
- Be sponsored by an eligible child
- Pass the balance-of-family test
- Have assurance of support
- Meet health and character requirements
Only aged* parents are eligible to apply, and the age must be equivalent to the age pension in Australia:
Period within which a person was born | Pension age | Date pension age changes |
From 1 July 1952 to 31 December 1953 | 65 years and 6 months | 1 July 2017 |
From 1 January 1954 to 30 June 1955 | 66 years | 1 July 2019 |
From 1 July 1955 to 31 December 1956 | 66 years and 6 months | 1 July 2021 |
From 1 January 1957 onwards | 67 years | 1 July 2023 |
Contributory Parent Visa
Subclass 173
Common requirements
- Be sponsored by an eligible child
- Pass the balance-of-family test
- Have the assurance of support
- Meet health and character requirements
This visa subclass allows parents of settled Australian citizens, Permanent Residents or Eligible New Zealand citizens to join their children in Australia temporarily, until eligible to apply for a permanent residency (Contributory Aged Parent Visa – Subclass 864).
You will be able to live, work and study in Australia for up to 2 years, however during this time you will not receive any government support.
If you hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa subclass 870 visa, you are not eligible to apply for this visa. You may include eligible family members on this visa such as your partner.
Your eligible child will be your sponsor (in most cases), but you may also be sponsored by an eligible relative or community organization. You must pass the balance-of-family test, which means that at least ½ of your children (including stepchildren) must be settled Australian citizens, Permanent Residents or Eligible New Zealand citizens.
Contributory Parent Visa
Subclass 143
Common requirements
- Be sponsored by an eligible child
- Pass the balance-of-family test
- Have assurance of support
- Meet health and character requirements
This visa allows eligible aged parents to remain in Australia indefinitely, as permanent residents. You will be eligible to apply for Medicare. You may apply for an Australian Citizenship. If you hold a visa subclass 884, this is the 2-stage of the process. You may include eligible family members on this visa such as your partner.
If you hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa subclass 870 visa, you are not eligible to apply for this visa. You may include eligible family members on this visa such as your partner.
Parent Visa
Subclass 103
Common requirements
- Be sponsored by an eligible child
- Have assurance of support
- Pass the balance-of-family test
- Have a suitable health insurance
- Meet health and character requirements
This visa subclass allows parents of settled Australian citizens, Permanent Residents or Eligible New Zealand citizens to join to join their children in Australia, to live as permanent residences.
As this is a non-contributory visa, it has a very lengthy processing time, this means that it may take decades for a decision to be made.
Sponsored Parent (Temporary)
Subclass 870
Common requirements
- Be sponsored by an eligible sponsor
- Have the financial capacity to support yourself while in Australia
- Have genuine intention to stay in Australia temporarily
- Have a suitable health insurance
- Meet health and character requirements
This is only a temporary visa that allows parents of settled Australian citizens, Permanent Residents or Eligible New Zealand citizens to visit and stay in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years. To be eligible, you must be the biological, adoptive, or step-parent or parent-in-law of the parent sponsor.
Sponsors will need to provide evidence of a minimum annual taxable income of AU$ 83,454.80.
This is a 2-step process visa, first the sponsorship must be approved, then you have 6 months to lodge the visa application.
Different than other Parent visas, there is no balance-of-family test requirement. You may apply for further visas to stay up to a maximum of ten years as a holder of this visa subclass.
This visa has no working rights and it does not lead to a permanent residency in Australia.
Differences between Parent Visas
103 | 173 | 143 | 884 | 864 | 804 | 870 | |
Able to apply inside of Australia | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Permanent residency/ or Leads to a PR | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Balance-of-family test required | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Contributory/ Higher contribution (visa fee) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Longer processing time (up to decades) | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Our intent is to provide you only with a general overview information of these visa subclasses and/or any other migration matter. This information may not be up to date with migration regulations and legislations as migration law is very dynamic. If you intend to apply for this visa, we strongly recommend you schedule a migration consultation to discuss any applicable factors under your specific circumstances.