Australia Parent Visa Types

There are essentially two main types of Australian Parent Visas leading to permanent residency: Contributory and Non-Contributory. The main difference between these two types is the duration it takes to process and how much they cost.

There is also a type of visa which is easier to receive but does not lead to permanent residency: the Temporary Sponsored Family Visa (870).

Australia Parent Visa Types

The Australian visas for parents are grouped into the following categories:

• Contributory Parent Visas.
• Non-Contributory Parent Visas.
• Sponsored Parent Visa.

Contributory Parent Visas

Contributory Parent Visas allow you to join your child in Australia as a permanent resident and open the possibility to apply for citizenship a few years down the line. They are called “Contributory” Visas because of the large sum of money that is contributed upon application – approximately AUD 40,000 for the main applicant.

The appeal of the Contributory Parent Visas is that they are processed a lot quicker than their counterparts. You can expect to have the visa within about four to five years.

The Contributory Parent Visas are issued to non-pensioner parents of Australian residents, and are divided into:

• Temporary Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 173). This visa is valid for a maximum of two years, during which time you have to apply for the permanent visa. It allows you to work and study, but you cannot extend it – you must apply for the 143 to extend your stay.
• Permanent Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143). This is a permanent visa type. You can either apply for this visa directly or you can apply for the 173 Visa first and then switch it into the 143.
• The Contributory Aged Parent Visas are issued to pensioner parents of Australian residents. To be eligible for this visa type, you have to be of pension age as defined by Australian law. They are divided into:
  • Subclass 884 Visa. This is a temporary visa, which you can use to stay in Australia for two years and apply for the permanent visa.
  • Subclass 864. This is the permanent version of the Contributory Aged Parent Visa. You may apply for it directly or switch to the 864 from the 884.

When you submit the application for either of these visas, you must be in Australia, and you can remain there until the visa is processed using a bridging visa.

Non-Contributory Parent Visas

Non-Contributory Parent Visas include the 103 and 804 Visa types. While they both also lead to permanent residency (even citizenship after a few years) and the fee is much lower, they take a very long time to process – about 20 to 30 years!

• The Subclass 103 Parent Visa leads to permanent residency. The requirements for this type of visa are similar to the contributory kind, but the fee is much lower and you will have to wait much longer to receive it (up to 30 years). Additionally, in most cases, you cannot be in Australia when your application is being processed.
• The Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 804) is a non-contributory visa, which means it also takes up to 30 years to receive permanent residence in Australia. However, you have to travel to Australia to submit the visa application and you will receive a bridging visa to allow you to live there legally until it the visa processed.

Just as with its Contributory Visa counterpart, you also have to be of pension age to be eligible for the 804 Visa.

Requirements for a Parent Visa in Australia

To receive any of the Australian Parent Visa types, you must fulfill the following conditions:

• You must have a child living in Australia. They can be your biological, adopted, or step-child.
• Your child must be able to sponsor you and meet the income requirements.
• You must have more children living in Australia than any other country (except for the 870 Visa).
• Your child must offer you assurance of support (except for the 870 Visa).
• Meet the pension age requirement. The pension age in Australia is gradually increasing, so depending on when you submit your application, you have to be:
  • 66 years of age, if you apply until 1 July 2021.
  • 66 years and 6 months, if you apply from 1 July 2021 – 1 July 2023.
  • 67 years, if you apply after 1 July 2023.

Supporting Documents For Australia Parent Visa Application

• Valid Passport: Your current passport (or the one you used to enter Australia).
• Photographs: Four recent passport‐sized photos per applicant that meet the Australian visa photo guidelines (typically 45mm x 35mm with a white background).
• Birth Certificate (or equivalent): A copy showing both your parents’ names. If unavailable, acceptable alternatives include:
  • Family registration document
  • Government-issued identification
  • Court-issued document verifying your identity
• Birth Certificates for Family Members: Copies for all people included in your application – including all children (even those living overseas) with both parents’ names.
• Completed Forms:
  • Sponsorship for Migration to Australia (Form 40) – completed and signed by your sponsor.
  • Application Form for Parent Visa (Form 47PA) – completed and signed by you.
• Relationship Evidence: Documents proving family ties, which may include:
  • Marriage certificate (for current or previous marriages)
  • Divorce documents (if applicable)
  • Death certificate (if widowed)
  • Adoption certificate (for any adopted children)
  • Custody documents (if a child under 18 is applying with only one parent)
  • Documents showing any legal name change
• Proof of Visa Fee Payment: Receipt or other evidence showing that you have paid the first installment of the visa fee.
• Additional Evidence of Relationship (if required): For example, if your sponsor is not your child, you must submit proof of the relationship.
• Proof of Military Service (if applicable): If you have served in the military, include evidence such as discharge records.

How to Apply for a Parent Visa?

1. Sponsor Completes the Sponsorship Form. Your child (or sponsor) must complete the appropriate sponsorship form (usually Form 40 or the electronic sponsorship application, depending on the visa type). This form must accompany your application.
2. Gather Required Documents. You must gather all the required documents as outlined in the document checklist for your visa. This typically includes personal identification, evidence of your relationship with your sponsor, health and character documents, and any other documents specific to your situation.
3. Submit Your Application. You (or your sponsor, on your behalf) send the completed application documents – along with the sponsorship form and initial fee payment – to the Parent Visa Centre (PVC) or via the appropriate online system (such as ImmiAccount for some visas). For some visas you need to be in Australia at the time of application, while for others you can apply from abroad. In most cases, the process starts with the payment of a first instalment of the visa fee when submitting your documents.
4. Wait for Processing. The Department of Home Affairs (or PVC) reviews your application for eligibility and places it in a processing queue. In many cases, there is a long waiting period before final processing begins. If you are in Australia while your application is processed, you may be granted a Bridging Visa to remain legally during the wait.
5. Final Processing and Additional Fee Payment. When your application reaches the stage of final processing, you will generally be required to pay the second instalment of the visa fee. After all steps are complete and fees are paid, your visa is finalized and issued.

Frequently Asked Questions