How to apply for a parent visa in Australia, step by step. A registered migration agent in Brisbane explains the options, the balance-of-family test and sponsorship.
To apply for a parent visa in Australia you first choose the right visa for your budget and timeline, check that your parent passes the balance-of-family test, arrange an eligible sponsor (usually the child living in Australia), then lodge the application with the supporting documents and pay the charges in stages. The main choices are the contributory parent visas, which cost more but are processed far faster, the non-contributory parent visas, which are cheaper but have very long queues, and the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870), which lets a parent visit for extended periods without leading to permanent residency. Getting the pathway choice right at the start is the single most important decision, because it locks in your cost and your wait. Here’s the full process.
There are three groups, and they behave very differently:
Your choice depends on your budget, how long you’re prepared to wait, and whether permanent residency is the goal. This is where a plan beats guesswork.
Most parent visas require the parent to pass the balance-of-family test. In plain terms, at least half of the parent’s children must live permanently in Australia, or more of the children must live in Australia than in any other single country. This is one of the first things to check, because if the parent doesn’t pass, several options are closed before you begin. The temporary 870 visa doesn’t use the balance-of-family test, which is one reason it suits some families.
The sponsor is usually the child living in Australia, who needs to be a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. For the permanent parent visas the sponsorship is part of the application. For the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870), the sponsor has to be approved first as a separate step, and there are income requirements to meet. Getting the sponsor approved is a hurdle in its own right for the 870.
Whichever pathway you choose, you’ll be pulling together identity documents, evidence of the family relationship, the sponsor’s documents, and health and character material. Parents will generally need health examinations and police checks. Accuracy matters here, because a gap or inconsistency invites a request for more information and adds time to a process that’s already long.
Parent visa charges are typically paid in stages. For contributory visas there’s an initial charge at lodgement and a substantial second instalment paid before the visa is granted, often the biggest single cost in the whole process. After lodgement you wait, sometimes years for the non-contributory options, and the department may come back for updated health and police checks if the wait is long. When everything is satisfied, the visa is granted.
Because permanent parent visas can sit in a queue for a long time, plenty of families use a Visitor visa (subclass 600) so a parent can spend extended stretches in Australia in the meantime. It’s not a substitute for the parent visa, but it keeps the family together while the main application is processed. We often set this up alongside the primary application. See our Visitor & Tourist Visa page.
Parent visas are expensive and slow, which makes a wrong turn costly. It’s worth getting advice when you’re unsure which pathway fits, when the balance-of-family test is borderline, when the sponsor’s eligibility or income is in question, or when you want to run a visitor visa alongside the main application. We map the options against your budget and timeline before you commit a cent.
Choose the right visa for your budget and timeline, confirm your parent passes the balance-of-family test, arrange an eligible sponsor, then lodge the application with supporting documents and pay the charges in stages. The pathway choice at the start shapes everything that follows.
It depends on cost and patience. Contributory visas cost more but are processed faster, non-contributory visas are cheaper but have very long queues, and the temporary 870 lets a parent visit for years without permanent residency. We help you weigh them up.
It generally requires at least half of a parent’s children to live permanently in Australia, or more to live here than in any other single country. Passing it is a condition for most parent visas, though not for the 870.
Usually the child in Australia, who must be a settled citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. For the 870, the sponsor must be approved first and meet income requirements.
It varies enormously by pathway. Contributory visas are processed much faster than non-contributory ones, which can take many years. We give you a realistic timeframe for the option you choose rather than a fixed number.
Often yes, on a Visitor visa (subclass 600). It keeps the family together during a long wait, though it isn’t a replacement for the parent visa itself.
On a permanent parent visa, yes. The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (870) does not allow work, since it’s designed for visiting family.
In many cases, yes. The definition of parent for these visas is broader than people expect. We’ll confirm whether the relationship qualifies.
Broadly, identity documents, evidence of the family relationship, the sponsor’s documents, and health and character material including examinations and police checks. Keeping them current matters over a long wait.
Yes. Some parent visas are applied for offshore and others onshore, depending on the subclass and circumstances. We handle applications for families both in Australia and overseas.
Reuniting your family is worth getting right the first time. Learn more on our Parent Visa page, then book a consultation with a registered migration agent in Brisbane. Call 0434 893 901 or contact us online and we’ll map out your options.
