Parent Visa

1. Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent)Visa (Subclass 864)

With this visa you can

stay in Australia indefinitely
work and study in Australia
enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme,Medicare
sponsor your relatives to come to Australia
apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible

Travel to and from Australia for 5 years

You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want for 5 years from the date we grant this visa. This is as long as the travel facility on this visa remains valid.

If you want to travel after the initial 5-year travel facility:

you will need to apply for and be granted a Resident Return (RRV) so that you can re-enter Australia as a permanent resident
you might also want to consider Australian citizenship. If you become an Australian citizen, you don’t require a visa to enter Australia. You will need to apply for an Australian passport and use it to leave and re-enter Australia. See more about eligibility requirements and current processing times for Australian citizenship

To see when your travel facility ends, use VEVO.

If you hold a Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) (subclass 884) visa

You can apply for the subclass 864 visa as a two-step process by first applying for a Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) (subclass 884) visa. Applying for the subclass 884 visa and then the subclass 864 visa allows you to spread the cost of the visas over a number of years.

You have already met the balance of family test.

How long you can stay

This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely.

For citizenship purposes, your permanent residency starts on the day we grant the visa.

We will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.

Eligibility Criteria

Not have this visa : you cannot apply for this visa if you have already appled for or hold a Sponsored Parent(Temporary)(Subclass 870) visa.
Have a sponsor
Meet the age requirement
Meet the character requirement
Sign the Australian value statement
Meet the balance-of-family test
Have assurance of support
Have paid back your debt to the Australian Government
Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused
Best interests of the child

2. Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 884)

With this visa you can

live in Australia for up to 2 years
work and study in Australia (you will not receive government support)
apply for a permanent Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864)

Apply for a Contributory Aged Parent (subclass 864) visa

You can apply for the permanent subclass 864 visa as a two-step process by first applying for a Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) subclass 884 visa. Applying for the subclass 884 visa and then the subclass 864 visa allows you to spread the cost of the visas over a number of years.

How long you can stay

This is a temporary visa. You can stay in Australia for 2 years.

The visa period starts on the date we grant the visa.

Eligibility Criteria

Not have this visa : you cannot apply for this visa if you have already appled for or hold a Sponsored Parent(Temporary)(Subclass 870) visa.
Have a sponsor
Meet the age requirement
Must not have a no further stay condition
Meet the character requirement
Meet the health requirement
Sign the Australian value statement
Meet the balance-of-family test
Have paid back your debt to the Australian Government
Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused
Best interests of the child

3. Contributory Parent Temporary Visa (Subclass 173)

With this visa you can

live in Australia for up to 2 years
work and study in Australia (you will not receive government support)
enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare
apply for a permanent Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143)

Apply for a Contributory Parent (subclass 143) visa

You can spread the cost of the permanent visa over a number of years by applying in 2 steps:

first, apply for the temporary Contributory Parent (Temporary) (subclass 173) visa, then
apply for the permanent Contributory Parent (subclass 143) visa

How long you can stay

This is a temporary visa. You can stay in Australia for 2 years.

The visa period starts on the date you enter Australia after you are granted the visa.

The visa is granted with multiple entry. You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want within two years.

Eligibility Criteria

Not have this visa : you cannot apply for this visa if you have already appled for or hold a Sponsored Parent(Temporary)(Subclass 870) visa.
Have a sponsor
Meet the character requirement
Meet the health requirement
Sign the Australian value statement
Meet the balance-of-family test
Have paid back your debt to the Australian Government
Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused
Best interests of the child

4. Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143)

With this visa you can

stay in Australia indefinitely
work and study in Australia
enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare
sponsor your family members to come to Australia
travel to and enter Australia for 5 years
apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible

Travel to and from Australia for 5 years

You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want for 5 years from the date we grant this visa. This is as long as the travel facility on this visa remains valid.

If you want to travel after the initial 5-year travel facility:

you will need to apply for and be granted a Resident Return (RRV) so that you can re-enter Australia as a permanent resident
you might also want to consider Australian citizenship. If you become an Australian citizen, you don’t require a visa to enter Australia. You will need to apply for an Australian passport and use it to leave and re-enter Australia. See more about eligibility requirements and current processing times for Australian citizenship

To see when your travel facility ends, use VEVO.

If you hold a Contributory Parent (Temporary) (subclass 173) visa

You can apply for the subclass 143 visa as a two-step process by first applying for a Contributory Parent (Temporary) (subclass 173) visa. Applying for the subclass 173 visa and then the subclass 143 visa allows you to spread the cost of the visas over a number of years.
You have already met the balance of family test.

Apply for a Parent visa (subclass 143) as a retiree

If you apply for the subclass 103 visa as a retiree you don’t have to:

meet the balance of family test, or
have a sponsor or an assurance of support

How long you can stay

This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely.

For citizenship purposes, your permanent residency starts on the day:

we grant the visa if you are in Australia
you enter Australia on this visa if you are outside Australia

Eligibility Criteria

Not have this visa : you cannot apply for this visa if you have already appled for or hold a Sponsored Parent(Temporary)(Subclass 870) visa.
Apply as a retiree
Have a sponsor
Meet the character requirement
Meet the health requirement
Have assurance of support
Sign the Australian value statement
Meet the balance-of-family test
Have health insurance
Have paid back your debt to the Australian Government
Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused
Best interests of the child

5. Sponsored Parent Temporary Visa (Subclass 870)

With this visa you can

reunite with children
visit Australia for up to 3 or 5 years per visa
re-apply for further Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visas to visit up to a maximum period of 10 years in Australia

You cannot work in Australia while you hold this visa.

How long you can stay

This is a temporary visa. This visa does not lead to permanent residence. You cannot apply for a permanent parent visa when you have this visa.

You can apply to stay in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years at a time.

You can stay for the period or date(s) specified on the visa grant letter. We will determine the length of your visa on a case by case basis. Things we might consider when determining your stay period include:

how long you want to stay
the sponsorship cessation date

You might not be granted the length of stay you want.

Your visa will end:

on the date specified on the visa grant letter
if it is cancelled by us
if your sponsorship is withdrawn and you do not find a new Parent Sponsor
if we cancel the sponsorship

Eligibility Criteria

Be eligible to apply
Have a sponsor
Meet the character requirement
Meet the health requirement
Have met any previous visa obligations
Have enough money
Have a genuine intention to stay in Australia temporarily
Have health insurance
Have paid back your debt to the Australian Government