Family Visa
Family visa pathways allow eligible partners, parents, children, and fiancé(e)s of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia temporarily or permanently, depending on the visa subclass and their circumstances.
3. Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143) / Aged Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 864)
Significant high visa application fees may apply.
The Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 143) and the Aged Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 864) allow parents of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to migrate to Australia as permanent residents.
These visas enable parents to live in Australia permanently, work and study, enrol in Medicare, sponsor eligible relatives, and eventually apply for Australian citizenship if eligible.
The key difference between Subclass 143 and Subclass 864 is the location of the applicant and the age requirement at the time of application. The Subclass 143 visa is generally applied for offshore, while the Subclass 864 visa is an onshore visa designed for parents who are old enough to qualify for the Australian Age Pension age and who are already in Australia when applying.
Sponsor Requirements
To sponsor a parent for the Subclass 143 or Subclass 864 visa, the sponsor must:
•Be the applicant’s eligible child, who is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
•Be settled in Australia
•Be 18 years of age or older
•Complete the sponsorship application (Form 40) and be approved by the Department of Home Affairs
•Agree to provide accommodation, financial assistance, and general support to the visa applicant for the first 2 years after arrival in Australia
•Potentially arrange an Assurance of Support, which is a legal commitment to repay the Australian Government if the visa holder receives certain welfare payments
Applicant Requirements
To be eligible for the Subclass 143 or Subclass 864 visa, the applicant must:
•Be the parent of an eligible child who is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
•Be sponsored by an approved sponsor, usually their child
•Meet the Balance of Family Test
•Be able to obtain an Assurance of Support when requested
•Meet health and character requirements
•Have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government or have arranged repayment
The Balance of Family Test means:
•At least half of their children live permanently in Australia, or
•More children live in Australia than in any other single country
Applicants may include eligible family members in the application, and once the visa is granted they can stay in Australia permanently with access to work rights, Medicare, and pathways to citizenship.