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.
4. Parent Visa (Subclass 103 / Subclass 804) – Not Contributory
Lower visa application fees apply.
The Parent visa (Subclass 103) and the Aged Parent visa (Subclass 804) allow parents of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to migrate to Australia as permanent residents.
These visas allow successful applicants to live in Australia permanently, work and study, enrol in Medicare, sponsor eligible relatives, and potentially apply for Australian citizenship if eligible.
The key difference between Subclass 103 and Subclass 804 is the location and age of the applicant at the time of application. The Subclass 103 visa is generally applied for offshore, while the Subclass 804 visa is an onshore visa available to parents who meet the Australian Age Pension age requirement and are already in Australia when lodging the application.
Both visas provide permanent residency, although processing times are generally long due to annual migration program limits and queueing arrangements.
Sponsor Requirements
To sponsor a parent for the Subclass 103 or Subclass 804 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
•Submit and be approved for a sponsorship application (Form 40 Sponsorship for Migration to Australia)
•Agree to provide accommodation, financial assistance, and general support to the 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 for certain welfare payments made to the visa holder
Applicant Requirements
•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 by the Department
•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
Successful applicants are granted permanent residency in Australia, allowing them to live in Australia indefinitely with access to work rights, Medicare, and pathways to Australian citizenship if eligible.