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Parent & Aged Parent Visas

Aged Parent Visa – Subclass 802 (Onshore)

The Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 802) allows eligible parents already in Australia to obtain permanent residency if sponsored by their child and they meet the balance-of-family requirement.

Eligibility Criteria

Sponsor Eligibility Requirements

  • Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible NZ citizen

  • Be at least 18 years old

  • Meet character requirements

  • Have met income requirements (where applicable)

  • Comply with sponsorship limitations

Parent (Applicant) Eligibility Requirements

  • Be the biological, adoptive, or step-parent of the sponsor

  • Be aged 65 or older (or meet the age criteria if other exemptions apply)

  • Meet the balance-of-family requirement: at least 50% of children live in Australia, or more than half if only two children exist

  • Meet health and character requirements

  • Be genuinely intending to live with the sponsor in Australia

Health and Character Requirements

  • Must meet Australia’s health criteria

  • Must provide police clearance certificates

  • Must not pose a significant cost to Australia’s health system

Australian Parent Visa Options – Subclasses 103, 143, 173, 804, 864, 884

​Australian Parent Visas allow parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia permanently or temporarily, depending on the subclass.

Parent visas are highly regulated, with eligibility requirements including balance-of-family rules, sponsorship, and age criteria for certain visas.

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Parent visa options in Australia involve significant costs, specifically high second-instalment fees for "Contributory" visas, an Assurance of Support (AoS) bond, and, for permanent visa holders, access to Medicare.

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  • Contributory parent visas (143/173/864/884): faster processing (2–6 years) but cost over AUD 47,000 per applicant

  • Non-contributory visas (103/804): cheaper (approx. AUD 6,000–7,000) but have waiting times up to 30 years

Sponsor Requirements

  • Must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen

  • Must be at least 18 years old

  • Must meet character requirements

  • Must comply with sponsorship limitations

  • Must meet income requirements for contributory parent visas (173, 143, 864)

Parent / Applicant Requirements

  • Be the biological, adoptive, or step-parent of the sponsor

  • Meet balance-of-family rules: generally at least 50% of children must live in Australia, or more than half if only two children exist

  • Meet health and character requirements

  • Be genuinely intending to live with the sponsor in Australia

Meet age requirements for aged parent visas (804, 864)

Health and Character Requirements

  • Must meet Australia’s health criteria

  • Must provide police clearance certificates

  • Must not pose a significant cost to the Australian health system

Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa – Subclass 870​

The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 870) allows eligible parents of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to reside in Australia temporarily for extended periods. This visa is designed to facilitate family reunification while maintaining strict sponsorship and compliance requirements.

 

This visa is temporary only and does not provide a pathway to permanent residency.

Sponsor Eligibility Requirements

Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen

  • Be at least 18 years of age

  • Have resided in Australia for at least 4 years

  • Meet minimum taxable income requirements

  • Pass character and compliance checks

  • Have no outstanding government debts

  • Comply with sponsorship obligations

Parent Eligibility Requirements

Be the biological, adoptive, step-parent, or parent-in-law of the sponsor

  • Be at least 18 years of age

  • Intend to stay temporarily in Australia

  • Meet health and character requirements

  • Maintain adequate private health insurance

  • Have sufficient financial capacity

Visa Conditions

  • No work rights

  • Mandatory private health insurance

  • Compliance with Australian laws

  • No access to public welfare

  • Must not overstay the visa

How we can help you

We provide comprehensive immigration legal services, including:

  • Eligibility and risk assessment for parent and sponsor

  • Strategic advice on balance-of-family evidence and contribution payments

  • Preparation and lodgement of sponsorship and visa applications

  • Assistance with health and character evidence

  • Management of Department of Home Affairs correspondence

  • Ongoing guidance until visa grant

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