Parent visa
(subclass 103)
You can either relocate to or remain in Australia as a permanent resident, sponsor qualified family members to join you, apply for Australian citizenship if you meet the criteria, have an eligible child who is already settled in Australia, adhere to all visa requirements, comply with Australian laws, and ensure you haven’t already sought or possess a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa when applying for this particular visa.
With parent visa (subclass 103) you can
You can reside in Australia indefinitely, engage in work and studies within the country, enroll in Australia’s public healthcare program, Medicare, sponsor your family members to join you in Australia, and if eligible, apply for Australian citizenship.
Travel to and from Australia for 5 years
You have the flexibility to travel to and from Australia as frequently as desired for a period of five years from the visa issuance date, provided the travel authorization remains valid throughout this time.
After the initial five-year period, if you wish to continue traveling, you must apply for and receive a Resident Return (RRV) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident. Additionally, you might consider pursuing Australian citizenship. As an Australian citizen, you won’t need a visa to enter the country. Instead, you’ll apply for an Australian passport and use it for international travel. For more details on eligibility criteria and processing times for Australian citizenship, please refer to the relevant resources.
To determine when your travel authorization expires, you can check VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online).
Apply for a Parent visa (subclass 103) as a retiree
When applying for the subclass 103 visa as a retiree, you are not required to fulfill the balance of family test, nor are you obligated to have a sponsor or an assurance of support.
How long you can stay
Include family
When submitting your application, you have the option to include members of your family unit. It’s essential to provide details for all family members in your application form, regardless of whether they intend to migrate. All family members applying for the visa must satisfy health and character requirements. Additionally, family members who are not planning to move to Australia may still need to meet these requirements.
If you apply for this visa as a retiree, you have the opportunity to include your retired partner in your application. However, please note that children cannot be included in your application.
Newborn child
If your child is born after you have submitted your visa application, you will need to inform the relevant authorities and follow the necessary procedures outlined by the immigration department. Additionally, please be aware that there may be an additional charge for including your newborn child in your visa application, as each family member included in the application incurs a separate fee.
Cost of parent visa (subclass 103)
The cost of this visa starts from AUD4,990.00, with an additional charge for each accompanying family member.
Payment for the visa is divided into two parts, known as instalments. The first instalment is paid upon application, while the second instalment is paid upon request. For more details on visa fees and charges, please refer to the relevant information.
Additionally, there may be other expenses for each applicant, such as health checks, police certificates, and biometrics.
To estimate the total cost of your visa, you can use the Visa Pricing Estimator. However, please note that this tool does not account for the second instalment or additional costs.
Apply from
You have the flexibility to apply for the visa while being inside or outside Australia, except when you’re in immigration clearance.
If you apply within Australia, all accompanying family members must also be within Australia, but not in immigration clearance, at the time of application. Conversely, if you apply from outside Australia, your accompanying family members must also be outside the country during the application process.
For retirees applying for the visa, you must be within Australia, but not in immigration clearance, at the time of application. However, your location can be inside or outside Australia when a decision on your application is made.
Processing times
The demand for Parent visas exceeds the available quota each year, leading to potentially extended processing times for these applications.
For an estimate of processing times, you can refer to the visa processing time guide tool, which displays recent processing durations. However, please note that this tool provides general guidance and may not reflect the exact timeframe for your application.
Several factors can contribute to prolonged processing times, including incomplete application forms, missing documents, or the need for additional information from you. Delays may also occur if it takes longer than usual to verify the information provided.
It’s crucial to ensure the correct visa application charge is paid, as failure to do so can result in the inability to process your application. In such cases, you’ll be notified, and if necessary, your application will be returned.
Applications for this visa are subject to capping and queueing, which can affect processing times. For more details on processing times and the Parent visa queue, please refer to the relevant resources.
Further information on Migration Program outcomes and planning for each migration program year can be found in the Reports on Migration Programs.
Assessment
Applications for this visa undergo a two-stage assessment process:
Eligibility Check: We review your application to determine eligibility. If eligible, your application is either added to the queue for further processing or refused.
Decision Making: Once a place becomes available, we continue assessing your application and make a final decision. Please refrain from making arrangements to move to Australia until your visa is granted. We will notify you in writing if your visa is approved.
For more information on the Parent visa queue and processing priorities, please refer to the relevant resources.
You may also want to explore alternative visa options, including:
- Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143): This permanent visa option may have faster processing times but entails higher costs.
- Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173), followed by a permanent Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143): This two-step visa process may be quicker but involves higher costs compared to the subclass 103 visa. However, the expenses are spread across the two visas over a longer period.
- Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870): This temporary visa allows parents to visit their children in Australia for up to three or five years at a time, with a cumulative maximum period of 10 years.
You can explore all available visa options on our Visa list page.
Your obligations
Visa label
We will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.
Eligibility
Not have this visa
You cannot apply for this visa if you have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa.
Apply as a retiree
As a retiree, you are eligible to apply for a Parent visa (subclass 103) if:
- On 8 May 2018, you held or had previously held an Investor Retirement (subclass 405) visa or Retirement (subclass 410).
- You have not held any other substantive visa between 8 May 2018 and the date of your application for the Parent visa.
If you apply for this visa as a retiree:
- You are not required to meet the balance of family test.
- You are not obligated to have an assurance of support.
- You do not need a sponsor.
Have a sponsor
Typically, you would require sponsorship from an eligible sponsor, often an adult child. However, if your child is under 18, sponsorship by an eligible relative or community organization is permissible. Approval of the sponsorship by us is necessary.
If you apply for this visa as a retiree, sponsorship is not necessary.
Meet the balance-of-family test
To be eligible for the visa, you must satisfy the balance-of-family test, which entails:
- Having at least half of your children and step-children categorized as eligible children, or
- Having more eligible children residing in Australia than in any other single country.
However, if you apply for this visa as a retiree, meeting the balance of family test is not required.
Have assurance of support
To be eligible for this visa, you typically must be able to obtain an assurance of support. This ensures that you and any accompanying family members will not rely on government assistance after entering Australia.
We will notify you when it’s necessary to provide the assurance of support.
However, if you apply for the visa as a retiree, you are exempt from needing an assurance of support.
For further information on assurances of support, please refer to the relevant resources.
Meet the health requirement
You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health requirement.
We might also ask that other non-migrating family members meet the requirement.
Have paid back your debt to the Australian Government
If you or any family members owe the Australian Government money you, or they, must have paid it back or have an approved formal arrangement to pay it back.
Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused
When assessing your application, we will take into account your immigration history. This means that if you have had a visa cancelled or refused, you may not be eligible for this visa.
However, there are some circumstances where you may still be able to apply for a permanent visa even if you have had a visa cancelled or an application refused. Please refer to the Limitations on applications in Australia section for more information.
If you are applying for a visa from outside Australia, please consult the Can I go to Australia section.
If you require immigration assistance, please refer to the Who can help with your visa application section.
Sign the Australian values statement
If you are 18 years of age or older, you are required to:
- Read the Life in Australia book or have its contents explained to you.
- Sign an Australian Values Statement, affirming your commitment to respecting the Australian way of life and adhering to Australian laws.
Have health insurance
While in Australia, you are responsible for covering all your healthcare expenses. Having medical insurance can help mitigate your financial liability.
If you apply for this visa as a retiree, it’s mandatory to maintain sufficient health insurance until you receive the Parent visa. Your insurance should provide coverage for necessary medical treatments, including transportation.
For guidance on what constitutes adequate health insurance, refer to our provided guidelines. You can also explore further information on health insurance for overseas visitors.
Additionally, certain countries have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia. To learn more about these agreements, you can consult Services Australia.
Best interests of the child
This visa will not be granted if it is not deemed to be in the best interests of an applicant who is under 18 years of age.
Conditions
8502 - Not arrive before person specified in visa
You are prohibited from entering Australia before the individual specified in the visa, typically the primary visa holder or another relevant person such as your sponsor in the case of a Partner visa, has entered the country.
8515 - Must not marry or enter into a de facto relationship before entry
Before entering Australia, it’s important not to marry or enter into a de facto relationship.
If your contact details have changed, please refer to the appropriate procedures for updating them.
Failure to disclose an engagement, marriage, or de facto relationship that occurred before the visa was granted may result in the cancellation of your visa upon discovery.
This visa is permanent, allowing you to reside in Australia indefinitely. From the day the visa is granted, your permanent residency status begins, which is significant for citizenship eligibility purposes.