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Parent visa
(subclass 103)
The Subclass 103 Parent Visa allows parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to migrate and live in Australia permanently. This visa offers an incredible opportunity to reunite with your children and become part of the Australian community, enjoying the benefits of permanent residency. You can only apply for this visa through a paper application and can be in or outside Australia when you apply provided you meet specific eligibility.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the Subclass 103 Parent Visa, you need to meet specific eligibility requirements:
- Eligible Child: You must have a child who is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen. Your child must be settled in Australia, meaning they’ve lived there lawfully for a substantial period.
- Balance of Family Test: You must meet the balance-of-family test, which is a critical condition for your application. This test requires that at least half of your children live in Australia or that more of your children reside in Australia than in any other single country.
- Sponsorship: Usually, your child will be your sponsor. If your child is under 18, an eligible relative or community organization may sponsor you. If you’re applying as a retiree, you do not need a sponsor.
Visa Benefits
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.
In addition, you will receive:
- Work and Study Rights: You have the freedom to work and study in Australia without restrictions.
- Healthcare Access: As a permanent resident, you can access Australia’s public health care system, Medicare, which offers subsidized medical services.
Application Process
To apply for the Subclass 103 Parent Visa, follow these steps:
- Check Passport Validity: Ensure that both you and any applicants joining you have valid passports before applying.
- Gather Required Documents: Collect all necessary documents, including identity proof, balance-of-family documents, sponsorship forms, health and character documents, and evidence of financial support.
- Complete the Forms: Fill out the required forms:
- Form 47PA for the Parent Visa application.
- Form 40 for your sponsor’s details.
- Form 47A if any family members aged 18 years or older are applying.
- Submit Your Application: Submit your completed application via post. Ensure all documents are certified copies, not originals. Include payment for the first instalment of the application fee.
- Wait for Processing: The processing time for this visa can be lengthy due to high demand, as Parent visas are subject to a queue. It is important to be patient and provide any additional documents if requested.
Important Considerations
- Health and Character Requirements: You and any accompanying family members must meet the Australian health and character requirements. This may include undergoing health checks and providing police certificates.
- Assurance of Support: You may need to provide an assurance of support, which is a guarantee that you will not rely on government assistance once in Australia. If you are applying as a retiree, this requirement is waived.
- Existing Visa Applications: If you have an ongoing Parent visa application, you must withdraw it before applying for the Subclass 103 visa.
- Processing Times: The demand for Parent visas is high, so processing can take several years. Be aware of the extended wait times and plan accordingly.
Applying as a Retiree
If you are applying for the Subclass 103 Parent Visa as a retiree, there are some different requirements:
- No Balance of Family Test: Retirees are not required to meet the balance-of-family test.
- No Assurance of Support or Sponsor Required: As a retiree, you are not obligated to provide an assurance of support, and you do not need a sponsor.
- Health Insurance: You must maintain adequate health insurance until the visa is granted.
Cost of parent visa (subclass 103)
The Subclass 103 Parent Visa has specific charges that you need to budget for:
- Base application charge: AUD $5,125 (due when you submit your application)
- Second instalment charge: AUD $2,065 (due before your visa is granted)
If you are applying with family members, there are additional charges for each applicant:
- Applicants aged 18 or older: AUD $2,565 per person
- Applicants under 18 years old: AUD $1,285 per person
The application fee is paid in two instalments: the first instalment of $5,125 is paid when you submit your application and the second instalment of $2,065 is paid before the visa is granted. Additionally, applicants may need to cover extra costs, including health checks, police certificates, and biometrics (fingerprints and photographs).
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.
All applications for parent visas 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.
Other options
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.
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.