Bringing Your Parents to Australia: A Simple Guide

Living in Australia while your parents are overseas is tough. The good news? Australia has clear visa options designed to reunite families—whether for an extended visit or permanent life Down Under.

The 3 Main Options

Depending on your budget and timeline, parent visas generally fall into three paths:

1. Extended Visit (Temporary Subclass 870)

Best if you want your parents here quickly without permanent migration. They can stay continuously for 3 or 5 years at a time.

2. Fast-Track Permanent (Contributory Parent Visas)

This route grants permanent residency much faster than standard queues, but carries significantly higher government fees per parent.

3. Budget Permanent (Non-Contributory Parent Visas)

A much lower upfront cost for permanent residency, but comes with extremely long waiting queues that can take decades.

Who Qualifies?

Every parent visa has its own rules, but the basic checkpoints are straightforward:

• Eligible Child: The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen living settled in Australia.
• The “Balance of Family” Test: For most permanent visas, at least half of the applicant’s children must live permanently in Australia, or more children must live in Australia than in any other single country. (Note: The temporary 870 visa skips this requirement!)
• Health and Character: Basic health examinations and standard police clearances.

Ready to Plan the Next Step?

Parent visas involve important trade-offs between cost and wait times. Choosing the right stream early saves thousands in fees and months of waiting.