For the people you want nearby
Parent Visas. More life, shared together.
Make plans for more time with family in Australia. Understand temporary visits, permanent parent pathways and the commitments behind each option.
Prefer to talk? +61 3 9078 6819
A future worth planning for
Family is the reason. A clear plan is the starting point.
You may want a longer visit with your children, a permanent home closer to family or a clearer understanding of an application already in the queue.
Parent pathways have different requirements. Age, family links, sponsorship, current visa conditions and the financial commitments can all shape the options. A temporary visa also means something different from permanent residence.
We start with your family's circumstances and explain the choices in practical terms, including the wait and what needs its own plan while an application is being assessed.
Different plans. Different pathways.
Find a starting point that fits your family.
Start with the type of stay you want, then check the requirements. Each visa has its own application, costs and conditions.
More time together.
For parents planning an extended temporary visit. The 870 has a separate sponsor approval process and does not lead to permanent residence.
- Stay
- Up to 3 or 5 years per visa
- Family test
- Not required for the 870
- Work
- Not permitted
A permanent goal.
Higher visa charges and substantial waits. Compare direct permanent applications with the two-year temporary stages that can spread costs across separate applications.
- Permanent
- Subclasses 143 and 864
- Staged
- 173 to 143 or 884 to 864
- Processing
- Capped and queued
A longer horizon.
Permanent options with lower application charges than contributory pathways and a much longer queue. The aged-parent route also has age and onshore requirements.
- Permanent
- Subclasses 103 and 804
- Age
- Aged threshold for the 804
- Processing
- Capped and queued
The two-year 173 and 884 visas are different from the 870. Their initial applications face contributory parent queues, and permanent residence requires a separate application. The 870 is an extended temporary visit.
Start with the right questions
Your family links. Your circumstances. Your next step.
We review the relevant people and requirements together before planning an application.
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Family and sponsorship
Permanent parent pathways generally require an eligible settled child and a sponsor. The 870 has a separate Parent Sponsor approval process, including income and residence checks.
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The balance-of-family test
Usually relevant to the permanent and contributory parent pathways. It is not required for the 870. The formal test considers eligible children and stepchildren, rather than simply counting everyone currently in Australia.
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Age, location and current visa
The primary applicant for an 804, 864 or 884 must meet the aged-parent threshold, currently 67. These visas also have onshore requirements. Check current visa conditions and immigration history before planning an application.
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Costs, support and health
Plan visa charges, any Assurance of Support, living costs and health cover. The requirements differ between a temporary visit, a temporary contributory stage and a permanent application.
More than an application fee
A clear plan looks at the commitments.
The financial picture can include later visa instalments, support obligations and the cost of living and health cover while you wait or visit.
We explain which commitments apply to your pathway and when they may arise, with professional fees and scope set out before you proceed.
Talk through your plans
Parts of the financial picture
to understand together.
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Visa charges
Consider the initial charge, any later instalment and the total cost of a direct or staged application.
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Support commitments
An Assurance of Support is separate from sponsorship. The 870 has its own sponsor obligations instead.
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Life during a wait or visit
Include accommodation, everyday costs, health cover and the visa arrangements needed for any time in Australia.
A plan you can follow
From family plans to practical steps.
We help you understand the work involved and what depends on Home Affairs assessment and available places.
The wait needs a realistic plan.
Permanent and contributory parent pathways face substantial queues. A contributory charge does not buy a guaranteed decision date.
See current parent queue guidance-
Understand your starting point
Review the family structure, ages, locations, immigration status and the kind of stay you want.
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Compare the relevant pathways
Look at requirements, queues, charges and support commitments. Check whether any current visa conditions affect the options.
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Prepare and lodge correctly
Organise the family and sponsor evidence and use the current application method. For the 870, sponsorship approval comes first.
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Keep the next stage in view
Respond to requests and report relevant changes. Review any later application, support assessment or visa arrangements at the right time.
Your situation. Our support.
A plan built around the people you love.
You may be arranging a longer visit, comparing permanent pathways or reviewing an existing parent application. We help you understand the requirements and the choices ahead.
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Review the family links, sponsor and current visa circumstances.
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Explain the queue, charges and support commitments for the pathway.
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Prepare and manage the application work and evidence agreed with you.
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Explain scope, fees and responsibilities before you proceed.
The questions on your mind
Let's make things clearer.
A few answers to help you find your footing. We can look at the details when we understand your family's situation.
Which parent visa is right for our family?
Start with whether the plan is a temporary visit or permanent migration. Then consider age, family links, sponsor eligibility, current visas, the queue and financial commitments. There is no single parent visa that suits every family.
What is the balance-of-family test?
Generally, at least half the relevant children and stepchildren must be eligible children, or there must be more eligible children than children living in any other single country. Citizenship, residence and exclusions matter. The 870 does not require this test. See the official definitions and examples.
How long are permanent parent visa queues?
Permanent and contributory parent visas are capped and queued. Demand exceeds the available places, so waits can be substantial. Published estimates can change and are not a decision date for your case. Check the current Home Affairs queue guidance before making plans.
Does the 870 lead to permanent residence?
No. The 870 is a temporary visit visa. Applying for or holding it can prevent you from applying for another parent visa subclass. If permanent migration is part of your plans, review the sequence before applying for the 870.
What makes an aged-parent pathway different?
The primary applicant for an 804, 864 or 884 must meet the aged-parent threshold, currently 67. These visas also have onshore requirements. Meeting the age threshold does not itself establish visa eligibility or entitlement to an Australian pension.
Can my parent stay in Australia while an application is waiting?
That depends on their actual visa position and the application rules. Check current conditions, any bridging visa, work and travel rights, and health cover separately. A parent visa application does not itself give permanent residence or permission to stay.
What is an Assurance of Support?
It is a separate financial undertaking assessed by Services Australia. It can involve a bank guarantee and responsibility for certain income support payments. Whether it is required and the applicable period depend on the visa. The 870 has separate sponsor obligations. Read the Services Australia guidance.
How do we apply and what will it cost?
The application method and charges depend on the subclass and stage. Some pathways involve separate sponsorship, later visa instalments or a further permanent visa application. Follow the current Home Affairs instructions and fee information. We explain our professional fees and scope before you proceed.
Your next step starts with you
More time together starts with a conversation.
Tell us where your family is now and what you are planning. We will help you understand the relevant parent pathways and the next step worth taking.