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Several family members of different ages stacking their hands together, representing the balance of family test for Australian parent visas

The Balance of Family Test for Australian Parent Visas: A Plain-English Guide

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News.

What is the Balance of Family Test?

The balance of family test is an eligibility requirement for Australian permanent parent visas. It exists to ensure that Australia’s parent visa program benefits families where the majority of the parent’s children are already settled here. Put simply: if most of your parent’s children live somewhere other than Australia, the Australian government will not grant a permanent parent visa.

This test applies at the time the Department of Home Affairs assesses the application. It is not assessed at lodgement, though you should be confident your parent passes it before you lodge and pay the application fees. Failing the test means refusal, and visa application fees are generally not refunded.

The balance of family test is one of the first things I check when a family comes to me about a parent visa. It is the single most common reason an otherwise straightforward application is not possible.

How do you pass it?

The two ways to satisfy the test

Your parent can pass the balance of family test in either of two ways:

  1. At least half of their eligible children usually reside in Australia, or
  2. More of their eligible children usually reside in Australia than in any other single country.

The second limb exists for situations where no single country has half the children but Australia still has more than any individual alternative. For example: a parent with four children, two in Australia, one in the UK, and one in India, passes the test under limb two even though Australia does not have a majority.

Only one of these two tests needs to be satisfied. If either applies, your parent passes.

Who counts as an “eligible child”?

Children included in the count

All of the following count as eligible children for the purposes of the test:

  • Biological children of the parent
  • Legally adopted children
  • Stepchildren (where there is or was a genuine family relationship)

The child’s nationality does not matter. Australian citizens, foreign nationals, and children of any residency status can all be counted, subject to the exclusions below.

Children excluded from the count

Deceased children are excluded. They are not counted as residing anywhere.

Children who have been adopted by a person outside the family unit may be excluded depending on the circumstances. Legal adoption severs the relationship in some cases.

The most significant exclusion in practice is this: children who are in Australia on temporary visas do not count as “usually resident in Australia.” This is a critical and frequently misunderstood point. A sibling on a student visa, a working holiday visa, a partner visa that has not yet been granted permanently, or any other temporary visa does not tip the balance in favour of Australia. Only children who are Australian citizens, permanent residents, or otherwise settled in Australia on a long-term basis satisfy the “usually resident” standard.

Common situations that trip families up

Children living in multiple countries

When the parent’s children are spread across three or more countries, families sometimes assume Australia “wins” because it has the most children in absolute terms. That is correct if Australia has more children than any other single country. But if, say, two children are in Australia, two are in India, and one is in Canada, Australia does not satisfy either limb of the test and the application cannot proceed.

Counting carefully and honestly before lodgement is essential. The Department will request birth certificates for all eligible children and evidence of their usual country of residence, so the numbers will be verified.

Children on temporary visas in Australia

This is the most common trap. A family where two children are in Australia (one as a permanent resident, one on a student visa) and one child is overseas assumes the test is passed two-to-one. In fact, only the permanent resident child counts. The balance is one-to-one, and the test fails under the first limb. Whether it passes under the second limb depends on where the overseas child is and whether any single country can claim more than one Australian-based child.

I have seen families lodge applications and pay tens of thousands of dollars in fees based on a miscalculation involving a temporary visa sibling. The fees are not recovered on refusal.

Can the test ever be waived?

No. The balance of family test cannot be waived under any circumstances. There is no ministerial discretion, no compassionate grounds exception, and no alternative criteria that substitute for it. If your parent does not pass the test, no permanent parent visa is available to them.

The only pathway for a parent who fails the balance of family test is the Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa, which does not require the balance of family test. The 870 allows your parent to live in Australia for up to 10 years but does not lead to permanent residency.

Which parent visas require the balance of family test? (See our guide to choosing the right parent visa.)

The balance of family test applies to all four permanent parent visa subclasses:

The test does not apply to the 870 temporary visa. This is one of the reasons the 870 is a useful option for families where the permanent visa pathway is blocked or uncertain.

Frequently asked questions

My parent has children from two different relationships. Do all of them count?

Yes. All eligible children, regardless of which relationship they came from, are included in the count. Half-siblings, stepchildren from a prior marriage, and children from a current relationship all count if they meet the eligibility criteria.

What evidence does the Department require to prove usual residence?

The Department typically requires birth certificates for all eligible children and supporting evidence of their usual country of residence. This might include copies of their passport (showing visa status), utility bills or lease agreements, employment records, or statutory declarations. Evidence should be recent and clearly demonstrate that Australia is the child’s usual home, not a temporary stop.

Can we wait for a sibling to get permanent residency before lodging?

Yes, and in many cases this is the right approach. If a sibling is currently on a temporary visa and is likely to obtain permanent residency within the next year or two, it may be worth waiting until that happens before lodging the parent visa. Once the sibling holds PR, they count in the balance. This is a timing strategy worth discussing with a migration agent before committing to lodgement.

Does the balance of family test apply to the parent or to the sponsor?

It applies to the parent (the visa applicant). It counts the parent’s eligible children and assesses where those children usually reside. The sponsor’s personal circumstances do not affect the test calculation directly, though the sponsor’s residency in Australia contributes to the count of Australian-resident children.

Not sure if your family passes the balance of family test?

It’s worth getting this right before you spend anything. I’m Andrew Heathcote, registered migration agent MARN 0850840, and I offer consultations specifically to assess eligibility before lodgement. A short consultation can save you thousands in non-refundable fees.

Check your eligibility

Grandparent reuniting with grandchild in Australia after successfully bringing parents to Australia permanently

How to Bring Your Parents to Australia Permanently: A Complete Guide

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News.

Can you bring your parents to Australia permanently?

Yes, you can bring your parents to Australia permanently, but it takes planning, patience, and in most cases a significant financial commitment. Australia’s permanent parent visa program has four main visa subclasses, a lengthy queue, and a limited annual allocation of roughly 8,500 places across all streams. The earlier you understand the system, the better placed you are to navigate it.

This guide covers everything: who can sponsor a parent, what your parent needs to qualify, which visa suits your situation, what it costs, how long it takes, and what mistakes to avoid. I’ve been working on parent visa cases for over 15 years and the questions I get most often are addressed directly here.

Who is eligible to sponsor a parent?

Australian citizenship, permanent residency or eligible NZ citizens

To sponsor a parent for a permanent visa, you must be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen. Eligible NZ citizens are those who hold a Special Category Visa (SCV) and have been resident in Australia for at least two years.

Temporary visa holders cannot sponsor a parent for a permanent visa. If you are on a temporary skilled visa, a student visa, or a partner visa that has not yet been granted permanently, you cannot be the primary sponsor. You would need to wait until you hold permanent residency or citizenship.

Residence requirements for the sponsor

There is no strict minimum residence period required for most sponsors, but you must be settled in Australia at the time of application. The Department will assess whether Australia is genuinely your usual country of residence. If you have been here for only a few months or are frequently absent, that can raise questions about the genuineness of the sponsorship.

For the Aged Parent Visa (804) and Contributory Aged Parent Visa (864), the sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible NZ citizen who is settled in Australia.

Does your parent qualify? Key eligibility checks

The balance of family test

The balance of family test is the eligibility requirement that catches the most families off guard. Your parent must pass this test to be eligible for a permanent parent visa.

The test works like this: at least half of your parent’s eligible children must usually reside in Australia. Alternatively, more of your parent’s children must usually reside in Australia than in any other single country.

Eligible children include biological children, adopted children, and stepchildren. Children who are deceased are excluded. The count looks at where children usually live, not their nationality or visa status.

One important and frequently misunderstood point: children on temporary visas in Australia do not count as “usually resident in Australia” for the purposes of this test. A sibling on a student visa or a working holiday visa does not tip the balance in your favour. Only those with permanent residency, citizenship, or settled long-term status count.

This test cannot be waived and there is no discretionary override. If your parent does not pass it, there is no permanent visa pathway available to them.

Health and character requirements

Your parent must meet Australian health and character requirements. Health is assessed through a medical examination conducted by a Department-approved physician. The examination includes blood tests, chest X-rays, and a general health assessment. For older applicants, additional tests may be required.

Australia applies a health waiver in limited circumstances, but the cost-to-health-care ratio is a strict filter. Character requirements involve police clearances from every country where your parent has lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.

Financial requirements: Assurance of Support

Before a permanent parent visa is granted, an Assurance of Support (AoS) is required. This is a financial bond lodged with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The amounts are $10,000 for one adult applicant and $14,000 for two adults. The bond is held for 10 years. If your parent claims certain social security payments during that period, the government recovers those amounts from the bond. After 10 years without a claim, the bond is released back to you.

The AoS is separate from visa application fees. It is a cash deposit, not a payment.

Your permanent parent visa options

Contributory Parent Visa 143: faster and more expensive

The Subclass 143 Contributory Parent Visa is the most practical permanent option for most families. It costs approximately $48,640 per person (roughly $5,040 at lodgement and $43,600 before grant) and as of March 2026 the Department is processing applications lodged in November 2018. That puts the current wait at around seven to eight years from lodgement today.

The 143 can be lodged and granted while your parent is offshore or onshore. Upon grant, your parent receives Medicare access from day one.

Non-Contributory Parent Visa 103: lower cost but very slow

The Subclass 103 Parent Visa costs approximately $7,345 per person, with no second instalment. The catch: as of March 2026, the Department is processing July 2013 lodgements. From today’s lodgement date, you are looking at 30 or more years in the queue.

The 103 is technically still available and people do still lodge it. In most cases I advise against it unless cost is genuinely the primary constraint and your family fully understands what a multi-decade wait means. Unlike the 143, Medicare under the 103 is available only after the visa is granted, not on arrival in Australia.

Aged Parent Visas 804 and 864

If your parent is 67 or older (the current Australian pension age), they qualify for the aged parent stream instead of the standard stream. The Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent Visa costs approximately $48,640 and shares the 143’s queue. The Subclass 804 Aged Parent Visa costs approximately $7,345 and shares the 103’s queue.

A critical difference from the 103 and 143: aged parent visas must be granted while your parent is physically in Australia. They cannot be granted offshore.

The 870 temporary visa as a first step

The Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa deserves serious consideration alongside any permanent application. It is a temporary visa, capped at 15,000 grants per year, and allows your parent to live in Australia for up to three or five years per grant, with a maximum stay of 10 years total.

The 870 does not require the balance of family test. It does not lead to permanent residency directly. Processing is typically around seven months. Your parent will not have Medicare or work rights on an 870.

The sponsor income requirement for the 870 is $83,454.80, which can be combined with a partner’s income.

How to use the 870 while a permanent application is in the queue

The most common strategy I see is this: lodge the permanent visa application (usually a 143 or 864), then lodge the 870 to cover the waiting period. This lets your parent spend meaningful time in Australia with you now, rather than waiting offshore for seven or more years before the permanent visa comes through.

There are two things to keep in mind. First, the 870 does not provide Medicare. Private health insurance is essential. Second, only 15,000 870 visas are granted per year globally, so earlier lodgement is better.

Step-by-step: how to apply for a parent visa

Step 1: check eligibility

Before lodging anything, confirm three things: you can sponsor (citizen, PR, or eligible NZ citizen), your parent passes the balance of family test, and your parent meets the health and character criteria. The balance of family test is the most common stumbling block. Do this analysis carefully before paying any fees.

Step 2: gather your documents

Core documents include your parent’s passport and birth certificate, birth certificates for all of your parent’s eligible children, evidence of the children’s usual country of residence, your citizenship or residency evidence, police clearance certificates for your parent, and medical examination results. Start gathering these early. Police clearances from some countries take weeks or months.

Step 3: lodge online via ImmiAccount (required from April 2026)

From 22 April 2026, all permanent parent visa applications must be lodged online through ImmiAccount. Paper lodgement is no longer accepted. You will need to create or log in to your ImmiAccount, complete the relevant form, attach all supporting documents, and pay the first instalment of the visa application charge. Details on the online lodgement changes are covered on the parent visa online lodgement page.

Step 4: await queue release and finalise

After lodgement, your application enters the queue. The Department will contact you when it is approaching the front of the queue to request updated documents, health examinations, and the Assurance of Support. The second instalment of the visa application charge (for the 143 and 864) is paid at this stage, not at lodgement.

How long it takes and what it costs

Visa Cost per person Approximate wait (from today) Medicare on arrival
Subclass 143 ~$48,640 7 to 8 years Yes
Subclass 103 ~$7,345 30+ years No (after grant only)
Subclass 864 ~$48,640 7 to 8 years Yes
Subclass 804 ~$7,345 30+ years Yes (after grant)
Subclass 870 Variable ~7 months No (temporary visa)

Common mistakes that cause delays or refusals

The balance of family test is miscalculated. Families often include children on temporary visas in the count without realising those children do not satisfy the “usually resident” requirement. The calculation must be done correctly before lodgement.

Documents are not certified or translated. If any document is not in English, it must be translated by a NAATI-accredited translator. Uncertified copies of identity documents are commonly rejected.

Health examinations are arranged too early. Medical results are only valid for 12 months. If you arrange the medical before lodgement and the application is not finalised within that window, the exam will need to be repeated.

The Assurance of Support is not set up in time. The AoS must be arranged before the visa is granted, but the bank process takes time. Leaving it to the last minute when the Department is ready to finalise the application causes unnecessary delays.

The sponsor’s status changes between lodgement and grant. If the sponsor loses permanent residency or citizenship for any reason, the sponsorship is affected. This is rare but worth noting for complex situations.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sponsor both parents on the same application?

Yes. Both parents can be included in a single application as the primary and secondary applicant. Visa fees apply per person, so the total cost is roughly doubled for a couple.

My parent failed the balance of family test. Are there any other options?

There is no permanent visa pathway if the balance of family test is not met. The 870 temporary visa does not require the test, so your parent could live in Australia temporarily for up to 10 years. That said, it does not lead to permanent residency.

Can my parent work in Australia on a permanent parent visa?

Yes. Both the 143 and 103 (and their aged equivalents) grant full work rights. However, most parents in their 60s or 70s are not looking to work. The more relevant benefit is usually Medicare access and the ability to be close to family.

Do processing times ever change?

They move slowly and usually in one direction. The annual allocation is approximately 8,500 places across all permanent parent streams. With a large backlog and limited annual places, the queue does not clear quickly. Times quoted here are as of early 2026 and may shift slightly.

Is there a faster way to get parents to Australia permanently?

Not through the parent visa program. The 143 and 864 are the fastest options and they still take seven to eight years. There is no premium processing or priority pathway for parent visas outside the normal queue.

Does it matter which country my parent lives in?

No. Parent visa applications are available to applicants from any country. The same rules, costs, and queue positions apply regardless of nationality. Country of origin can affect police clearance requirements and the time needed to gather documents.

Get a clear plan for your family’s situation

Parent visa strategy is not one-size-fits-all. The right approach depends on your parent’s age, the balance of family test, your timeline, and your budget. I’m Andrew Heathcote, registered migration agent MARN 0850840, and I’ve helped hundreds of families work through exactly this decision.

Book a consultation

Couple reviewing eligibility requirements for an Australian parent visa application

Australian Parent Visa Eligibility: Do You and Your Parent Qualify?

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News. 1 Comment on Australian Parent Visa Eligibility: Do You and Your Parent Qualify?

Who can apply for an Australian parent visa?

Australian parent visa eligibility has two sides: the sponsor (the Australian-based child) and the visa applicant (the parent). Both must satisfy their respective requirements before an application can proceed. Getting clarity on both sets of criteria before lodgement is essential. Visa application fees are not refunded on refusal, and for the contributory visas, that means up to $5,040 per person is at risk if you lodge without confirming eligibility first.

There are four permanent parent visa subclasses and one temporary option. The right one depends primarily on the parent’s age, the family’s financial position, and how long you can realistically wait: our guide to choosing the right parent visa walks through that decision. This article covers the eligibility rules that apply across all of them.

Sponsor eligibility requirements

The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen. Eligible NZ citizens are those who hold a Special Category Visa (SCV) and have been lawfully resident in Australia for at least two continuous years immediately before sponsoring.

Temporary visa holders cannot sponsor a parent for a permanent parent visa. If you are currently on a skilled temporary visa, a partner visa that has not yet been granted permanently, a student visa, or any other temporary status, you will need to obtain permanent residency before you can sponsor.

The sponsor must also be settled in Australia. This is assessed on a case-by-case basis but essentially means Australia must be your usual place of residence. If you have only recently arrived or spend the majority of your time overseas, the Department may question whether Australia is genuinely your home.

There is no minimum income requirement for sponsoring a permanent parent visa. The financial obligation is met through the Assurance of Support, which is a bond requirement, not an ongoing income test.

Parent eligibility requirements

Age requirements: standard vs aged parent visas

The parent visa stream available depends on the parent’s age:

The “aged parent” classification is based on Australian pension age, which is currently 67. Age is assessed at the time of application. If a parent turns 67 after lodging a 103 or 143, they cannot automatically transfer to the aged parent stream. They would need to lodge a new application under the 804 or 864.

The aged parent visas (804 and 864) have one additional requirement not applicable to the standard stream: the parent must be in Australia at the time of visa grant. This means the parent needs to hold a valid visa to be lawfully in Australia throughout the waiting period and at grant time.

Relationship to the sponsor

The applicant must be the parent of the sponsoring Australian citizen or permanent resident. “Parent” includes biological parents, legal adoptive parents, and step-parents where a genuine parent-child relationship exists or existed.

The Department will request documentary evidence of the relationship: typically the sponsor’s birth certificate showing the parent’s name. For adoptive and step-parent relationships, additional documents are required to establish the legal or factual basis of the relationship.

Balance of family test

The balance of family test is the eligibility requirement that eliminates the most applicants. Your parent must pass it before a permanent visa can be granted.

The test has two limbs. Your parent passes if either is satisfied:

  1. At least half of their eligible children usually reside in Australia, or
  2. More of their eligible children usually reside in Australia than in any other single country.

Eligible children include biological, adopted, and step-children. Deceased children are excluded. Children on temporary visas in Australia do not count as “usually resident in Australia” for this test, even if they have lived here for years. Only children with permanent residency, citizenship, or equivalent long-term settled status count.

This test cannot be waived. If your parent does not pass it, no permanent parent visa is available. The Subclass 870 temporary visa is the only option that does not require the balance of family test.

Health requirements

All parent visa applicants must meet Australia’s health requirement. This involves a medical examination by a Department-approved panel physician. The examination includes a general health assessment, blood tests, and a chest X-ray. Additional testing may be required depending on age and health history.

Australia applies a public interest criterion that assesses whether an applicant’s health condition would be likely to result in significant healthcare or community service costs, or would prejudice the access of Australian citizens and residents to those services. For older applicants with chronic conditions, this assessment is more closely scrutinised.

A health waiver exists in limited circumstances, most commonly for applicants with a disability where the costs are below a certain threshold and there are compelling reasons to grant the visa despite the health concern. Waivers are not routinely available and should not be assumed.

Medical examination results are valid for 12 months. For applications with a long queue time (which applies to all permanent parent visas), the medical will need to be repeated when the application approaches finalisation.

Character requirements

Your parent must satisfy Australia’s character requirement. This means:

  • No substantial criminal record (generally, no sentences of 12 months or more)
  • No history of conduct that would suggest the applicant is not of good character
  • Police clearance certificates from every country where the parent has lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years

If your parent has a criminal conviction, the outcome depends on the nature and seriousness of the offence, how long ago it occurred, and evidence of subsequent conduct. It does not automatically result in refusal but does require careful handling. Seek advice from a registered migration agent if there is any criminal history.

Financial requirements

The primary financial requirement is the Assurance of Support (AoS). The AoS is not paid at lodgement. It is arranged when the application is close to being finalised, which for the 143 and 864 is approximately seven to eight years after lodgement from today (see current parent visa processing times).

The bond amounts are:

  • $10,000 for one adult applicant
  • $14,000 for two adult applicants (typically both parents applying together)

The bond is lodged with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and held for 10 years. If no social security payments are claimed against it during that period, the full amount is returned. It is a contingency bond, not a payment.

For the Subclass 870 temporary visa, the sponsor must meet an income threshold of $83,454.80, which can be combined with a partner’s income. This is the only parent visa stream with an ongoing income requirement for the sponsor.

Which visa matches your situation?

Situation Likely visa
Parent under 67, passes balance of family test, cost is not the primary concern Subclass 143
Parent under 67, passes balance of family test, lower cost is the priority and family accepts 30+ year wait Subclass 103
Parent is 67 or older, passes balance of family test, cost is not the primary concern Subclass 864
Parent is 67 or older, passes balance of family test, lower cost is the priority and family accepts 30+ year wait Subclass 804
Parent does not pass the balance of family test, or family wants parent here while permanent application is in the queue Subclass 870

Frequently asked questions

Can a grandparent apply for an Australian parent visa?

No. Parent visas are limited to the direct parent of the sponsoring Australian citizen or permanent resident. Grandparents do not qualify unless they have legally adopted the sponsoring child. A grandparent who was not the primary caregiver and was not legally the applicant’s parent cannot be sponsored through the parent visa program.

My parent was a stepparent but we were not formally adopted. Can they still apply?

Possibly. Step-parents can qualify where there is evidence of a genuine parent-child relationship, even without a legal adoption. The Department assesses whether the relationship is genuine based on factors such as when the step-parent entered the child’s life, whether they lived together, and whether they acted in the role of parent. Evidence of the genuine relationship, such as statutory declarations, photographs, school records, and other documents, is important.

What if my parent’s health condition makes them likely to be refused?

It is worth getting advice before lodging. In some cases, a health waiver application can be made alongside the visa application. The waiver is not guaranteed but may succeed depending on the nature of the condition and the circumstances. Lodging without considering the health waiver strategy, or without advice, risks a refusal that could have been avoided or better managed.

Can my parent apply from outside Australia?

For the Subclass 143 and 103, yes. These visas can be lodged and granted while the applicant is offshore. For the 864 and 804 (aged parent visas), the parent must be in Australia at the time of grant. This means aged parent applicants generally need to hold a lawful visa to remain in Australia during the waiting period and at the time the visa is finalised.

Want to know if your family qualifies?

Eligibility for Australian parent visas is not always straightforward. The balance of family test, health requirements, and the choice between visa subclasses all depend on your specific family’s circumstances. I’m Andrew Heathcote, registered migration agent MARN 0850840. A consultation gives you a clear answer before you commit to anything.

Book an eligibility check

Immigration application forms and documents required for an Australian parent visa application

Parent Visa Australia: Documents You Need to Prepare

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News.

What documents do you need for an Australian parent visa?

Getting your document preparation right from the start saves time and reduces the risk of requests for further information from the Department of Home Affairs, which can push your application back in the processing queue. The document list for a parent visa is longer than most people expect, particularly because it covers not just the applicant and sponsor but also all of the parent’s other children for the balance of family test.

This list applies to all four permanent parent visa subclasses: the Subclass 143, the Subclass 103, the Subclass 864, and the Subclass 804. Where a document is specific to one subclass or stream, that is noted.

Identity and relationship documents

Proof of identity

The parent applicant needs:

  • Current passport (all pages, including the biodata page and any visa stamps)
  • Passport-sized photographs
  • Any expired passports covering the past 10 years, if available
  • Birth certificate
  • If applicable: marriage certificate, divorce certificate, or death certificate of a former spouse
  • If the parent has changed their name: deed poll or official name change documentation

Proof of the parent-child relationship

You need to establish that the visa applicant is genuinely the parent of the Australian-based sponsor. Required documents typically include:

  • The sponsor’s birth certificate, showing the parent’s name
  • If the sponsor was adopted: adoption order or equivalent legal document
  • If the relationship is through a step-parent: marriage certificate establishing the relationship, plus evidence of the genuine family relationship

Sponsor documents

The Australian-based sponsor must provide evidence of their status and identity. This includes:

  • Current Australian passport, or
  • Australian citizenship certificate, or
  • Evidence of Australian permanent residency (such as the ImmiCard or a current visa grant notice showing permanent status)
  • If sponsoring as an eligible NZ citizen: New Zealand passport plus evidence of Australian residency for the required period
  • Evidence of Australian address and settlement (utility bills, lease agreement, or similar)

For applications lodged from 22 April 2026, all of this is submitted through ImmiAccount. Details on the online process are on the parent visa online lodgement page.

Balance of family test evidence

This is the section that requires the most work. The Department needs evidence about all of the parent’s eligible children, not just the sponsoring child. For each eligible child you need:

  • Birth certificate (to prove they are the parent’s child)
  • Evidence of their usual country of residence. For children in Australia: their Australian citizenship certificate or permanent visa grant notice. For children overseas: their foreign passport and evidence of residence in that country
  • If any children are deceased: death certificate

A statutory declaration from the parent listing all eligible children and their countries of residence is also commonly included. This gives the Department a clear picture of the family structure before they review the individual documents.

Remember: children on temporary visas in Australia do not count as “usually resident in Australia” for the balance of family test. Do not include a temporary visa grant notice as evidence of Australian residence for this purpose. It will not help and may invite questions about the accuracy of the overall count.

Financial documents: Assurance of Support

The Assurance of Support (AoS) is not lodged at the time of visa application. It is arranged when the Department is ready to finalise the application, which for the 143 and 864 may be seven or more years after lodgement. At that point you will need:

  • Evidence that the AoS has been lodged with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia
  • The bond amounts are $10,000 for one adult applicant and $14,000 for two adults
  • Evidence of the AoS assurer’s identity and financial capacity

The assurer does not have to be the same person as the visa sponsor, but it usually is. The assurer must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible NZ citizen.

Health and character documents

Medical examination results

Your parent must undergo a medical examination by a Department-approved panel physician. The examination includes:

  • General health assessment by the physician
  • Blood tests (HIV is standard; additional tests depending on age and health history)
  • Chest X-ray
  • For applicants over certain ages or with specific health histories: additional specialist tests may be required

Medical results are valid for 12 months. Do not arrange the medical examination too far in advance of lodgement, and note that for applications with a long queue time, the medical will need to be repeated when the application is near finalisation.

Police clearance certificates

Your parent needs police clearance certificates from every country where they have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. For most applicants this means their home country. If they have lived in multiple countries, each country requires a separate clearance.

Police clearances from some countries take weeks or months. Start this process early. Clearance certificates also have validity periods, so timing matters. Australian Federal Police (AFP) checks can be ordered online and are usually returned within 15 working days.

Additional documents for aged parent visas

For the Subclass 804 and Subclass 864, you additionally need:

  • Evidence that the parent meets the age requirement (has reached Australian pension age, currently 67). The parent’s birth certificate is usually sufficient.
  • For these visas, the parent must be in Australia at the time of grant, so evidence of lawful residence in Australia when finalisation approaches is also required.

Getting documents certified and translated

All documents in a language other than English must be translated by a NAATI-accredited translator. NAATI is Australia’s national translation authority. Do not use unofficial or unaccredited translators, as the Department will not accept those translations.

Certified copies are required for most identity documents. A Justice of the Peace, solicitor, or other authorised person can certify copies in Australia. For documents certified overseas, they may need to be apostilled or legalised depending on the country.

Originals are not typically submitted electronically, but the Department may request originals to be produced for inspection in some cases.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I start gathering documents?

At least three to six months before you plan to lodge. Police clearances from some countries are the longest lead item. Birth certificates for all eligible children also take time to obtain, particularly if records are held in a foreign country or need translation. Starting early gives you time to chase anything that is delayed without holding up the application.

My parent’s birth certificate is in a language other than English. Does it need to be translated?

Yes. Any document not in English must be translated by a NAATI-accredited translator. The translation must accompany the original document. The translator will provide a signed statement confirming the accuracy of the translation.

What if one of my siblings refuses to provide their documents for the balance of family test?

This is a real issue that comes up occasionally. If a sibling declines to participate, you can still submit what you have and provide a statutory declaration explaining the situation. The Department has some discretion in these cases. However, incomplete evidence for the balance of family test can lead to a request for further information or, in the worst case, a refusal. Getting legal advice early is wise if a sibling is uncooperative.

Do I need to provide the same documents again when the application is finalised years later?

Yes, in part. Some documents will need to be updated at finalisation, including the medical examination (if the original has expired), police clearances (which also expire), and passport copies if the passport has been renewed. The Department will let you know what is needed when the application is approaching the front of the queue.

Need help getting your application documents right?

A poorly prepared application can cause unnecessary delays or a request for further information that puts you back in the queue. I’m Andrew Heathcote, registered migration agent MARN 0850840, and I work with families on parent visa applications from first eligibility check through to grant. Let’s make sure your documents are right the first time.

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Choosing the Right Australian Parent Visa: A Decision Framework

Written by isoadmin on . Posted in News.

Australia offers five distinct parent visa pathways. Each one has a different cost, waiting time, eligibility test, and set of ongoing conditions. Choosing the wrong one does not just cost money. It can mean your parent waits years longer than necessary, or spends years outside Australia when they could have been here.

This guide walks through the key decision factors clearly and honestly. I am Andrew Heathcote, a registered migration agent with over 15 years of experience handling parent visas. This is the framework I use with clients.

Why the right strategy matters more than you think

Parent visa decisions have consequences that play out over decades. The Subclass 143, for example, involves lodging an application that will sit in a queue for 12 to 15 years before it progresses to the second stage. The wrong choice made at lodgement cannot easily be undone. Similarly, committing to the Subclass 103 rather than the 143 to save the initial application fee means a 30-plus-year wait instead of 12-to-15. That is not a theoretical difference.

The decisions made now, including whether to also apply for a Subclass 870 while waiting, will shape your family’s life for a long time. Getting it right at the start is worth the investment.

The full landscape: all five parent visa options

Visa Type Cost (per person) Wait time Balance of family test Medicare
Subclass 143 Permanent ~$48,640 12-15 years Required On arrival
Subclass 103 Permanent ~$7,345 30+ years Required After grant
Subclass 864 Permanent (onshore) ~$48,640 12-15 years Required On arrival
Subclass 804 Permanent (onshore) ~$7,345 30+ years Required After grant
Subclass 870 Temporary ~$1,045-$5,175 ~7 months Not required No access

Annual places across the entire parent visa program are approximately 8,500: roughly 7,250 contributory places (143 and 864) and 1,250 non-contributory places (103 and 804). The 870 has a separate cap of 15,000 grants per year.

Decision factor 1: how urgently does your parent need to be in Australia?

If urgency is the primary driver, the permanent visa queues are not the answer. The fastest permanent visa pathway still takes over a decade. See current parent visa processing times for the queue dates behind that. If your parent needs to be in Australia within the next one to three years, the only viable option is the Subclass 870 or a visitor visa arrangement while a longer-term strategy is built.

If urgency is moderate, meaning the parent wants to be in Australia within two to five years, the 870 can get them here quickly and the permanent visa application can run in parallel. This is the 870-plus-143 combination strategy and it is the most commonly recommended approach for families with reasonable financial resources.

If the family is playing a long game and the parent is happy to wait abroad until the permanent visa is granted, lodging the permanent visa now and waiting is a viable path, provided the balance of family test and other eligibility rules are met.

Decision factor 2: what can you afford?

Budget scenarios by visa type

The cost difference between the contributory and non-contributory permanent visas is stark. The Subclass 143 costs approximately $48,640 per person across both instalments. The Subclass 103 costs approximately $7,345 per person. The non-contributory option saves roughly $41,000 per parent.

But the 103’s 30-plus-year wait compared to 12-to-15 years for the 143 means the parent will likely never see the visa granted if they are already in their 50s or 60s. The apparent saving is illusory for most families. Paying the higher contributory fee is usually the right financial decision when the alternative is waiting 30 years.

For the 870, the upfront government fees are low. The ongoing cost is private health insurance, which is mandatory. For an older parent, this can be several thousand dollars per year. Over a decade, the health insurance cost can approach or exceed the second instalment of the 143.

Families pursuing the 870-plus-143 strategy need to budget for: the 143 first instalment now (~$5,040), ongoing 870 health insurance for up to 10 years, and the 143 second instalment (~$43,600) when invited.

Decision factor 3: your parent’s age and health situation

Age affects several things. The Aged Parent visas (Subclass 864 onshore and Subclass 804 onshore) require the parent to be of pension age. If the parent is not yet pension age, only the 143 and 103 are available as permanent options, plus the 870 as a temporary option.

Health is a factor for every parent visa application. All permanent and temporary parent visas require a health examination. Parents with significant medical conditions may face health requirement complications. The contributory visas do not waive the health requirement, and meeting it is a condition of grant.

For the 870, health must be met at each renewal. A parent whose health is currently good but may deteriorate over a 10-year bridge period faces real risk of failing the health examination at a later renewal.

Decision factor 4: will your parent pass the balance of family test?

The balance of family test is required for all four permanent parent visa subclasses. It cannot be waived. The test requires that at least half of the parent’s children who are still living must reside permanently in Australia, or that more of the parent’s children live in Australia than in any other single country.

For families spread across multiple countries, this test can be the decisive barrier. If the parent has four children and only one lives in Australia while three live in the UK, the test fails. No amount of sponsorship or financial contribution overcomes a failed balance of family test for the permanent visas.

This is where the Subclass 870 becomes genuinely important. The balance of family test does not apply to the 870. For parents who cannot pass the test, the 870 may be the only realistic path to spending meaningful time in Australia.

The 870-then-143 combination strategy

For most families with adequate financial resources, the recommended approach is to lodge the 143 now to secure a queue position, then apply for the 870 to get the parent to Australia in the interim. The 870’s 10-year maximum allows the parent to spend up to a decade in Australia while the 143 queue moves.

This strategy works best when the family lodged the 143 application some years ago (reducing the remaining wait below 10 years), when the sponsor consistently meets the $83,454.80 income threshold, and when the parent’s health allows for health insurance at a reasonable premium.

For newly lodging families, the 10-year 870 cap will run out before the 143 is granted, meaning a gap period will need to be managed. This is a real limitation of the strategy and should be planned for, not ignored.

When a registered migration agent makes a real difference

Parent visa decisions have long consequences and significant costs. The interaction between the balance of family test, the queue dates, the 870 cap, the Assurance of Support bond ($10,000 for one adult, $14,000 for two adults), and the health requirements means there are many variables to get right simultaneously.

A registered migration agent can assess your specific family circumstances, identify whether the balance of family test is met, calculate which combination of visas makes sense, manage the applications, and ensure documents are prepared correctly. Errors on a parent visa application are not easily fixed after lodgement.

Since 22 April 2026, all permanent parent visa applications lodge online via ImmiAccount, which has changed some procedural aspects of the process. Getting advice from an agent who is current with those changes matters.

Frequently asked questions

Can my parent apply for both a permanent parent visa and the 870 at the same time?

Yes. The 870 and any of the permanent parent visas are independent applications. Holding or applying for the 870 does not affect a pending permanent visa application. Many families run both simultaneously.

What is the Assurance of Support bond and does it apply to the 870?

The Assurance of Support (AoS) is a financial bond required for permanent parent visa grants. It is $10,000 for one adult and $14,000 for two adults, held with a bank for 10 years after the visa is granted. It is not required for the 870. If the parent later transitions to a permanent parent visa, the AoS will apply at that point.

What if my parent cannot pass the balance of family test but I still want them here permanently?

If the balance of family test cannot be met, none of the four permanent parent visas are available. The 870 is the only pathway for extended stays. The 870 cannot lead to permanent residence, so unless the family’s circumstances change (for example, other children relocate to Australia), permanent residence through a parent visa may not be achievable. This is a hard reality that is better understood early than discovered after years of planning.

Is the Subclass 864 the same as the 143 but for older parents?

They are similar but not the same. The Subclass 864 is the onshore version of the contributory parent visa, meaning the parent must be in Australia when they apply. The Subclass 143 can be applied for onshore or offshore. Both cost approximately $48,640 per person and have similar processing times. The key distinction is where the parent is at time of application.

How do I know which permanent visa to lodge if my parent is overseas?

For a parent who is not of pension age and is outside Australia, the Subclass 143 is typically the relevant option. For a parent of pension age outside Australia, the 143 is still available. The 864 and 804 require the parent to be in Australia at time of application. If your parent is overseas and needs guidance on which visa to lodge, a consultation with a registered migration agent will give you a clear answer based on their age, location, and family composition.

Get a strategy that actually fits your family

Every family’s situation is different. The visa that is right for one family may be wrong for another. I am Andrew Heathcote, registered migration agent MARN 0850840, based in Brisbane. I will give you a straight assessment of your options, the costs, and the realistic timeline, then manage the applications if you want to proceed.

Book a parent visa strategy consultation