Book a Consult

Tag: parent visa eligibility

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

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.

Get document help