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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