Only some people can help you with your application. If you appoint someone to give you immigration assistance they must be:

• a registered migration agent
• a legal practitioner, or
• an exempt person.

You can appoint anyone to receive documents on your behalf relating to your visa matter.

We need proof of your identity. If you cannot prove your identity:

• we will refuse your visa application
• we might not grant you another visa for 10 years
• we might not grant any family members you listed on your application a visa for 10 years

Provide the pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates.

Also provide:

• a national identity card, if you have one
• proof of change of name

Documents that prove a change of name include:

• a marriage or divorce certificate
• change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or the relevant overseas authority
• documents that shows other names you have been known by

Your application must be sponsored by an eligible sponsor.

Your sponsor must complete Form 40 Sponsorship for migration to Australia (442KB PDF).

You will need to provide documents that prove you meet the balance-of-family test, including:

• proof of your relationship with each of your children
• proof your child or children living permanently in Australia
• if applicable, proof that your child should not be included in the balance-of-family test (for example, their death certificate)

To nominate someone to:

• receive your correspondence, use Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (301KB PDF)
• provide immigration assistance, use Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person (308KB PDF).

Send written notification or your forms with your paper application.

For every dependent under 18 years old who is applying with you, provide:

• identity documents
• proof of your relationship with them, like a birth or marriage certificate
• character documents, if applicable

To be included in your visa application as a dependent child, your child must be:

• under 18 years, or
• over 18 years of age but not yet turned 23, and dependent on you or your partner, or
• over 23 years of age, unable to earn a living to support themselves due to physical or cognitive limitations and dependent on you or your partner

For every dependant 18 years old or older who is applying with you, provide:

• identity documents
• documents about their other relationships, if applicable
• character documents
• proof of dependency

If your child is likely to turn 23 while your application is being processed, you will need to provide evidence they are dependent on you due to disability.

Provide:

• identity documents
• documents about their other relationships, if applicable
• character documents

Proof of dependency

You need to prove that this person is dependent on you. Provide:

• a completed Form 47a Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over (307KB PDF)
• proof of your relationship with the dependent such as a birth certificate or adoption papers

You must also prove this person has been financially dependent on you for at least 12 months before you apply. You could provide:

• proof they live with you
• their tax records
• proof they are currently studying

Provide:

• identity documents
• character documents
• documents about other relationships, if applicable

Provide either:

• your current marriage certificate or
• enough documents to prove you have been in a de facto relationship with your partner for at least 12 months before you apply

Documents that prove your de facto relationship include:

• joint bank account statements
• billing accounts in joint names
• joint leases or mortgages
• documents that show you have lived at the same address as your partner

Provide 4 recent photos (45mm x 35mm) of anyone included in the application.

Photographs must be:

• 45mm x 35mm
• less than 6 months old
• good quality colour. We don't accept laser copies
• a full-face view of your head and shoulders
• taken against a plain light-coloured background

You can wear untinted prescription glasses. If you wear a head covering for religious reasons, you can show only your face.

Complete Form 47PA Application for a parent to migrate to Australia (693KB PDF)

Your sponsor must complete:

• Form 40 Sponsorship for migration to Australia (442KB PDF)

Complete the form in English.

You must pay the first instalment when you apply. For payment options see how to pay.

You can’t submit applications for this visa in person. Send your application by post or courier to the Parent Visa Processing Centre in Perth at the address on the form. Include all required documents, forms and evidence of payment of application charge with your application.

If any of the above steps are incomplete, your application may be invalid. We do not process invalid applications. We will notify you if this is the case, and if requested, return your application.

Do not send original documents with your application, only send certified copies. Keep a copy of your completed application for your own records, including any supporting documents.

If you applied for a different parent visa, but we have not made a decision about that visa, you must withdraw that application at the same time that you apply for this visa.

Complete Part B of Form 47PA Application for a parent to migrate to Australia (693KB PDF).

Tell us if you want to travel outside Australia while we process your application. We need to know because you must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when we make our decision.

If you leave Australia, make sure you have a valid visa to return.

Learn about visa expiry.

Make sure you stay lawful by holding a valid visa while we process your application.

When you apply for this visa in Australia, you are likely to be granted a bridging visa. If your current visa expires before we make a decision on your application, the bridging visa will start. You can stay in Australia on the bridging visa while we process your new visa application.

Do not cancel your current visa. If you do, you will:

• be staying in Australia unlawfully
• not be eligible for a bridging visa

Learn more about visa expiry.

Pay the second instalment charge when we tell you to.

We will send you an invoice for the instalment after you have met all other requirements for the visa.

You must pay the instalment or we can't grant the visa.

You might be able to add family members to your application before we make a decision.

Complete and send us Form 1436 Adding an additional applicant after lodgement (481KB PDF).

You will also need to provide evidence of your relationship and the family member’s passport.

Any family members you add to your application after you apply must be in Australia when you add them.

Newborn child

Find out what to do if your child is born after you apply.

Let us know as soon as you can if you make a mistake on your application.

Complete Form 1023 Notification of incorrect answers (168KB PDF).

Let us know if you no longer want someone to:

• receive your correspondence - complete Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (301KB PDF)
• provide immigration advice - complete Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person (308KB PDF).

Send written notification or your forms to the office your submitted your application.

For more information see Who can help you with your application.

See what to do if your situation changes.