Parent Visa for Applicants
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Overview
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About this visa
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Eligibility
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Step by step
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When you have this visa
Stay
Permanently
Cost
From AUD4,990.00
Processing times
For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.
For more information, see Parent visa queue.
With this visa you can
- move to or stay in Australia as a permanent resident
- sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia
- apply for Australian citizenship if eligible
See all conditions
Check your eligibility
You must
- have an eligible child who is a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
- meet all applicable visa conditions and follow Australian law
- not have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa when applying for this visa.
Help with your visa
If you are getting help with your visa, before you pay someone, read information on who can help with your visa application.
With this visa you can
- stay in Australia indefinitely
- work and study in Australia
- enrol in Australia's public health care scheme, Medicare
- sponsor your family members to come to Australia
- apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible
Travel to and from Australia for 5 years
You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want for 5 years from the date we grant this visa. This is as long as the travel facility on this visa remains valid.
If you want to travel after the initial 5-year travel facility:
- you will need to apply for and be granted a Resident Return (RRV) so that you can re-enter Australia as a permanent resident
- you might also want to consider Australian citizenship. If you become an Australian citizen, you don't require a visa to enter Australia. You will need to apply for an Australian passport and use it to leave and re-enter Australia. See more about eligibility requirements and current processing times for Australian citizenship
To see when your travel facility ends, use VEVO.
Apply for a Parent visa (subclass 103) as a retiree
If you apply for the subclass 103 visa as a retiree you don't have to:
- meet the balance of family test, or
- have a sponsor or an assurance of support
How long you can stay
This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely.
For citizenship purposes, your permanent residence starts on the day we grant the visa.
Include family
You can include members of the family unit in your application when you apply.
You are required to include details of all your family members in your application form whether they are migrating or not.
Family members who apply for the visa must meet our health and character requirements. Family members who are not coming to Australia might also have to meet our health and character requirements.
If you apply for this visa as a retiree, you:
- can include your partner when you apply provided they are also retired
- can't include your children in your application
Newborn child
Find out what to do if your child is born after you apply.
Cost
This visa costs from AUD4,990.00. There is also an additional charge for each family member who applies with you.
You pay for this visa in 2 parts called instalments.
Pay the first instalment when you apply. Pay the second instalment when we ask you to. See more about visa fees and charges.
You might also have to pay other costs for each applicant for health checks, police certificates and biometrics.
To work out what your visa will cost use the Visa Pricing Estimator. The estimator does not take into account the second instalment or other costs.
Apply from
You can be in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when you apply for the visa.
If you apply in Australia, any family members who apply with you must also be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when you apply. If you apply outside Australia, any family members who apply for the visa with you must also be outside Australia when you apply.
If you are applying as a retiree you must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when you apply. You can be in or outside Australia when we make a decision on your application.
Processing times
The demand for Parent visas is greater than the number of places available each year. As a result, processing times for these applications can be lengthy.
For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.
Your application might take longer to process if:
- you do not fill it in correctly
- you do not include all the documents we need or we need more information from you and/or
- your information takes longer than usual to verify.
We can't process your application if you do not pay the correct visa application charge. We will notify you if this is the case and if necessary return your application.
Applications for this visa are subject to capping and queueing.
Learn more about processing times and the Parent visa queue, see: Parent visa queue.
The Reports on Migration Programs have further information on Migration Program outcomes against planning for each migration program year.
Assessment
We assess applications for this visa in 2 stages
- Check eligibility and either add the application to the queue or refuse it.
- Continue assessing the application when a place becomes available and make a decision.
Do not arrange to move to Australia until your visa is granted. We will let you know in writing if we grant you the visa.
Learn more about the Parent visa queue and processing priorities.
Consider another visa
Other Parent visas available include the:
- Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143). This is a permanent visa. Contributory Parent visas may be processed faster, but cost more
- Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173), then a permanent Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143). This 2-step visa process may be faster but costs more than the subclass 103 visa. It also costs more than applying directly for the Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143), but the cost is spread across the 2 visas over a longer period and
- Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870) is a temporary visa allowing parents to visit their children in Australia for up to three or five years at a time and a cumulative maximum 10 year period.
You can view all visa options on our Visa list page.
Your obligations
You must enter Australia before the date specified in your grant letter. The first entry date is generally set at 12 months from the date of visa grant.
You and your family members must meet all visa conditions and obey Australian laws.
See what conditions might be attached to this visa on our visa conditions page.
Visa label
We will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.
Not have this visa
You cannot apply for this visa if you have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa.
Apply as a retiree
You can apply for a Parent visa (subclass 103) as a retiree if:
- on 8 May 2018, you held or had previously held an Investor Retirement (subclass 405) visa or Retirement (subclass 410), and
- you have not held any other substantive visa between between 8 May 2018 and the date you applied for the Parent visa
If you apply for this visa as a retiree:
- you don't need to meet the balance of family test
- you don't need to have an assurance of support
- you don't need a sponsor
Have a sponsor
You must be sponsored by an eligible sponsor.
Usually you would be sponsored by an eligible child. If your child is under 18, you can be sponsored by an eligible relative or community organisation.
We must approve the sponsorship.
If you apply for this visa as a retiree you don't need a sponsor.
Meet the balance-of-family test
You must meet the balance-of-family test. You meet the balance of family test if:
- at least half of your children and step-children are eligible children, or
- there are more eligible children living in Australia than in any other single country
See examples of how the balance-of-family test is applied.
If you apply for this visa as a retiree you don't need to meet the balance of family test.
Have assurance of support
You must be able to obtain an assurance of support.
An assurance of support assures us that you will not have to rely on government assistance after you enter Australia on this visa. The assurance is for you and any family members who come to Australia with you on this visa.
We will let you know when you need to provide the assurance of support.
You must be able to obtain an assurance of support, unless you apply for the visa as a retiree.
If you apply for the visa as a retiree, you don't need an assurance of support.
Learn more about assurances of support.
Meet the health requirement
You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health requirement.
We might also ask that other non-migrating family members meet the requirement.
Meet the character requirement
You, and family members who apply for the visa with you, must meet our character requirement.
We might also ask that other non-migrating family members meet the requirement.
Have paid back your debt to the Australian Government
If you or any family members owe the Australian Government money you, or they, must have paid it back or have an approved formal arrangement to pay it back.
Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused
We will consider your immigration history when we make a decision on your application, which means you might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused.
In some circumstances you may still apply for a permanent visa if you have had a visa cancelled or an application refused, see Limitations on applications in Australia.
If applying for a visa from outside Australia, see Can I go to Australia.
If you want immigration assistance, see Who can help with your visa application.
Sign the Australian values statement
If you are 18 years of age or older, you must:
- have read, or had explained to you, the Life in Australia book
- sign an Australian Values Statement that confirms you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws
Have health insurance
You are personally liable for all your healthcare costs while you are in Australia. Medical insurance helps limit your financial liability.
If you apply for this visa as a retiree, you must maintain adequate health insurance until you are granted a Parent visa. Your insurance should cover you for medically necessary treatment, including transport.
See a guide to what we consider adequate health insurance.
Learn more about health insurance for overseas visitors.
Reciprocal healthcare agreements
Some countries have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia. Find out more from Services Australia about reciprocal healthcare agreements.
Best interests of the child
We will not grant this visa if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18.
Step 1
Before you apply
Check your passport. If you need help with your application, get someone to act on your behalf.
Check your passport
You and anyone who applies for the visa with you must have valid passports before we grant the visa.
We will only grant the visa if you have a valid passport.
Get help with your application
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.
If you have an existing Parent visa application
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.
If you applied for a Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173) or a Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884) you need to complete:
- Part C of Form 47PT Application for migration to Australia by a Contributory Parent (Temporary) or Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa holder
If you applied for an Aged Parent visa (subclass 804), you need to complete:
- Part B of Form 47PA Application for a parent to migrate to Australia
Step 2
Gather your documents
Gather all your documents, including for any partner or dependants who are applying with you. You will also need your sponsor documents.
Provide accurate documents
Provide accurate information. See what happens if you cannot prove your identity or do not provide true information.
Identity documents
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 show other names you have been known by
Sponsorship documents
Your application must be sponsored by an eligible sponsor, unless you are applying as a retiree.
Your sponsor must complete Form 40 Sponsorship for migration to Australia.
Balance-of-family documents
Show us that you meet the balance-of-family test by giving us:
- evidence of how you are related to each child
- evidence of each child's country of permanent residence
- evidence that your child should not be included in the balance-of-family test (for example, their death certificate)
You don't need to meet the balance of family test if you are applying as a retiree.
Character documents
We might ask you for character documents, including police certificates. Don't arrange a police check until we ask you to.
Learn more about police certificates.
Assurance of support documents
Provide us with an assurance of support when we ask for it.
You don't need to provide an assurance of support if you are applying as a retiree.
Tell us you are getting help
To nominate someone to:
- receive your correspondence, use Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient
- provide immigration assistance, use Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person.
Send written notification or your forms with your paper application.
Dependants under 18 documents
For every dependant under 18 years old who is applying with you, provide:
- identity documents
- evidence of your relationship with them such as a birth or marriage certificate
- character documents, if applicable
If you are applying as a retiree you can't include your children, or your partner's children, in your application.
Parental responsibility documents
You must get consent for any applicant under 18 years of age to migrate to Australia from anyone who:
- has a legal right to decide where the child lives and
- is not coming to Australia with the child
They must complete either:
- Form 1229 Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years
- a statutory declaration giving their consent for the child to visit Australia on this visa
Alternatively, you can show us:
- an Australian court order that allows your child to migrate to Australia, or
- that the laws of your home country allow them to migrate
Include:
- an identity document that shows the signature and photo of the person who completed the form or declaration, such as a passport or driver’s licence
- adoption papers or other court documents if applicable
Dependants over 18 documents
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
If you are applying as a retiree you can't include your children, or your partner's children, in your application.
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
- 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
Partner documents
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
Photographs
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.
Prepare your documents
Translate
Have all non-English documents translated into English.
Provide original copies and translated documents in your application.
Translators in Australia must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.
Translators outside Australia do not have to be accredited. But on each translation, they must include their:
- full name
- address and telephone number
- qualifications and experience in the language they are translating
These details must be in English.
Certify
Do not certify police certificates. You need to send us the originals.
Have all other documents as a certified copy. This includes:
- non-English documents
- English translations
Keep
Keep a copy of your completed application.
Send
Send us:
- original police certificates
- certified copies of all other documents
- as much information as possible to help us make a decision on your application
- each document only once, even if you are using it to show more than one thing
- all documents with your application, if you can
Step 3
Apply for the visa
You must apply for the visa on paper. You can be in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when you submit your application.
Learn more about where you can be when we make a decision on your application by reading the “Visa Outcome” section on this web page. (Below)
If you are applying as a retiree you must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when you submit your application. You can be in or outside Australia when we make our decision.
You cannot apply for this visa if you have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa.
Provide accurate information
Provide accurate information. See what happens if you can't prove your identity or don't provide true information.
Apply on paper
Complete Form 47PA Application for a parent to migrate to Australia.
Your sponsor must complete:
- Form 40 Sponsorship for migration to Australia (357KB 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 have an existing Parent visa application
If you have applied for a different Parent visa but we have not made a decision on that application, you must withdraw the application at the same time that you apply for this visa.
Use Part B of Form 47PA Application for a parent to migrate to Australia.
Step 4
After you apply
We will let you know when we have received your application and documents. There may be other things you need to know and might have to do.
Status updates
We can't provide updates on your application's progress within normal processing times. We will let you know if you need to provide anything further.
Learn more about the Parent visa queue and processing priorities.
Travel
Do not make arrangements to move to Australia permanently until we let you know, in writing, that we have granted you the visa.
Health exams
We will let you know if you need health examinations.
Biometrics
We might ask for biometrics (fingerprints and photo). We will let you know if you need to provide them.
Send more information
Send any documents you did not provide with your application to the Parent Visa Centre in Perth.
We might also ask you to provide more information.
Stay lawful
If you are in Australia and your current temporary visa is about to expire, you should make sure you stay lawful by holding a valid visa while we process your application.
Learn about visa expiry.
Pay the second instalment
You must pay a second instalment before we will grant the visa. We will send you an invoice when it is due. If you do not pay the invoice, we will refuse your application.
Add family members
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.
You will also need to provide evidence of your relationship and the family member’s passport.
If you applied in Australia, any family members you add to the application must also be in Australia when you add them. If you applied outside Australia, any family members you add to the application must also be outside Australia when you add them.
Newborn child
Find out what to do if your child is born after you apply.
Mistakes on your application
Let us know as soon as you can if you made a mistake on your application.
Complete Form 1023 Notification of incorrect answers.
Help with your application
Let us know if you no longer want someone to:
- receive your correspondence - complete Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient
- provide immigration advice - complete Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person.
Send written notification or your forms to the office your submitted your application.
For more information see Who can help you with your application.
Tell us if things change
Things you need to let us know about after you have applied include:
- changes to your phone number, address or passport
- changes to your marital or de facto status
- the birth of a child
- you want to withdraw your application
See what to do if your situation changes.
Withdraw your application and apply for a different visa
Other parent visas might be processed more quickly.
- The Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) is a permanent visa. Your application will be processed faster, but it costs more.
- The Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173), then a permanent Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143). This 2-step visa process is faster but costs more than the subclass 103 visa. It also costs more than applying directly for the Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143), but the cost is spread across the 2 visas over a longer period.
To withdraw your application for a subclass 103 visa and apply for a subclass 143 or subclass 173 visa instead:
- complete a new Form 47PA - Application for a parent to migrate to Australia (permanent). Make sure you complete Part B - Declaration to Withdraw correctly
- send the completed form and a new, completed Form 40 - Sponsorship for migration to Australia by post or courier to the Parent Visa Centre in Perth at the address on the form
- pay the visa application charge. We won't refund or transfer the charge you paid for your previous visa application
We will take the date you originally applied for a subclass 103 visa into account for your new application. You won't be disadvantaged by changing the visa you apply for.
Not all applicants who applied for the subclass 103 visa have to apply for a contributory visa instead. If one applicant for the subclass 103 visa changes their application it will not affect the other application.
Step 5
Visa outcome
If you applied as a retiree, you must be outside Australia when we make a decision on your application.
If you did not apply as a retiree, you must be outside Australia when we make a decision on your application.
We will let you know our decision in writing.
If we grant you the visa, we will let you know:
- your visa grant number
- the date your visa starts
- your visa conditions.
We recommend you keep a copy of our decision.
If we refuse your visa we will let you know:
- why we refused the visa
- whether you have a right to a review of the decision.
We will not refund the application fee if we refuse your application.
Coming to Australia
Before you travel
Check your travel documents
You must have:
- a valid visa to enter Australia
- a valid passport or other travel document.
Arrive before first entry arrival date
You must enter Australia before the date specified in your grant letter.
If your visa is still valid and the date specified in your visa grant letter has passed or will pass before you can travel to Australia, you must ensure that:
- you plan to travel to Australia within the next 12 months
- you submit the travel facilitation letter request form.
We may then send you a travel facilitation letter. This will state that we allow you to enter Australia after the first entry arrival date on your visa.
We will not issue a travel facilitation letter unless there is less than 3 months remaining on your first entry arrival date.
At the border
Complete an Incoming Passenger Card
All people arriving into Australia must complete the Incoming Passenger Card.
Use the SmartGate
We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You might be able to leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.
In Australia
What you must do when you have this visa
You and your dependants must meet all visa conditions and obey Australian laws.
You can check visa details and conditions in VEVO.
Tell us if things change
See what to do if your situation changes.
What you can do on your visa
Check your visa conditions and expiry
See your visa expiry, conditions, and work and study entitlements in VEVO.
See how long you can stay
This is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely.
For citizenship purposes, your permanent residence starts on the day:
- we grant the visa if you are in Australia
- you enter Australia on this visa if you are outside Australia
To see your specific conditions, work and study entitlements use VEVO.
Access Australian Government benefits
As a newly arrived resident you might have to wait to access certain Australian Government payments and benefits. Learn more about newly arrived residents' waiting periods from Services Australia.
Travelling on your visa
You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want for 5 years from the date we grant this visa. This is as long as the travel facility on this visa remains valid.
If you want to travel after the initial 5-year travel facility:
- you will need to apply for and be granted a Resident Return (RRV) so that you can re-enter Australia as a permanent resident
- you might also want to consider Australian citizenship. If you become an Australian citizen, you don't require a visa to enter Australia. You will need to apply for an Australian passport and use it to leave and re-enter Australia. See more about eligibility requirements and current processing times for Australian citizenship
To see when your travel facility ends, use VEVO.
Proving you have a visa
To prove you have a visa and show your conditions to someone, use VEVO.
You can request your international movement records by completing Form 1359 - Request for international movement records.
Working
With this visa you become a permanent resident. This means you can work and study. You are protected by Australian workplace law. See your workplace rights and entitlements.
Bringing a family member
As an Australian permanent resident, you might be able to sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia.
To find a visa for your family member, explore visa options.
Becoming an Australian citizen
After a certain time, you might be eligible for Australian citizenship. Find out more about becoming a citizen.
For citizenship purposes, you become a permanent resident at a particular time:
- when you enter Australia on this visa, or
- if you have have been in Australia before and held a permanent visa immediately before last leaving Australia, when we grant this visa
Leaving Australia
Before you leave
Check your travel documents
You must have a valid passport or other travel document to leave Australia.
Ensure your visa is still valid
See what to do if your visa has expired or is about to expire.
At the border
Departures SmartGate (all visas)
We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You might be able to leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.
After you leave
Prove you have been to Australia
To prove you have been to Australia, request your international movement records by completing Form 1359 - Request for international movement records.
