There is a wide selection of Visa alternatives for families wishing to enter Australia. Application for these visas are broken into two main categories, which are dictated by where the visa applicant will be when their application is lodged:
1. In Australia; or
2. Outside Australia
Then also broken down into
- Parent
- Partner
- Child
- Other family
1. Applications from Inside Australia
Partners of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens may apply to enter and/or remain permanently in Australia. Partners include:
- People intending to get married
- Married partners
- Defacto partners
- Interdependent partners (same-sex relationships)
For people to stay in Australia with their partner, who must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. If two years after you apply the spousal relationship is ongoing, a permanent visa may be granted.
For people to stay in Australia with their partner, who must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. If two years after you apply the interdependent relationship is ongoing, a permanent visa may be granted. This visa is generally for people in a same sex relationship.
To be eligible to apply for any of the parent visas the parent applicants must meet what is called the 'balance of family' test. This means the applicants must have:
- at least half of their children living lawfully and permanently in Australia, or
- more children living lawfully and permanently in Australia than in any other single country overseas
Children of both parents are counted in the test, including any children of previous relationships or de facto relationships of either parent.
Some single, aged parents who do not meet the balance of family test may be eligible under the Aged Dependent Relative category if they are able to prove that they are dependent on their relative (child) in Australia.
These visas are for parents whose age is equivalent to a person who is eligible for an Australian Age pension.
An aged parent making a parent visa application will not immediately be entitled to an Age pension after being granted a permanent visa. All new Australian permanent residents must wait 10 years before being eligible to receive the Age pension (unless there is a reciprocal agreement with another country that pays you a pension) or Disability pension.
A permanent visa for aged parents to remain in Australia. Applicants must have children who are living in Australia.
A permanent visa for aged parents with children living in Australia. This visa costs more than the aged parent visa but is generally processed faster. This visa allows you, your accompanying spouse and dependent family members to live as permanent residents in Australia. You can also:
- work and study in Australia
- receive subsidised healthcare through Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods)
- be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship (subject to the residency eligibility criteria)
- sponsor people for permanent residence (subject to waiting periods).
- Your spouse and other family members may be included in your application if they meet certain requirements.
This is a temporary visa valid for two years. If you hold this visa you can apply for the permanent Contributory Aged Parent (Residence) visa.
For holders of a temporary Contributory Aged Parent visa, to apply for a permanent Contributory Aged Parent visa.
This visa is for holders of a temporary Contributory Parent visa, who want to apply for a permanent Contributory Parent visa.
For children from overseas who are natural, adopted, step children of, an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
For children from overseas whose parents are deceased, permanently incapacitated, or whose whereabouts are unknown.
For children whose parent holds a temporary partner visa and is in the process of obtaining a permanent partner visa.
- Other Family Visa Options
For people to join their brothers, sisters or parents who are their only near relatives and are usually resident in Australia.
A permanent visa for aged persons who rely on a relative in Australia for all, or most, of their living costs.
For people needed to care for an Australian relative or a member of their family unit, who has a medical condition.
For non-New Zealand citizens to travel to and live in Australia with a New Zealand citizen family member who is a special category visa holder.
2. Applications from Outside Australia
Partners of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens may apply to enter and/or remain permanently in Australia. Partners include:
- People intending to get married
- Married partners
- Defacto partners
- Interdependent partners (same-sex relationships)
For people from overseas to enter and stay in Australia with their partner, who must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. If two years after you apply the spousal relationship is ongoing, a permanent visa may be granted.
For people from overseas to enter Australia, marry their fiance(e), who must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. Once married, holders of this visa can then apply to remain permanently in Australia.
For people from overseas to enter and stay in Australia with their partner, who must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. If two years after you apply, the interdependent relationship is ongoing, a permanent visa may be granted. This visa is generally for people in a same sex relationship.
To be eligible to apply for any of the parent visas the parent applicants must meet what is called the 'balance of family' test. This means the applicants must have:
- at least half of their children living lawfully and permanently in Australia, or
- more children living lawfully and permanently in Australia than in any other single country overseas
Children of both parents are counted in the test, including any children of previous relationships or de facto relationships of either parent.
Some single, aged parents who do not meet the balance of family test may be eligible under the Aged Dependent Relative category if they are able to prove that they are dependent on their relative (child) in Australia.
A permanent visa for parents who have children living in Australia.
A permanent visa for parents with children living in Australia. This visa costs more than the Parent visa but is generally processed faster.
This is a temporary visa valid for two years. If you hold this visa you can then apply for the permanent Contributory Parent visa.
This visa is for holders of a temporary Contributory Parent visa, who want to apply for a permanent Contributory Parent visa.
For children from overseas who are natural, adopted or step children of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
For children from overseas whose parents are deceased, permanently incapacitated, or whose whereabouts are unknown and who have an eligible sponsor.
For children from overseas who have been or about to be adopted by an Australian citizen, the holder of an Australian permanent visa, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
If the child was adopted before the parent became an Australian citizen, the holder of an Australian permanent visa, or an eligible New Zealand citizen they cannot apply for this visa. They must apply for a Child visa.
For children whose parent holds a temporary partner visa and is in the process of obtaining a permanent partner visa.
- Other Family Visa Options
For people to join their brothers, sisters or parents who are their only near relatives and are usually resident in Australia.
A permanent visa for aged persons who rely on a relative in Australia for all, or most, of their living costs.
For people needed to care for an Australian relative or a member of their family unit, who has a medical condition.
For non-New Zealand citizens to travel to and live in Australia with a New Zealand citizen family member who is a special category visa holder.
Parent Visa Processing Priorities and Queues
Parent category visa applications have a lower processing priority than other family stream visa applicants such as partners, children and the contributory parent category.
The Parent visa classes are subject to capping. Currently there are thousands of parents in the queue. Parents can expect to wait many years for a visa to be granted (seven to ten years).
While waiting for the Parent visa to be processed, the parents can apply for a Visitor visa to visit their children in Australia.
There is currently no queue for the contributory parent category, but there are only a limited number of visas that can be granted in a Migration Programme year.