If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident seeking to re-settle your parents in Australia permanently, there are a number of Parent visa options available. The eligibility requirements for these visas can get a little complex but generally speaking, if you have lived in Australia for the last 2 years, and you are an only child or at least half of your siblings (including half and step) are living in Australia, you may be eligible to sponsor your parent for a Permanent Parent visa.

In broad terms, there are two streams of parent visas: contributory and non-contributory visas. The primary difference between these two streams is that, for contributory visas, the applicant pays extra fees (more than $43,600) to secure faster processing. You may be asking – is it worth the money?

For all Parent visa subclasses, the Department of Home Affairs sets a strict cap on the number of visa places available in any year. In practical terms, this creates a queue system where new lodged applications are placed in line and visa applications are considered on a “first in, first out” basis. The queue for Contributory Parent visas moves much faster while non-contributory visas stall – there has been no advancement in that queue for at least the last 9 months.

Current estimates published by the Department of Home Affairs suggests that processing time on a contributory visa lodged now would take approximately 4.8 years until a final decision is made while non-contributory parent visa applicants can expect to wait up to 30 years for a decision!

If you hear of anyone wanting help to bring parents to Australia we would be happy to help navigate all this.

DISCLAIMER This information is current as of 29 June 2020 and subject to change. The information contained in this publication is of a general nature only. It should not be used as legal advice. To the extent permissible by law, Ajuria Lawyers and its associated entities shall not be liable for any errors, omissions, defects or misrepresentations in the information or for any loss or damage suffered by persons who use or rely on such information. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.