Travel to and from Australia for 5 years:

• Parents can travel to and from Australia as many times as they want within the first 5 years from the date the visa is granted. The travel validity expires after 5 years. To travel after the initial 5-year period, parents need to apply for and be granted a Resident Return Visa (RRV) or consider Australian citizenship.

Apply for a Parent visa (subclass 103) as a retiree:

• Retirees can apply for the Parent visa (subclass 103) without meeting the balance of family test, having a sponsor, or an assurance of support.

How long parents can stay:

• The Parent Visa (Subclass 103) is a permanent visa that allows parents to stay in Australia indefinitely. The permanent residence starts on the day the visa is granted.

Include family:

• Parents can include members of their family unit in the application when they apply. Details of all family members, whether migrating or not, need to be included in the application form. However, if applying as a retiree, children cannot be included in the application.

Apply from:

• Parents can apply for the visa in or outside Australia. If applying in Australia, family members applying with them must also be in Australia but not in immigration clearance. If applying outside Australia, family members must also be outside Australia during the application.

The visa application fee for the Parent Visa (Subclass 103) is AUD 4,990. Additionally, there is an additional charge for each family member included in the application.

The Parent Visa (Subclass 103) may have the following conditions attached:

• Condition 8502: Not arrive before the person specified in the visa
• Condition 8515: Must not marry or enter into a de facto relationship before entry

The processing time for a new Parent visa application may take at least 29 years based on current planning levels.

For Applicant:

1. Not have this visa:

•    Parents cannot apply for the Parent Visa (Subclass 103) if they have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa.

2. Apply as a retiree:

•    Parents can apply for the Parent Visa (Subclass 103) as a retiree if they held or had previously held an Investor Retirement (subclass 405) visa or Retirement (subclass 410) on 8 May 2018. They should not have held any other substantive visa between 8 May 2018 and the application date. Applying as a retiree exempts parents from the balance of family test and the need for an assurance of support or a sponsor.

3. Have a sponsor:

•    Parents must be sponsored by an eligible sponsor, usually an eligible child. If the child is under 18, parents can be sponsored by an eligible relative or community organization. The sponsorship needs to be approved by the Department of Home Affairs. However, if parents apply as retirees, they don’t need a sponsor.

4. Meet the balance-of-family test:

•    Parents must meet the balance-of-family test, which means at least half of their children and step-children are eligible children, or there are more eligible children living in Australia than in any other single country. This requirement is waived if parents apply as retirees.

5. Have an assurance of support:

•    Parents must be able to obtain an assurance of support, except if they apply as retirees. The assurance of support ensures that parents and their accompanying family members will not rely on government assistance after entering Australia. The requirement to provide an assurance of support will be communicated during the application process.

6. Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused:

•    Parents’ immigration history will be considered, and they may not be eligible for this visa if they have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused. However, there may be exceptions to this limitation.

7. Have health insurance:

•    Parents are personally liable for all healthcare costs in Australia. It is recommended to have adequate health insurance that covers medically necessary treatment, including transport. If applying as a retiree, maintaining adequate health insurance is a requirement until the Parent visa is granted. Some countries have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia.

For Sponsor:

1. Be suitable to sponsor:

•    Sponsors must be settled in Australia, 18 years of age or older, and either an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. Sponsors must provide support, housing, and financial assistance for the first two years the applicant lives in Australia, including supporting any accompanying family members. Sponsors can sponsor more than one parent.

2. Alternative sponsorship arrangements:

•    Sponsors can also be the child’s spouse, de facto partner, relative, guardian, or a senior representative of a community organization. Community organizations can sponsor an applicant if there is a relationship between the organization and the applicant’s child, the organization is lawfully established and has been actively operating in Australia for at least one year, and the organization can meet its financial commitments. All sponsorships need to be approved by the Department of Home Affairs.