Parent visas present a valuable opportunity for Australian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents to join them in Australia. These visas are designed to facilitate family reunification, ensuring parents can live closer to their children who have settled in the country.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for a parent visa, applicants must meet the balance of family test, which requires that at least half of their children are permanently settled in Australia. For instance, if a sponsored parent has three children and two are resident in Australia then they meet the balance of family test.
For parents who wish to visit Australia temporarily, applying for a Visitor visa remains an option and offers a practical way to maintain family connections.
Sponsorship Requirements
To act as a sponsor, individuals must:
· Have lived in Australia for at least two years.
· Provide a written commitment to supporting their parents financially, offering accommodation, and ensuring overall assistance during their first two years in Australia.
Types of Parent Visas
Parent visas are categorised based on several factors, including the parents’ age, location at the time of application, and their financial capacity to contribute toward healthcare costs. These visa types may be:
· Aged Parent Visas: For parents aged 67 or older.
· Onshore or Offshore Visas: Determined by the parents' location during application.
· Contributory or Non-Contributory Visas: Differentiated by whether a substantial financial contribution is made to offset future healthcare expenses.
· Provisional or Permanent Visas: Some visas offer a pathway from temporary to permanent residency.
Processing Times
Non-contributory parent visas are subject to extremely long processing times, with applications often taking up to 30 years due to limited visa allocations each year.
In contrast, Contributory Parent visas offer a faster alternative, with an estimated processing time of six years, albeit at a higher financial cost. Introduced in 2003, these visas require a lump-sum payment of approximately AUD $43,000 per parent to cover anticipated medical expenses in Australia.
Medicare and Social Security
An important factor to remember is that unlike other permanent visas applied for Onshore where the applicant is given a bridging visa which allows them among other things to access Medicare; bridging visas given as a result of a an application for a permanent Onshore Parent visa do not give access to Medicare or any other form of social security. This is a major consideration for the sponsoring family members as they will be financially responsible for their elderly parent's medical cost and aged care costs if their health declines. Family members have to weigh up the low cost of a standard parent visa and the risk of significant health costs against the more expensive Contributory Parent visa which gives some peace of mind around access to Medicare once the visa is granted.
Expediting the Process: Onshore Applications
For parents aged 67 or older who are already in Australia on a Visitor visa, there is an option to apply for an Aged Parent or Aged Contributory Parent visa. Upon application, they are granted a bridging visa, allowing them to remain in Australia until the outcome of their visa is determined.
However, this pathway is not available for parents under 67 or those applying from outside Australia. In such cases, applicants will need to wait offshore until their parent visa is granted.
Optimising Your Approach
Navigating parent visa options can be complex, with timelines and costs varying significantly depending on the chosen pathway. Understanding the nuances of each visa type is critical to making an informed decision.
At ART Reviews Australia, we encourage families to consider their circumstances carefully and explore strategies to streamline the process. Contact us to schedule a consultation and receive expert advice tailored to your family’s unique needs.
