Bringing your parents to Australia: how parent visas generally work

Once your life is established in Australia, one of the questions that comes up most is whether you can bring your parents. This is a general information guide — not an assessment of your case — so you understand the landscape before looking at it in detail.

Is there a visa for parents?

Yes: the official information provides for a category of visas for the parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents (and, in certain cases, eligible New Zealand citizens). Within that category there are several options, not just one.

Temporary and permanent

Broadly, there are permanent options and temporary options — among the latter, the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870), designed for longer stays without being residence. Each has its own conditions, so which suits you depends on your situation and your parents’.

The “balance of family” requirement

For several of these visas, general information mentions a requirement known as the balance of family test: broadly, it looks at how many of the children live in Australia versus other countries. How it’s calculated and whether you meet it is exactly the kind of thing worth checking with the official source and case by case.

Timeframes and costs: why we don’t give figures

Parent visas are among the most complex in the Australian system, and timeframes and costs vary widely and update. That’s why we don’t put numbers here: they would be misleading. The right move is to check the current figures at the official source and review your specific case before making decisions.

Things worth knowing

• Sponsorship by a child in Australia is usually part of the process.
• The concept of an “assurance of support” may come up.
• Temporary and permanent options answer different needs.
• The rules update; always confirm what’s current before planning.

The next step

Every situation has its nuances, and every country of origin its own. If you’d like to look at how this applies to your case, contact us and we’ll go through it with you.

Moving as a couple or family raises a lot of questions. Start with the essentials.

Download the guide for a general overview of how these paths work.

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General information · not individual legal advice.

Last reviewed: 2026-07-03 · Source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au