Parent Visas vs Tourist Visas for Parents: What You Need to Know
For many of us, leaving our homes and moving to a different country is like a dream cum true. But to truly live there, without our families, is difficult and heartbreaking.
Imagine the warmth of your parents, their familiar laughter and their cosy hugs that melt away all your pain and sorrows! Isn’t that wholesome?
What if you could bring them closer towards you?
After years of living alone, if you are thinking about bringing your parents to Australia and living with you either for a short period or for a long time, this blog post is for you.
Two main visa options stand out when exploring ways to reunite with your parents in Australia: Parent Visas and Tourist Visas.
Lets explore the difference between both so that you can make the informed decision and pick the right parent visa in Australia.
Understanding Parent Visas
If you are planning to bring your parents to stay with you, you can do this via a permanent visa or a temporary visa. Below, we will discuss both and their requirements and also understand the difference between them.
Basic requirements to get a permanent parent visa in Australia
For parents looking to join their children as permanent residents in Australia, there are several parent visa in Australia options available, including the Parent (Subclass 103) visa, Contributory Parent (Subclass 143) visa, and Aged Parent (Subclass 804) visa. All these visa types allow the parents of the children living in Australia to reside in the country and open pathways for them to build stronger family ties.
Obtaining a permanent parent visa requires meeting specific eligibility criteria.
Basic Requirements for a permanent parent visa are as follows:
- The child of the parents must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. The child must sponsor the visa application.
- To qualify, your parents need to satisfy the family balance test, which generally stipulates that at least 50% of their children must reside in Australia, or that a greater number of their children live in Australia compared to any other country.
- Similar to other visas, your parents need to meet the health and character criteria established by the Australian government to maintain public safety and health standards.
Basic requirements to get a tourist visa for your parents in Australia
For parents seeking to visit their children or grandchildren in Australia, a Visitor (Subclass 600) visa is a popular option. This visa stream offers a quicker and an affordable chance for parents to move to Australia but temporarily.
This visa is appropriate for parents who want to spend extended time with their children in Australia without committing to permanent residency. It’s a flexible and useful method to keep strong family ties while also allowing for cultural exchange and quality time together.
Basic Requirements for a Visitor (Subclass 600) Visa
To be eligible for a Visitor subclass 600 visa, your parents must meet the following requirements which are:
- They need to show that they plan to visit Australia briefly and will return to their home country afterwards.
- They must have enough funds to show that they can support their stay in the foreign country.
- They must meet the health and the character requirements.
Key Difference between both the visas
Here’s a table highlighting the key differences between the two visas.
| Features | Visitor (Subclass 600) Visa | Permanent Parent Visa (Subclass 103, 143, 804) |
| Purpose | Temperory visit to Australia | Permanent residency in Australia |
| Stay duration | Up to 12 months per visit | Indefinite stay |
| Eligible sponsors | Any Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible NZ citizen | Must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible NZ citizen who is a child of the applicant |
| Health and Character test | Required | Required |
| Processing time | Generally quicker | Longer processing time |
| Renewability | Can apply multiple times | No need for renewal |
Final Thoughts
If you want to know more about these visa options, we urge you to contact the experts at EEMS. They are the best migration consultants in Adelaide who can fulfil your wish of bringing your parents closer to you.
Hence, it’s time to seek their assistance as they can help you build a tailored step-by-step program for bringing your parents to live with you.
