The Australian Aged Parent visa allows older parents who are already on temporary visas to live in Australia permanently if their child is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who is settled in Australia.

There is currently a long queue in processing this particular visa where waiting times of up to 13 years before this visa is approved. Eligible aged parents may want to apply for the Contributory Aged Parent visa, however that visa will incur a larger application fee and an Assurance of Support bond will be required under this stream.

You must have a child who is either:

• • an Australian citizen
  • an Australian permanent resident, or
  • an eligible New Zealand citizen.
  • If your child is not over 18 years of age, you may also be sponsored by:
    •  your child’s spouse (must be over 18 and an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen)
    • a close family relative or legal guardian of your child
    • a close family relative or legal guardian of your child’s spouse
    • a community organisation.
    • Aged parents who are men, must be 65 years or older to meet the age requirement.
    • Aged parents who are female will need to look at their Date of Birth (DOB) in the table below to see if they are eligible to apply:

• Aged parents will also need to satisfy the ‘balance of family’ test which requires that:
  • half your children must be permanent residents in Australia; or
  • you have more children that are permanent residents in Australia than any other overseas country.
  • You must also have a commitment by a person or organisation prepared to provide you with an Assurance of Support.
    • Assurance of Support is a legal commitment to provide you with financial support so that you do not have to rely on social security payments.
    • You can have up to three (3) people who can provide an assurance of support for you.

You must also meet certain health and character requirements.

• This visa allows aged parents to remain permanently with their children who are living in Australia.
• Travel to and from Australia for five (5) years from the date the visa is granted (aged parents will need to apply for a resident return visa or another visa to return to Australia after this period).
• You will be allowed to work and study in Australia.
• You will be allowed to enroll in Medicare, Australia’s scheme for health-related care and expenses.
• Apply for Australian citizenship when you become eligible.
• You will not be entitled to automatically receive social security payments or the age pension, and will have to wait:
  • Two (2) years from the date the visa was granted for most social security payments; and
  • Ten (10) years from the date the visa was granted for age and disability pension payments.

ADDITIONAL FACTORS