Australia’s Parent Visa program enables parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens to reunite with their families in Australia. The program offers both temporary and permanent residence options, each with distinct eligibility criteria and processing timelines.

The visa categories are structured to balance family reunification objectives with Australia’s migration planning priorities. Permanent options include contributory schemes with faster processing (but higher costs) and non-contributory alternatives with more affordable fees but extended waiting periods. Temporary visas provide interim solutions for family reunification without permanent settlement rights.

All parent visas require sponsors to demonstrate their settled status in Australia and meet the balance-of-family test, ensuring at least half of the applicant’s children reside permanently in Australia. The program incorporates rigorous health and character requirements, along with financial assurances to protect public resources.

Processing times vary dramatically between visa subclasses, from several years for contributory options to multiple decades for non-contributory applications. The Australian government periodically reviews parent visa policies to manage program integrity and humanitarian considerations in family reunification cases.