Numerous individuals living in Australia but originally from other countries may wish to have their parents join them. The Australian government extends the opportunity for parents to reunite with their child or children in Australia through the Parent Visa Subclass 103.

What is the Parent Visa Subclass 103 all about?

This permanent visa allows the candidate to relocate to Australia. The candidate may either be the parent of an Australian permanent resident, an Australian citizen, or an eligible New Zealand citizen. From 1 July 2023, certain changes will be made to the eligibility criteria for Australian citizenship for some New Zealand citizens who hold a Special Category (subclass 444) (SCV) visa.

Here is a list of the perks given once the Parent Visa subclass 103 is granted.

1. You can study and work in Australia.
2. Stay permanently in Australia. The permanent residence starts on the day the visa has been granted.
3. Join the public health care scheme.
4. Apply for Australian citizenship if you meet the eligibility criteria.
5. From the date the visa is granted, you can travel to and from Australia for five years (depending on the travel facility period granted on this visa).
6. Family members can get sponsored to come to Australia. It is mandatory to provide information about all your family members on the application form, regardless of whether they are planning to migrate or not. If any of your family members are applying for the visa along with you, they must meet the health and character requirements set by the authorities. Even if your family members are not coming to Australia, they might still need to fulfil the health and character requirements.
7. Applying for this visa as a retiree?

• You can include your partner in the application, but they must also be retired.
• However, you are not allowed to include your children in your application.

The cost of applying for the Parent Visa Subclass 103

The price for this visa starts at AUD 4,990. Additionally, there is an extra fee for each family member who applies along with you.

The payment for this visa is divided into two parts, called instalments. You need to pay the first instalment when you submit your application and the second instalment when requested by the Department of Home Affairs. 

Please note that there might be other expenses associated with each applicant, such as health checks, police certificates, and biometrics.

To determine the total cost of your visa, you can use the Visa Pricing Estimator present on the Australian Government site. However, please keep in mind that the estimator does not include the second instalment or other additional costs.

The application procedure for the 103 Parent Visa

You can apply for this visa whether you are inside or outside of Australia, except when you are in immigration clearance.

If you apply within Australia, all family members applying with you must also be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance. On the other hand, if you apply outside Australia, your family members who apply with you must also be outside Australia at the time of application.

For retirees applying for this visa, you must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when you submit your application. You can be inside or outside Australia when the decision on your application is made.

If you have already applied for or currently hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa, you are not eligible to apply for this visa. 

List of documents and other requirements you need to submit:

• Identity documents

• • • Current passport showing your personal details, photo, and passport issue and expiry dates.
    • a national identity card, if you have one
    • proof of a change of name

• Sponsorship documents

• Balance-of-family documents

• Character documents

• Assurance of support documents

• Inform the Department of Home Affairs with a written notification or form if you are getting help to nominate someone to receive your correspondence (Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient) or provide immigration assistance (Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person).

• Dependants under 18 documents 

• • • identity documents
    • evidence of your relationship with them such as a birth or marriage certificate
    • character documents, if applicable

• Dependants over 18 documents

• • • has a legal right to decide where the child lives and
    • is not coming to Australia with the child

• Partner documents

• Photographs

The Processing Time for the 103 Parent Visa

Due to high demand, the number of available places for Parent visas is limited each year. As a result, processing times for these applications can be quite long. According to the Department of Home Affairs, the processing time for Contributory Parent visas was approximately 6 years and that for Parent and Aged parent visas was approximately 12 years. 

Please be aware that if your application is not completed correctly, lacks necessary documents, or requires additional information from you, it may take even longer to process. Verification of information may also contribute to extended processing times.

It is important to pay the correct visa application charge to ensure the processing of your application. If the correct payment is not made, we will notify you and, if necessary, return your application.

These applications are subject to capping and queueing. 

What are the eligibility criteria for the parent visa subclass 103?

The eligibility criteria for the Parent Visa (Subclass 103) are as follows:

• Age: You must be the parent of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, and meet the age requirements. There is no specific age limit for this visa subclass.

• Balance of Family Test: At least half of your children must be living in Australia as Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens, or they must be settled in Australia.

• Sponsorship: You must be sponsored by your child, who must be an eligible sponsor. The sponsor must be an eligible New Zealand citizen, Australian citizen, or Australian permanent resident.

• Health and Character requirements: You and all family members included in the application must meet health and character requirements. This includes undergoing medical examinations and obtaining police clearances.

• Assurance of Support: You may need to provide an Assurance of Support. This is a legal commitment from a person or organization to provide financial support to you and your family members so that you do not have to rely on government assistance.

• Visa Limitations: If you have previously held certain visas, there may be limitations or waiting periods before you can apply for the Subclass 103 visa.

It is important to note that meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee the grant of the visa. The Subclass 103 visa is subject to a capping and queuing process due to high demand, and processing times can be lengthy. Also, to learn more about processing times and the Parent visa queue, feel free to reach out to us at Expert Education.

FAQs

• Will your expert guide me through the application process for the parent visa subclass 103?

Yes, we have expert guidance counsellors who can guide you through the process, including the documentation you will have to prepare.

• After the parent visa subclass 103 is granted, will I get access to government benefits?

If you are a newly arrived resident, there may be waiting periods before you can access certain Australian Government payments and benefits. To find out more about these waiting periods for newly arrived residents, you can refer to the information provided by Services Australia.

• Are there any factors that can affect the validity of my parent visa subclass 103?

Yes, it can happen that your personal or passport details have changed. Other factors like the death of your sponsor, visa application withdrawal, or a refund are expected. There can be many other factors involved which you can refer to on the Australian government site for any further changes in your situation.

• How long does it take to get a parent visa 103 for older adults?

Due to its capped and queued nature, the Australian Subclass 103 Visa can result in a considerable waiting period of several years before a final decision is reached. In certain instances, as stated by the Department of Home Affairs, the process may even extend up to 29 years, making it an extremely protracted and lengthy procedure.

• Is the 103 Parent Visa a Permanent Visa?

Yes, this is a permanent visa.