If your children hold legal permanent residency in Australia, parents residing outside of Australia have the opportunity to apply for parent migration visas to obtain legal permanent residency, allowing them to reunite with their children and retire in Australia.
The main visa categories for Australian parent migration include:
- Subclass 103 Parent (Non-Contributory) visa
- Subclass 143 Contributory Parent (Permanent) visa
- Subclass 173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa
Introduction to the Australian Subclass 103 visa:
1. Lower costs.
2. After obtaining permanent residency, the waiting period for social security benefits is only 2 years, whereas the waiting period for the 143 contributory visa is 10 years.
3. After submitting a 103 application, you can switch to the 143 contributory visa at any time without needing to re-queue or re-submit supporting documents.
4. Parents who have submitted a 103 application may apply for a visitor visa valid for up to 5 years.
Introduction to the Australian Subclass 143 visa
The Australian 143 visa requires a one-time payment of all contributions, whereas the 173 contributory parent temporary visa allows for the contribution to be paid in two installments, with the option to transition to a permanent visa within 2 years by paying the remaining balance. Parents holding a 143 visa are not eligible to receive the Australian Age Pension for 10 years.
Introduction to the Australian Subclass 173 visa
Unlike the Australian 143 visa (Contributory Parent visa), which requires a one-time payment of all contributions, the 173 visa allows for the contribution to be paid in two installments. After obtaining the 173 visa, you may transition to a permanent visa within 2 years by paying the remaining balance.