Parent visa applications can be time-consuming and costly. Even determining which visa is ideal for your parents’ travel to Australia can be difficult. If you’re wondering which visa to apply for to allow your parents to visit Australia, you have a few options based on your parents’ country of origin and how long they want to remain here.
A visitor visa for parents Australia is a critical visa option for many families. It is a faster and more cost effective alternative to bring your parents to Australia. This article aims to help you decide which is the best option for you, by explaining all the visa jargon in detail. If you are an Australian permanent resident or citizen, then longer validity visitor visas are available for your parents.
Visitor visas are not intended for maintaining ongoing residence in Australia. Accordingly, longer Visitor visas will not be considered for parents who:
- are already in Australia; or
- have already spent 12 months in Australia in the last 18 months.
If you have recently stayed in Australia for an extended period, you will generally not be considered for a longer Tourist visa until you have spent a minimum of 6 months outside Australia in the last 18 months at the time you apply for a new Visitor visa. For example, if you have spent the last 12 months in Australia, you should wait for 6 months before applying for a new visa if you wish to be considered under these arrangements.
Short-stay visitor visas for Parents
These are two types of short-stay visitor visas for parents that you can apply for online. Generally, approval will be granted within 24 hours. They allow multiple entries over a 12 month period but typically a maximum of 3 months for each stay in Australia.
The main restriction for these visa types is that you must hold a passport from a specific country.
ETA for Parents
An Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is a travel authorisation under the subclass 601 connected to your e-passport that permits you to enter Australia as many times as you like during a 12-month period and for up to three months each visit.
ETAs are accessible to nationals of 33 countries. Please note that the majority of qualifying nationalities are European. Citizens of most Central and Eastern Europe countires, the Middle East, and Asia are ineligible to apply for an ETA. It is a viable option for parents who want to visit their children in Australia for up to three months and have citizenship from an approved nation.
To check your eligibility for an ETA, click here.
The ETA is a low-cost and simple-to-apply-for alternative. However, eligibility is restricted, and visitors are not permitted to stay for more than three months at a time. It will also allow them to study in Australia for up to three months; however, if your parents want to study in Australia, a student visa may be more suitable.
The ETA will only cost you $20 to apply for, but you must hold a passport from one of the following countries:
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brunei
- Canada
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong (SAR of China)
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Monaco
- Norway
- Portugal
- Republic of San Marino
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan (excluding official or diplomatic passports)
- The Netherlands
- United Kingdom—British Citizen
- United Kingdom—British National (Overseas)
- United States of America
- Vatican City
You can apply here.
eVisitor for Parents
The eVisitor visa, that comes under the subclass 651 and is quite similar to an ETA. It permits you to visit Australia as many times as you like during a 12-month period, for up to three months every visit. The application for an eVisitor visa is free of charge. The only significant distinction between the eVisitor visa and the ETA is the list of eligible countries and the application process.
This visa is free to apply for, but you must hold a passport from one of these countries:
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- The Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Republic of San Marino
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom – British Citizen
- Vatican City
The processing time is one day.
You can apply here.
Longer Stay Visitor Visa Options for Parents
Subclass 600 Visitor Visa for Parents
Parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents are able to apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) to visit Australia for a longer period. This allows parents who meet the criteria for a Visitor visa to have regular extended visits with their family in Australia without needing to apply for a new visa on each visit and also recognises the length of the Parent visa queue.
An Australian visitor visa for parents (subclass 600) is an attractive alternative for parents who want to visit Australia but are not eligible for an ETA or an eVisitor visa. The visitor visa australia for parents fee is $380 and is accessible to all nationalities. The duration of your stay and the number of times you can visit Australia on this visa are subject to change. You can apply to stay in Australia for three, six, or twelve months with either single or several entries. If your parent wants to stay with you for more than three months (up to a year), or if they are ineligible for the ETA or eVisitor visa, a visitor visa for parents is a viable choice.
Multiple entry visas with a maximum stay of 12 months will be considered on a case-by-case basis with maximum validity periods of up to:
- five years for parents outside Australia and in the Parent visa (subclass 103) queue;
- three years for parents outside Australia who have:
- had a previous Australian visa and complied with the conditions; and
- have not applied for a Parent visa; or
- have applied for a parent visa but are not yet in the Parent visa (subclass103) queue; and
- 18 month for parents who have:
- not previously travelled to Australia; and
- have not applied for a Parent visa; or
- have applied for a Parent visa but are not yet in the Parent visa (subclass103) queue.
These visas will also be considered for step parents and eligible New Zealand citizens.
To be granted a Visitor visa, applicants must meet all the usual requirements including health, character, having sufficient funds and satisfying the decision maker that they intend a genuine visit and will comply with relevant visa conditions.
Other options for parents
If you are an Australian permanent resident or citizen your parents may be eligible for a longer stay visitor visa. Please note that these visas must be applied for while your parents are outside Australia.
Parent Visa Applicants
If your parent/s has already applied for a permanent parent visa and are awaiting grant, they may be eligible for a longer stay visitor visa.
This could be valid for up to 5 years and would be multiple entry allowing up to 12 months’ stay for each visit.
Parents of Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident Children
If your parent is not in the parent queue, they can still be considered for a longer stay visitor visa. This would allow you to stay in Australia for up to 12 months on each visit. The duration of the visa will depend on whether they have had a history of travelling to Australia previously and returning within their visa period (this is known as compliant travel):
- 3 Years: history of compliant travel
- 18 Months: no history of compliant travel
Long Term and Permanent Visas for Parents
Parent visa subclasses you may wish to explore further include:
- Parent Visa (Subclass 103) permanent residency
- Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 804) permanent residency
- Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 173) temporary residency
- Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 143) permanent residency
- Contributory Aged Parent (Subclass 884) temporary residency
- Contributory Aged Parent visa (Subclass 864) permanent residency
Sponsored Parent Visa
A sponsored parent visa (subclass 103) is a permanent visa that permits the parents of an Australian citizen, legal resident of Australia, or eligible New Zealand Citizen to permanently relocate to Australia.
Parent Visa
A parent visa (subclass 870) is a temporary visa that permits parents of an Australian citizen, permanent resident of Australia, or eligible New Zealand Citizen to remain in Australia for up to three or five years. This visa is available to all nations and costs $5,090 for a 3-year visa or $10,180 for a 5-year visa. To apply for this visa, the child (an Australian citizen or permanent resident) must sponsor the application of their parents.
A parent visa is an excellent choice for parents who want to stay in Australia for up to 3-5 years but are not interested in permanently relocating. The primary advantage of this visa over the permanent parent visa is that it is processed considerably faster.
Things to Remember
If you want to apply for an Australia visitor visa for parents to visit Australia, you must first decide how long they will stay. The best parents visitor visa for Australia will depend on their place of origin and desired duration of stay. Processing times may also vary depending on all kinds of factors. We have linked all the official webpages for every kind of visa we have mentioned above, so that it is easier for you to navigate.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) will assess your application for the appropriate visa that you choose to apply for and make a decision on your eligibility.
Invitation Letter for Visitor Visa Template
Sponsoring a friend or family member to Australia? It’s important to get the invitation letter right.
If you need a bit of a hand, we have available a sample invitation letter available for purchase for just A$8.99:
It’s also important to note that an invitation letter is just one part of the visa application process. You’ll also need to gather other documents, such as your passport and proof of financial stability, and submit them with your application form to the Department.
