A practical guide to the new Temporary Parent visa
The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 870) visa was introduced in April 2019.
It seeks to respond to the concerns of Australia’s multicultural community about the finite number of places for parents in the permanent migration program.
Permanent Parent visas make up less than 1 per cent of the total permanent migration program and can take decades to process, whereas the Contributory Parent visa has a much shorter processing time but costs more than $45,000 per applicant.
Before an overseas parent can apply for the new Temporary Parent visa, their child must be approved as a Parent Sponsor.
how do i become a parent sponsor?
To be approved as a sponsor, you must:
- be an Australian citizen or permanent resident;
- have a taxable income (or you and your spouse or de facto partner must have a combined income) of at least $83,454.80 for the most recent financial year;
- meet conduct requirements (ie provide relevant police checks);
- not have any outstanding public health or Commonwealth debts or have made suitable arrangements to pay such debts;
- agree to provide your parent with financial support and accommodation while they are in Australia; and
- not have a partner who is a Parent Sponsor.
Applications to become an approved Parent Sponsor opened on 17 April 2019.
what are the requirements for a temporary parent visa?
Once you have been approved as a Parent Sponsor, your parent (or parents) may apply.
To be eligible for the visa, your parent(s) must:
- be your biological parent, adoptive parent, step-parent or parent-in-law;
- have access to sufficient funds to meet the costs and expenses of their intended stay in Australia;
- have adequate arrangements for health insurance for the duration of their stay in Australia;
- have complied with the conditions of any previous Australian visas they have held;
- genuinely intend to stay in Australia temporarily;
- have paid any outstanding public health or Commonwealth debts; and
- satisfy the health and character requirements.
Applications for the Temporary Parent visa opened on 1 July 2019.
what else do i need to know
The number of places available under the Temporary Parent visa will be capped at 15,000 per financial year.
Parents can be granted the visa for either three or five years in Australia. A visa for three years will cost $5,000, whereas a visa granted for five years will cost $10,000.
Parents who have been granted this visa are eligible to re-apply for a further Subclass 870 visa, and if approved, can stay in Australia for a cumulative maximum period of 10 years.
This visa does not permit the holder to work.
why this visa is good news
The new parent visa offers Australian permanent residents and citizens who live in Australia an opportunity to temporarily reunite with their parents.
Parents who are granted a Subclass 870 visa will be able to stay in Australia for a significantly longer period than if they were on a visitor visa (which generally does not permit a parent to remain in Australia for more than 12 months in any 18 month period).
Processing times are not yet available for the Temporary Parent visa. However, on 2 August 2018, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman announced that over 1,300 sponsorship applications and 170 visa applications have already been lodged, with the granting of visas having commenced.
This article was written by Kian Bone – Special Counsel and Greta Walters – Law Graduate in Employment, Safety and Migration.
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A practical guide to the new Temporary Parent visa
The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 870) visa was introduced in April 2019.
It seeks to respond to the concerns of Australia’s multicultural community about the finite number of places for parents in the permanent migration program.
Permanent Parent visas make up less than 1 per cent of the total permanent migration program and can take decades to process, whereas the Contributory Parent visa has a much shorter processing time but costs more than $45,000 per applicant.
Before an overseas parent can apply for the new Temporary Parent visa, their child must be approved as a Parent Sponsor.
how do i become a parent sponsor?
To be approved as a sponsor, you must:
- be an Australian citizen or permanent resident;
- have a taxable income (or you and your spouse or de facto partner must have a combined income) of at least $83,454.80 for the most recent financial year;
- meet conduct requirements (ie provide relevant police checks);
- not have any outstanding public health or Commonwealth debts or have made suitable arrangements to pay such debts;
- agree to provide your parent with financial support and accommodation while they are in Australia; and
- not have a partner who is a Parent Sponsor.
Applications to become an approved Parent Sponsor opened on 17 April 2019.
what are the requirements for a temporary parent visa?
Once you have been approved as a Parent Sponsor, your parent (or parents) may apply.
To be eligible for the visa, your parent(s) must:
- be your biological parent, adoptive parent, step-parent or parent-in-law;
- have access to sufficient funds to meet the costs and expenses of their intended stay in Australia;
- have adequate arrangements for health insurance for the duration of their stay in Australia;
- have complied with the conditions of any previous Australian visas they have held;
- genuinely intend to stay in Australia temporarily;
- have paid any outstanding public health or Commonwealth debts; and
- satisfy the health and character requirements.
Applications for the Temporary Parent visa opened on 1 July 2019.
what else do i need to know
The number of places available under the Temporary Parent visa will be capped at 15,000 per financial year.
Parents can be granted the visa for either three or five years in Australia. A visa for three years will cost $5,000, whereas a visa granted for five years will cost $10,000.
Parents who have been granted this visa are eligible to re-apply for a further Subclass 870 visa, and if approved, can stay in Australia for a cumulative maximum period of 10 years.
This visa does not permit the holder to work.
why this visa is good news
The new parent visa offers Australian permanent residents and citizens who live in Australia an opportunity to temporarily reunite with their parents.
Parents who are granted a Subclass 870 visa will be able to stay in Australia for a significantly longer period than if they were on a visitor visa (which generally does not permit a parent to remain in Australia for more than 12 months in any 18 month period).
Processing times are not yet available for the Temporary Parent visa. However, on 2 August 2018, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman announced that over 1,300 sponsorship applications and 170 visa applications have already been lodged, with the granting of visas having commenced.
This article was written by Kian Bone – Special Counsel and Greta Walters – Law Graduate in Employment, Safety and Migration.