Requirements to be eligible for Parent visa (Subclass 103)

The requirements are divided into those for you (the applicant parent) and those for your sponsor (usually your child).

Requirements for the Applicant (Parent):

1. Location: You can be outside or inside Australia when you lodge your application and when a decision is made on your application.

2. Sponsorship: You must be sponsored by an eligible sponsor. This is usually your child, but if your child is under 18, other eligible individuals (like your child’s eligible partner who is 18 or over, or an eligible relative of your child or your child’s partner) or an approved community organisation may sponsor you. And this sponsorship must be formally approved by the Department of Home Affairs. But, if you apply for this visa as a retiree you don’t need a sponsor.

3. Relationship to Sponsor’s Child: You must be the parent (biological, adoptive, or in some specific circumstances, a step-parent) of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.

4. Balance of Family Test: You must meet the Balance of Family test. This means:
At least half of your children must live permanently in Australia
OR,
More of your children must live permanently in Australia than in any other single country. All children, including step-children and adopted children of both parents, are counted in this test.
5. Age: There is no specific age limit for you as the parent applicant for this visa subclass (unlike “Aged Parent” visas, which require you to be old enough for the Age Pension).

6. Assurance of Support (AoS): 7.An AoS must be provided. This is a legal commitment from someone (usually your sponsor, but can be another person or an organisation) to provide you with financial support so you do not have to rely on social security payments from the Australian government for a certain period (usually for 2 years) after your visa is granted. The Department will let you know when this is required.

7. Health Requirements: You, and any family members included in your application, must meet Australia’s health requirements. This will involve undergoing medical examinations with a panel physician approved by the Department of Home Affairs in your country of residence or through Bupa Medical Visa Services if you are in Australia. These checks are usually requested much later in the process, given the long queue. And the Department of Home Affairs might request health checkups for all the members of the family whether they are migrating with you or not.

8. Character Requirements: You, and any family members aged 16 years or over included in your application, must meet Australia’s character requirements. This generally involves providing police certificates from any country where you have lived for a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16.

9. Debts to the Australian Government: If you or any family members included in your application owe money to the Australian Government, these debts must be repaid, or formal arrangements must be in place to repay them, before the visa can be granted.

10. Australian Values Statement: If you are 18 years of age or older, you must have read, or had explained to you, the “Life in Australia” booklet and sign an Australian Values Statement when requested.

11. Previous Visa History: You must not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused under certain circumstances. Your immigration history will be considered.

12. Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870): You must not have already applied for, or hold, a Subclass 870 (Sponsored Parent (Temporary)) visa at the time you apply for this Subclass 103 visa, unless specific exceptions for former Subclass 870 visa holders apply (e.g., you have left Australia).

Requirements for the Sponsor (Your Child or other eligible sponsor):

1. Relationship to Applicant: The sponsor is usually your child (biological, adopted, or eligible step-child). If your child is under 18, you can be sponsored by, an eligible relative, or an approved community organisation. This sponsorship must be approved by Department of Home Affairs. But, if you are applying as retiree then you don’t need any sponsorship to apply for this visa and the sponsor requirements will not be applicable to you.

2. Status in Australia: Your individual sponsor (e.g., your child) must be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.

3. Settled in Australia: Your individual sponsor must be settled in Australia. They must have been lawfully living in Australia for a reasonable period, usually at least 2 years, and can demonstrate ongoing ties to Australia.

4. Age: Your individual sponsor must generally be 18 years of age or older.

5. Provide Sponsorship: Your sponsor must formally agree to sponsor you and any accompanying family members by lodging a sponsorship application. This includes committing to provide you with adequate accommodation and financial support for your first two years in Australia.

6. Arrange Assurance of Support (AoS): While the sponsor may not be the assurer themselves (if they don’t meet the AoS income test), they are usually responsible for ensuring an AoS is in place when required.

7. Character: The sponsor may be required to meet certain character requirements.

Checklist for Parent visa (Subclass 103)

This is a general guide. The specific documents required will vary. Due to the very long processing times, some documents like health and character checks will only be requested when your application is nearing the final processing stage, many years after lodgement. Always refer to the document checklist provided by the Department of Home Affairs or our migration agent here when you apply.

A. Applicant’s (Parent’s) Identity and Civil Documents (usually provided at time of application):

• Passport bio-data page (certified copy) for you and any migrating family members.
• Recent passport-sized photographs (meeting specific requirements) for you and any migrating family members.
• Original or certified copy of your full birth certificate showing both your parents’ names.
• National ID card (if applicable).
• Evidence of name change (if applicable, e.g., marriage certificate, deed poll).
• If applicable, marriage certificate or evidence of de facto relationship if your partner is included in the application.
• If widowed or divorced, relevant death or divorce certificates.

B. Relationship Documents (Parent to Sponsoring Child) (usually provided at time of application):

• Certified copy of your full birth certificate.
• Certified copy of your sponsoring child’s full birth certificate showing you as their parent.
• If you are an adoptive parent, certified copies of all adoption papers.
• If you are a step-parent, documents evidencing your relationship to the step-child and their biological parent (e.g., marriage certificate to the child’s biological parent) and evidence of your parental responsibility if applicable.

C. Balance of Family Test Documents (usually provided at time of application):

• A detailed list of ALL your children (biological, adopted, and relevant step-children), including their full names, dates of birth, and current country of permanent residence.
• For each child:
  • Certified copy of their birth certificate.
  • Evidence of their status (e.g., Australian citizen, permanent resident, or citizen/resident of another country). This can include passports, citizenship certificates, or visa grant notices.
  • If a child is claimed as usually resident in Australia, proof of their Australian residence (e.g., utility bills, employment records).
  • If any child is deceased or should not be included in the test for other reasons (e.g., removed from parental care by law), provide relevant evidence like death certificates or court orders.

D. Sponsor’s Documents (usually provided at time of application):

• Completed sponsorship form (Form 40 Sponsorship for migration to Australia).
• Evidence of the sponsor’s Australian citizenship, permanent residency, or eligible New Zealand citizen status (e.g., Australian birth certificate, citizenship certificate, passport, visa grant notice).
• Evidence the sponsor is “settled” in Australia (e.g., documents showing at least 2 years of residence, such as utility bills, rental agreements, employment history).
• Proof of the sponsor’s current residential address in Australia.
• Passport-sized photograph for the sponsor.
• The sponsor may need to provide evidence of their income or financial capacity to demonstrate they can meet their initial sponsorship undertakings.

E. Assurance of Support (AoS) Documents (requested much later, when nearing final processing):

• You will be advised by the Department of Home Affairs when the AoS needs to be lodged with Services Australia. The assurer(s) will need to provide evidence of their identity, Australian residency, and financial capacity (e.g., income tax assessments).

F. Health Documents (Applicant and Migrating Family Members) (requested much later):

• You will be instructed when to arrange health examinations with an approved panel physician in your country of residence.

G. Character Documents (Applicant and Migrating Family Members 16+, and potentially Sponsor) (requested much later):

• For you and any migrating family members aged 16 or over:
  • Police certificates from every country where you have lived for a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16.
  • If applicable, military service records or discharge papers.
  • Completed Form 80 – Personal particulars for assessment including character assessment (may be requested at application or later).
  • The sponsor may also be required to provide police certificates.

H. Documents for Accompanying Family Members (e.g., Applicant’s Partner, Dependent Children) (provide details at application; health/character later):

• Identity documents for each family member as listed in Section A.
• Evidence of their relationship to you (e.g., marriage certificate for your partner, birth certificates for your children).
• For dependent children (especially if over 18), evidence of their dependency (e.g., Form 47A, evidence of financial dependency, full-time study, or disability).
• If a child under 18 is migrating with you and the other parent is not migrating, or if there are other custody considerations, consent forms (e.g., Form 1229) or relevant court orders.

I. Other Forms (usually provided at time of application):

• Completed visa application form (Form 47PA Application for a parent to migrate to Australia).
• Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (if someone is assisting you with correspondence).
• Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person (if you are using a migration agent).
• Signed Australian Values Statement (for applicants 18 years of age or older – may be requested at application or later).