Parent Visa (103, 804, 143, 864, 173, 884, 870)

To qualify for any parent visa (except the Subclass 870), you must meet several strict thresholds:

• The Balance of Family Test: You must prove that at least half of your children are "eligible children" (Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens) usually resident in Australia. Alternatively, you qualify if more of your eligible children live in Australia than in any other single country.
• Sponsorship: You must be sponsored by an eligible child who is "settled" in Australia, generally meaning they have lived in the country lawfully for at least two years.
• Age Requirements: To apply for "Aged" visas (804, 864, 884), the main applicant must be at least 67 years old (the current Australian Age Pension age). Standard visas (103, 143, 173) have no specific age limit.
• Assurance of Support (AoS): Your sponsor must provide a legal commitment to support you financially so you do not rely on Australian social security. This includes meeting a specific income threshold and, for contributory visas, lodging a bank guarantee (bond) of approximately AUD 10,000 held for 10 years.
• Health and Character: You must meet rigorous health and character requirements. Because of the long wait times, a health condition that develops while you are in the queue can lead to a visa refusal at the time of grant.