Australian Temporary Sponsored Parent Visa
The Government announced that it would be introducing a new enhanced temporary sponsored parent visa in Australia as part of its election commitment. It is expected that the new parent visa will be introduced by the Government after the Migration Amendment (Family Violence and other Measures) Bill 2016 (Bill) (which will implement a new sponsorship framework for the sponsored family visa program) has passed through parliament.
Existing parent visa categories will remain. The key features of the proposed new temporary sponsored parent visa which have been announced are as follows:
- Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and New Zealand citizens will be able to sponsor their parents to stay for up to 5 years per approval
- Sponsoring children must be separately approved as sponsors, meet health and character requirements, and have lived in Australia for 4 years or more. There will be household income thresholds which must also be met. Sponsorship and parent visa applications will be assessed separately. This is part of the new framework being introduced under the Bill which seeks to address issues associated with the current lack of focus on sponsors of family sponsored visas leading to family violence.
- Biological, adoptive or step-parents are eligible and in addition to having their child approved separately as a sponsor, parents who wish to be approved for the parent visa must also meet health and character requirements and not owe any debts to Australia.
- Only two parents per household are permitted at one time.
- The parent visa will cost $10,000 for a 5 year visa or $5,000 for a 3 year visa (with a maximum stay of 10 years).
- Approved parents under this parent visa category will not have any work rights but will have limited study rights.
- This visa is expected to address concerns over long waiting times associated with parent visas in Australia
Further details will likely become available later this year. Contact us and stay informed:
