Parent Visa (SC 103) & Aged Parent Visa (SC 804)
These are Permanent visas for Parents of Australian resident children who meet the:
- Balance of family Test, and
- Have a child willing to sponsor them.
Parents can lodge either a:
- SC 103 - Parent visa application while off-shore
- Or a SC 804 - Aged Parent visa application while in Australia
Aged Parent is defined as parents above the pension age in Australia (see below)
These visas take a long time (25-30 years) to process, as the number of visas granted every year is very limited, while the number of applications are very high.
Parents willing to pay significantly higher fees can choose to apply for a Contributory Parent visa, which is currently being processed in about 3 years.
Application - Lodging and Grant
Parent Visa (SC 103)
- Must be applied while the applicant is outside Australia, or,
- If in Australia, their visa does not have condition 8503 - No further stay.
- The applicants must be outside Australia when the visa is granted.
Aged Parent Visa (SC 804)
- Can only be applied and granted, while the applicant is in Australia.
- Applicant in Australia must not have a condition 8503 - No further stay on their current visa.
Applicants who have applied for these visas while in Australia may be granted a Bridging visa to continue living in Australia, but cannot avail of any social security or healthcare benefits during the waiting period.
Applicants are required to meet the health and character requirement as prescribed.
Definition - Sponsors and Assurance of Support (AoS)
- Parent visa applicants must be sponsored by at least one of their child who is settled in Australia.
- The sponsor, another person or an organisation must provide and Assurance of Support (AoS) bond as a legal commitment to provide the applicant with financial support, such that the applicant would not rely on Australian social security payments.
- This AoS bond maybe refunded after two years of the applicant having entered Australia.
- The AoS is requested towards the end of the processing of the Parent or Aged Parent visa application.
Definition - Eligibility Age for Pension in Australia
Women - Born before 1949 or if after 1949, then at the attainment of 65 years
The pension age for men and women born from 1 July 1952 will be gradually increased from 65 to 67 years as set out in the table below.
| Period within which a person was born | Pension age | Date pension age changes |
|---|---|---|
| From 1 July 1952 to 31 December 1953 | 65 years and 6 months | 1 July 2017 |
| From 1 January 1954 to 30 June 1955 | 66 years | 1 July 2019 |
| From 1 July 1955 to 31 December 1956 | 66 years and 6 months | 1 July 2021 |
| From 1 January 1957, onwards | 67 years | 1 July 2023 |
Parent Visa - Rights
- Both SC 103 and SC 804 are permanent resident visas allowing the parent to live in Australia indefinitely.
- Holders can study, work, enroll in Medicare and apply for Australian citizenship.
- The holder can travel to and from Australia for up to 5 years. After this period, they may have to apply for another visa to re-enter Australia (unless they have become an Australian citizen)
- Holders will have to wait for at least 2 years for most social security payments and 10 years for age and disability pension payments.
Please contact eMA by purchasing a MAP to get more information regarding Parent visa options based on your specific circumstances and the costs for applying for the right Parent visa.
