Parents may be able to migrate to Australia if they have a child/children in Australia who is a ‘settled’ Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. Settled is usually deemed as ‘A person is considered settled if they are an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen who is lawfully resident in Australia for a reasonable period. In addition you must meet the ‘balance of family test’ this requires that:

1) half your children must be permanently resident in Australia or
2) you have more children permanently resident in Australia than any other single country.

Parent visa

 If you have any children living in Australia and would like to travel and remain with them in Australia, then you may be eligible to apply through this visa category.  

Contributory Parent visa -Temporary or Permanent

Contributory Parent visa applicants pay an additional charge to the Australian government, in exchange for faster visa processing.  

Your child must:

• Be willing to sponsor you
• Be willing to sponsor you
• Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
• Be settled in Australia (living in Australia for at least two years if PR)
• Be at least 18 years old  

Sponsored Parent Temporary Visa subclass 870 

This visa will allow Australians to sponsor their parents to stay in Australia for up to five years at a time.  This  is for parents (biological or adoptive) and step-parents of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and eligible New Zealand Citizens.

You must be a minimum of 18 years
be the biological, adoptive, step parent or parent in law of the sponsor
The Sponsor must meet a minimum salary requirement
you must meet helath and character requirements

 You can apply for, and be granted, this visa more than once but the maximum stay is 10 years in total.