How to Apply for a Parent Tourist Visa to Australia
Step‑by‑step guide to securing a Parent Tourist Visa to Australia in 2025—costs, eligibility, document checklist, expert tips, FAQs & real‑life stories.
How to Apply for a Parent Tourist Visa to Australia
Want mum and dad to spend quality time with the grand?kids Down?Under? This all?in?one guide explains exactlyhow to apply for a Parent Visa Services in Australia , from choosing the right visa stream to submitting a rock?solid application that meets todays immigration rules.
Why this guide matters
Australias rules for visiting parents change often. In the past year alone we saw fee increases, clearer health?insurance rules and new guidance on long?stay visitor visas. The wrong form or an out?of?date checklist can easily add months to processing timesor worse, trigger a refusal. Read on and youll learn:
-
Which visa stream (Visitor?600 or Sponsored Parent?870) best fits your family
-
Current costs, documents and health?insurance requirements
-
A proven application workflow, with insider tips to avoid common mistakes
-
Real?life examples and answers to the questions our migration agent advisers hear every day
Visa options for parents at a glance
| Stream | Stay length | Key features | Typical cost* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor visa (Subclass?600) Tourist or Sponsored Family | Up to 12?months per visit; long?stay option lets parents enter multiple times for 18?months, 3?years or 5?years depending on circumstances japan.embassy.gov.au | No sponsor needed for Tourist stream; can be lodged offshore or onshore; condition 8558 caps time in Australia to 12?months in any 18?month period japan.embassy.gov.au | AUD?195 if lodged outside Australia; AUD?490 onshore (Tourist stream) kbaglobal.com |
| Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa Subclass?870 | 3?or 5?years per stay (renewable to a 10?year cap) | Requires approved Australian citizen/PR sponsor with ??AUD?83,454 taxable income; no work rights | AUD?5,895 (3?yrs) or AUD?11,785 (5?yrs) + AUD?420 sponsorship fee racc.net.au |
Who is eligible?
Visitor visa (Subclass?600)
-
Genuine temporary entrant (GTE) convince officers youll leave after each visit.
-
Financial capacity show bank statements covering travel costs; many officers like to see at least AUD?5,000 in accessible funds.
-
Health and character chest X?ray if aged???75 or from TB?risk country; police checks for longer stays.
-
Health insurance mandatory for long?stay parent visas and strongly recommended for all visitors japan.embassy.gov.au.
-
Stay limits not more than 12?months in any 18?month window for the five?year option japan.embassy.gov.au.
Sponsored Parent (Subclass?870)
-
Approved sponsor (child/step?child) with clean police record and taxable income threshold.
-
Parents must hold offshore status when the visa is granted unless exempt.
-
Maintain specialised 870 health insurance for the entire stay.
-
Spend at least 90?days outside Australia before re?applying if youve already stayed 10?years.
Step?by?step application process
1. Create or log in to ImmiAccount
All Australian online visa lodgements happen through ImmiAccount. Use a unique email for each applicant to simplify notifications.
2. Gather certified documents
| Document | Tips |
|---|---|
| Passport bio?data page | Scan in colour at 300?dpi. |
| Birth certificate of the sponsoring child | If names differ, add change?of?name or marriage certificates. |
| Proof of funds | 6?month bank statement + fixed deposit slips. |
| Travel itinerary | Show intended entry and exit dateseven for long?stay multiple?entry visas. |
| Health insurance certificate | Must specify coverage dates and Medicare?equivalent benefits. |
| Form?54 (family composition) | Cross?check spellings; errors cause delays. |
3. Pay the Visa Application Charge (VAC)
-
Offshore Tourist stream: AUD?195 (credit card surcharge ~1.4?%).
-
Onshore Tourist stream: AUD?490.
-
Subclass?870: Pay AUD?1,180 at lodgement, remainder before grant racc.net.au.
4. Biometrics & health exams
Youll receive an automated HAP ID for medicals after lodging. Book panel doctor appointments promptlyslots fill weeks ahead in peak season (NovFeb).
5. Upload additional evidence
Letters from employers, property titles or pension statements help prove ties to home country.
6. Wait for a decision
Average Tourist?stream processing times are 2030?days offshore, but can stretch to 8?weeks in school?holiday peaks. Subclass?870 currently averages 69?months.
Pros & Cons at a glance
| Visitor?600 (Tourist) | Sponsored Parent?870 | |
|---|---|---|
| Up?front cost | Low | High |
| Processing speed | Faster | Slower |
| Maximum stay | 12?months/visit; 5?years validity | 35?years continuous |
| Work rights | None | None |
| Sponsor income test | Not required | ??AUD?83.5?k |
| Health insurance | Recommended; mandatory for long?stay parents | Mandatory |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q?1. Can parents work on a Tourist visa?
No. Paid employment is prohibited. Volunteer childcare is allowed.
Q?2. Will a pending Parent?103 application affect my Tourist visa?
It helps if youre offshore; it actually unlocks the five?year option japan.embassy.gov.au.
Q?3. How much money should I show?
Theres no fixed figure, but AUD?5,00010,000 plus return airfares is considered safe by many case officers.
Q?4. Why are permanent parent visas so slow?
Demand far outstrips the annual cap; some streams now exceed 31?years wait time.
Q?5. My previous Tourist visa was refused. Can I re?apply?
Yes, but the refusal history lowers your credibility. Address the former concerns in detail and consider professional advice.
Expert tips to boost approval chances
-
Explain family events clearly use covering letters with timelines: births, graduations, surgeries.
-
Demonstrate compelling ties show ongoing employment, business ownership, or property deeds at home.
-
Sequence your travels long overseas trips right after grant reduce suspicion of intent to over?stay.
-
Maintain impeccable travel history late stays in any country can flag your application.
-
Keep documents readable blurry scans are one of the top reasons files bounce back for re?upload.
Conclusion
Bringing your parents over on a Parent Tourist Visa to Australia isnt just a form to fillits a strategy. Pick the right visa stream, meet every document requirement, and show genuine temporary intent. By following the steps in this guide, youll drastically improve the odds of a smooth, quick approvalso the only thing youll have to worry about is whether Nan prefers Bondi or the Great Ocean Road.
Got a question we didnt cover? Drop it in the comments, share this article with fellow expats, or contact our registered migration team for a personalised document checklist.
