PARENT VISA OPTIONS FOR AUSTRALIA PARENT VISA (SUBCLASS 103) Your parents can work, go to school, and even get Medicare in Australia for the rest of their lives if they have a "parent visa" (subclass 103). If you or a sibling become citizens, you can sponsor your elderly parents for this visa. Your parents must be of retirement age to meet the criteria of this visa. One drawback is that it falls under the area of capping and queueing (there are a certain number of openings every year but no guarantees on how long the application will take to process). It can take up to 29 years for final processing, which is why not many people apply for this visa anymore.
CONTRIBUTORY PARENT (TEMPORARY) VISA (SUBCLASS 173) Your parent can stay in Australia for up to 2 years on a Contributory Parent Temporary Visa (subclass 173) and then apply for a permanent subclass 143 visa. Although your parents will be able to work, attend school, and sign up for Medicare, they will receive no financial assistance from the government if they choose this costly (but payable in installments) alternative.
CONTRIBUTORY PARENT (RESIDENT) VISA (SUBCLASS 143) The Parent Visa 143 is similar to the Parent Visa 103 in terms of eligibility and privileges, but it is substantially more expensive and has a much shorter processing period. These costs, however, can be spread out over time if you chose to go for a staggered approach via Subclass 173 with subsequent transition to Subclass 143 once your Subclass 173 is granted. Important to note that Subclasses of visas mentioned above belong to an off-shore category of visas and do not come with a Bridging visa allowing you to remain in Australia while one of the above subclasses is being processed.
AGED PARENT VISA (SUBCLASS 804) Your parent must be in Australia and at least the minimum pension age (currently minimum 65 years and 6 months). Visa holders have the same benefits as those with a category 103 visa, costs are reasonable and may be paid in installments, however, there are caps and waiting lists.
CONTRIBUTORY AGED (RESIDENT)PARENT VISA (SUBCLASS 864) The Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent Residence Visa is more expensive and processes considerably more quickly than the Subclass 804 Parent Visa. The eligibility criteria is similar to the 804 visa.
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CONTRIBUTORY AGED (TEMPORARY) PARENT VISA (SUBCLASS 884) Subclass 884 is a temporary visa for a financially supporting elderly parent, however, the two-step visa process (beginning with the authorization to remain in Australia for up to 2 years) requires that the parent already be present in Australia when the application is submitted, and it comes at a higher cost.