Family Migration
Missing your loved ones overseas? Want to share your Australian experiences with them? We understand that family are important and having them in Australia is a priority for our clients. There are many temporary and permanent visa options available for families of Australian citizens, permanent residents and Eligible New Zealand Citizens.
With our complete lodgement strategy, we aim to make the process as smooth as possible, so you may spend your valuable time planning for your family’s future and not on the visa process.
All visa applicants must meet health and character requirements.
Partner Migration
Australian citizens, permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens can sponsor their partner to migrate to Australia. There are requirements to be meet by sponsors and visa applicants depending on your circumstances.
(subclasses 820/801 & 309/100)
The Partner visa has two visa categories: one for applicants applying while in Australia (subclasses 820/801) and one for applicants applying outside of Australia (subclasses 309/100). A partner may be a married spouse, a ‘de facto’ partner (have been a couple living together and not apart on a permanent basis for at least 12 months but are not married), those with recognised registered relationships and same-sex couples.
Requirements
A Partner visa is assessed in two stages: firstly, a temporary stage and then, two years after lodgement of the visa application, the applicant is assessed for the permanent visa. For both visa stages there is a requirement that the relationship is genuine and continuing and substantial evidence is needed around mutual financial, social, household living arrangements and future relationship commitments.
The visas allow for work, study and access to the public health system under the government Medicare program.
(subclass 300)
Thinking of getting married in Australia? The sponsored prospective marriage visa provides a way to do just that! This visa may be suitable for couples that have not lived together previously. As a temporary, 9-month visa, it allows you time to arrive in Australia to plan and arrange the wedding while getting acquainted with your new surroundings. Once in Australia and legally married, you can apply for a Partner visa while in Australia. The visa has Australian work and study rights.
Requirements
In general, you need to have a genuine intention to marry within the 9-month timeframe in Australia and have met your prospective spouse in person.
Partner and Prospective Marriage visas may include other eligible family members, such as dependent children, as well.
New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa
(subclass 461)
If you are a New Zealand citizen but not eligible to sponsor your partner and children because you are not considered an ‘Eligible New Zealand Citizen’ and your partner and children are not New Zealand passport holders, they may be able to apply for subclass 461 visas. This 5-year temporary visa allows your family to reside with you in Australia with work and study rights. The visa can also be renewed.
We can help determine your New Zealand status in Australia and your family’s eligibility for this visa. Interested in learning more?
Parent visas
There are several categories of parent visa to choose from and they need careful consideration as they differ in cost, processing times and benefits. We would be pleased to discuss the options with you and help you decide which visa may fit your family’s needs best.
General Parent visa requirements
To qualify for a Parent visa, you must have at least half of your children living permanently in Australia, or more of your children living permanently in Australia than in any one other country (the ‘balance of family’ test).
The ‘Aged’ categories require applicants to be old enough to qualify for the Australian age pension (meaning 66-67 years old, depending upon your birthdate).
Parent visas allow for work and study in Australia. The permanent visas also provide access to the public health system under the government Medicare program. Temporary Subclass 173 and 884 visa holders may also access Medicare.
Contributory Parent and Aged Parent visas
(subclasses 143, 173, 864 & 884)
With both temporary (subclasses 173 and 884) and permanent (subclass 143 and 864) visas types, these visas allows parents to ‘contribute’ to their future social welfare costs in Australia and also enjoy quicker processing times than other permanent parent visa categories as the government provides more places under this category than under non-contributory parent visas. The monetary contribution is significant, however!
The temporary contributory parent visas allow you to split the contribution paying two instalments with the temporary visa then another two instalments after two years when you have applied for and are about to be granted a permanent contributory parent visa. The temporary visa stage also does not require an ‘Assurance of Support’ bond (see below). If you apply for a contributory parent visa directly, you will need to pay two visa application charge instalments: one at the time the visa application is lodged and the more substantial contribution charge just before the permanent visa is granted.
Non-Contributory Parent and Aged Parent visas
(subclasses 103 & 804)
The non-contributory parent offshore and onshore visas are permanent visas that have lower fees and a lower ‘Assurance of Support’ requirement however they processing queues are many years long as this visa category is not prioritised by the government.
Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa
(subclass 870)
The subclass 870 visa allows parent of Australian citizens, permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens to reside in Australia temporarily for up to ten years (cumulatively).
Requirements
The benefits of this visa are that applicants do not need to meet the balance of family test and there is NO Assurance of Support required. The visa however, does not have work rights and you will need to show financial capacity to fund the duration of your stay as well as maintain private health insurance at all times. In addition to the general Family Sponsor requirements (below), your sponsor will need to have been resident in Australia for at least four years prior to the application, be at least 18 years old, have no outstanding Commonwealth or public health ‘debts’, meet the ‘income test’ requirement of AUD83,454.80 (subject to annual indexation) and meet certain obligations (financial responsibilities, recording keeping, reporting, etc) as your sponsor.
Find out if this sponsored temporary visa might be suitable for you.
Child, Orphan Relative, Adoption, Remaining Relative visas
There are also visas for a range of other family matters including children born abroad who may not be eligible for Australian citizenship (or, for various reasons, do not want Australian citizenship), orphaned relatives, last remaining relatives overseas and children legally adopted overseas.
We would be happy to provide further information to you on these visas on request.
Carer visa
Do you have an Australian relative with a serious medical condition who needs your care and support? If medical and assisted living support is not reasonably accessible to your relative in Australia, then you may qualify for a Carer visa (subclasses 116/836). There is a lengthy process to have the medical condition certified as a condition needing care that is not available in Australia, so we would be pleased to provide guidance to you on how to navigate these requirements.
The carer visas may include other eligible family members, such as dependent children, as well.
The Carer visa allows for work, study and access to the public health system under the government Medicare program.
About Family Visa Sponsors
For all family visas (excluding the New Zealand Family Relationship Subclass 461 visa), Australian citizens, permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens may act as the visa sponsor. Sponsorship is required before a visa application can be granted. Certain people may be ineligible to be sponsors where, for instance, they have sponsored more than two family visas (except for child and carer visas, for instance) in the past, have a serious criminal record or have committed offences related to family and/or child violence.
Get in touch to discuss your eligibility.
Assurance of Support
For all permanent Parent, Remaining Relative, Aged Dependent Relative visa categories, you will also need to have a relevant person, or organisation, provide an ‘Assurance of Support’ amount for each adult included in the visa application. This monetary bond is held for a specified period of time (10 years for Contributory visas, 2-4 years for other visas) as a guarantee to meet the assurees' welfare costs during the bond period. An Assurance of Support may also be requested for Child, Orphan Relative and Adoption visas, depending on the circumstances.
We can provide you with more information about the specific Assurance of Support that may apply to your particular circumstances.
We are here to help!
As a family owned business, we are proud to help families reunite with their loved ones abroad. With limited places for family migration provided each year by the Government, if you are considering a visa for a family member it is best to start early to gather the necessary evidence and also accommodate sometimes lengthy Government processing times.
For more information on the range of visas options available for your family members please get in touch. We would be happy to discuss the opportunities with you!
Georges Abou Rjeili
Rating: 5 stars
I highly recommend Migration Plus if you are looking to migrate to Australia. They were very helpful and supportive through out the whole process of my visa application specially Dr. Anna Morozov. In fact, I got my partner visa 820 in less than 3 months and now I’m a permanent resident. The follow-up and advises they had for me were very efficient.
Brian Pohakiu
Rating: 5 stars
I am so grateful for the MigrationPlus team especially Fiona and Mateja, their expertise engaged in overseeing the 482 visa (Labour Agreement) application process from the start to the eventual granting of the visas, for me and the entire family. Very competent and efficient service.
채원석
Rating: 5 stars
First of all, I would like to say a huge thanks to Mrs Mateja who consulted my case. When I left Australia, I almost gave up to get a permanent visa but I made it now. As an offshore applicant, it was not easy but Migration Plus is very helpful and professional. Absolutely, I suggest the Migration Plus to people who are preparing any visas in Australia.
Alan Galiñanes
Rating: 5 stars
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. EXCELLENT SERVICE AND PROFESSIONALISM. THEY MADE OUR DREAM REALITY. FOREVER GRATEFUL WITH THIS TEAM. THANKS.
Debbie Liu
Rating: 5 stars
Highly recommend Migration Plus, great service with the professional team. Thank you heaps :)
