Parents who want to visit Australia apply for the Visitor visa (subclass 600). There is no separate “parent visa” for short trips. Most parents use either the Tourist stream or the Sponsored Family stream, and the right choice depends on whether you want your child in Australia to formally sponsor the visit.
Last reviewed: 5 October 2026. Visa rules and fees change, so always confirm the latest details with the Department of Home Affairs.
In This Guide
- What Is the Parent Visiting Visa for Australia?
- Which Visitor Visa for Parents Is Right for You?
- Tourist Stream vs Sponsored Family Stream
- Who Can Apply for a Parents Visitor Visa to Australia?
- Who Can Sponsor Their Parents?
- Documents for the Visitor Visa for Parents to Australia
- How to Apply: Step by Step
- Cost, Processing Time and Length of Stay
- What Parents Can and Cannot Do in Australia
- Health Cover and Medical Checks
- Visiting Is Not the Same as Moving: Parent Visa Options
- Common Mistakes That Lead to Refusal
- Parents Visiting Family Across Australia
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
What Is the Parent Visiting Visa for Australia?
Many people search for a “parent visiting visa Australia“. They want a simple way to bring mum and dad over to see the family.
Here is the good news. Australia has a clear option for this. It is the Visitor visa, subclass 600.
This visa is for short, temporary trips. Parents can use it to:
- Spend time with their children and grandchildren
- Attend a wedding, birthday or graduation
- Help after the birth of a baby
- See the country as tourists
The visa does not give the right to live in Australia. Parents must leave before the visa ends.
Which Visitor Visa for Parents Is Right for You?
The subclass 600 has several streams. For parents, two matter most.
The Tourist stream
This is the most common choice for a parents visit visa to Australia. Your parents apply on their own. No sponsor is needed.
It suits families who have enough funds and a strong case. It is also usually the faster and simpler route.
The Sponsored Family stream
Here, you, as the child living in Australia, formally sponsor your parents. You give the Government information about yourself and your relationship.
The Department may ask the sponsor to pay a security bond. This is not asked in every case. It is held to make sure the visitor follows the visa rules.
Tip: Sponsorship can help when your parents’ own documents are limited. It does not replace a strong application. Your parents must still show that they will return home.
Tourist Stream vs Sponsored Family Stream
This table shows the main differences in simple terms.
| Point | Tourist stream | Sponsored Family stream |
|---|---|---|
| Who applies | Your parents | Your parents, with you as sponsor |
| Sponsor needed | No | Yes, an eligible family member in Australia |
| Security bond | Not normally asked | May be asked by Home Affairs |
| Best for | Parents with strong funds and travel history | Families who want the sponsor’s support on record |
| Work allowed | No | No |
| Visa fee (from) | AUD 250 if applying outside Australia; AUD 630 if applying in Australia | AUD 250 |
| Stay granted | 3, 6 or 12 months | Up to 12 months |
| Where parents must be when applying | Outside Australia (or inside Australia under the separate onshore option) | Outside Australia, until the decision is made |
Who Can Apply for a Parents Visitor Visa to Australia?
The Department of Home Affairs looks at one main question. Is this person a genuine visitor?
To answer yes, your parents should show that they:
- Plan to visit for a short time only. The trip has a clear purpose and end date.
- Have enough money. They can pay for flights, food, travel and medical costs.
- Have strong ties to home. This can be property, a pension, family, a business or other long-term commitments.
- Have a good immigration record. No past visa breaches or overstays.
- Meet health and character rules. Some cases may need medical checks or police certificates.
Think of the application as a story. The story should make it clear why your parents are coming and why they will go back.
Who Can Sponsor Their Parents?
If you choose the Sponsored Family stream, the sponsor must be an eligible person living in Australia. Home Affairs says this must be an eligible family member who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
The sponsor must also be closely related to the visitor. A son or daughter fits this rule well.
As a sponsor, you may need to share:
- Proof of identity and address
- Proof of your status in Australia
- Proof of your relationship to your parents
- Details about your income and work
The Department can also check if you have sponsored visitors before. If a past visitor broke the rules, it may affect your new request.
Documents for the Visitor Visa for Parents to Australia
Good paperwork makes a big difference. Your parents should gather these items before they apply.
Identity and travel
- Valid passports
- National ID cards
- Passport photos if required
- Past travel history and visas
Money and ties to home
- Recent bank statements
- Pension or income proof
- Property papers or business records
- Tax records
Purpose of the visit
- A short travel plan with dates
- A letter from you explaining the visit
- Proof of your relationship, such as birth certificates
- Copies of your own Australian status documents
Translations
Any document that is not in English should come with a clear English translation. Poor translations cause delays.
How to Apply: Step by Step
Step 1: Choose the stream
Decide if your parents will apply on their own (Tourist) or with your sponsorship (Sponsored Family).
Step 2: Prepare the documents
Collect, scan and label every file. Keep file names simple and clear.
Step 3: Create an ImmiAccount
Parents lodge the application online using an ImmiAccount. This is the Government’s online portal.
Step 4: Fill in the form
Answer every question honestly. Make sure details match the passports and documents.
Step 5: Pay the fee
Pay the visa application charge online. The amount depends on the stream and where the application is made.
Step 6: Give extra information if asked
The Department may ask for medicals, police certificates or more proof. Reply fast and in full.
Step 7: Wait for the decision
Do not book non-refundable flights until the visa is granted.
Cost, Processing Time and Length of Stay
Visa cost
Home Affairs lists these starting fees:
- Tourist stream, applying outside Australia: from AUD 250
- Tourist stream, applying in Australia: from AUD 630
- Sponsored Family stream: AUD 250
Lower fees apply in limited cases. For example, from 1 July 2026, a lower cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens. Parents can use the Visa Pricing Estimator on the Home Affairs website to see their exact cost.
Extra costs may include medical checks, police certificates, translations and travel insurance. In the Sponsored Family stream, Home Affairs might ask the sponsor to pay a security bond. The Government holds it.
Processing time
Processing times change often. They depend on the stream, the country and how complete the application is. Home Affairs has a visa processing time guide tool. It shows times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and does not predict your result.
The best way to avoid delay is to lodge a clear and complete application the first time.
How long can parents stay?
Both streams allow a stay of up to 12 months. For the Tourist stream, Home Affairs might grant 3, 6 or 12 months. The Department decides the length, so a longer stay is not guaranteed. Your parents’ visa grant letter shows the exact time.
Always check the grant letter after approval. Do not guess the dates.
What Parents Can and Cannot Do in Australia
What is allowed
- Visit family and friends
- Travel around Australia
- Take part in short, casual activities
- Attend family events
What is not allowed
- Working, paid or unpaid in most cases
- Staying longer than the visa allows
- Studying for long periods
Many visitor visas also carry a condition called “No Further Stay” (condition 8503). This means your parents cannot apply for most other visas while they are in Australia. Check your parents’ grant letter for the exact conditions.
Health Cover and Medical Checks
Medical care in Australia can be costly for visitors. Most visitors are not covered by Medicare.
This is why travel or visitor health insurance is a smart choice. It protects your family from large hospital bills.
In some cases, the Department may ask for a health check. This can depend on age, health, the planned stay and the country of citizenship. If asked, book it quickly.
Visiting Is Not the Same as Moving: Parent Visa Options
Some families want their parents to stay for good. A visitor visa is the wrong tool for that. It is built for temporary travel only.
If your goal is long-term stay, look at these options:
- Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870): a longer temporary stay of up to three or five years. The child in Australia must be approved as a sponsor first.
- Permanent parent visas: pathways such as the Parent visa and the Contributory Parent visa. These have strict rules, higher costs and long waiting times.
Do not use a visitor visa as a “back door” to stay. This can lead to a refusal and may hurt future applications.
Common Mistakes That Lead to Refusal
1. A weak reason for the trip
“To visit my child” is a good start. But the application should also explain when, how long and why now.
2. Not enough proof of funds
Officers want to see that your parents can pay for the trip. Large one-off deposits just before applying can raise questions.
3. Weak ties to home
If there is little reason to return, the risk of refusal rises. Show property, pension, family or business ties.
4. Mismatched details
Names, dates and facts must match across every form and document. Small errors build doubt.
5. Hiding past refusals
If your parents were refused a visa in the past, say so. Hiding it is far worse than the refusal itself.
6. Planning to stay too long
A very long trip needs a very strong reason. Ask for a stay that fits the real plan.
7. Treating the visa as a path to move
If the plan is to settle, use the correct parent visa instead.
Parents Visiting Family Across Australia
Families live in every part of Australia. Parents often visit children in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. Many also travel to Canberra, the Gold Coast and regional areas.
The visa rules are the same in every state and territory. What changes is the travel plan.
If your parents plan to visit more than one city, add a simple travel plan. Include where they will stay and for how long. It shows the trip is real and well planned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which visa do parents need to visit Australia?
Most parents need the Visitor visa (subclass 600). They can apply under the Tourist stream or the Sponsored Family stream.
Is there a special parent visitor visa to Australia?
No. There is no stand-alone visa with that name. The subclass 600 is the visa used by most parents for a visit.
Can I sponsor my parents to visit Australia?
Yes, if you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident and an eligible family member. You can use the Sponsored Family stream.
Do I need to sponsor my parents?
Not always. Parents can apply under the Tourist stream without a sponsor. Sponsorship is an option, not a rule for every case.
Will my parents need to pay a security bond?
A bond may be requested in the Sponsored Family stream. It is not asked in every case. It is held by the Government to help make sure the visa rules are followed.
How long can my parents stay on a visitor visa?
Up to 12 months. For the Tourist stream, Home Affairs might grant 3, 6 or 12 months. The visa grant letter shows the exact time.
Can my parents work in Australia on this visa?
No. Work is not allowed on a visitor visa in most cases.
Can my parents extend their stay while in Australia?
It is hard. Many visitor visas include the “No Further Stay” condition. Plan the right length of stay before you apply.
Do my parents need health insurance?
It is not always a visa rule, but it is strongly advised. Most visitors are not covered by Medicare, and hospital costs can be high.
Can my parents apply from inside Australia?
Yes, in some cases. The Tourist stream has an “apply in Australia” option from AUD 630. It may suit someone whose current visa is about to expire. Your parents must be in Australia when they apply and when the decision is made. The usual route is to apply from outside Australia, from AUD 250. The Sponsored Family stream is different. Your parents must be outside Australia when they apply and when the decision is made.
What if the visa is refused?
Do not reapply straight away. Find out why the visa was refused, fix the gaps and then apply again with a stronger case.
Conclusion
A parents visiting visa for Australia is very doable when the application is clear, honest and well supported. Pick the right stream. Show a real reason for the trip. Prove funds and strong ties to home. And keep every document in order.
The most common problems are simple: weak proof of funds, mismatched details and an unclear travel purpose. These are all fixable before you lodge.
If you want extra confidence, speak with a registered migration agent Australia families trust. A good migration agent Australia can check your parents’ documents, advise on Tourist or Sponsored Family stream, and lodge a strong visitor visa application. That way, your parents can spend their time with the family, not worrying about the paperwork.
This article is general information only and is not migration or legal advice. Fees, processing times and rules change. Confirm the latest details on the Department of Home Affairs Visitor visa (subclass 600) page before you apply.
