Contributory Parent

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In March 2003, legislation was passed in Parliament that allowed for the introduction of new arrangements for parent visas. These new arrangements allow entry of additional parents willing to make a higher contribution to their future health and welfare costs. As a result, there are 6 classes of visas available for parents who wish to reside in Australia.

 

All these visa classes fall into 2 broad groups:

  • the parent visa classes and the

  • contributory parent visa classes,

known collectively as ‘parent visas’.

 

Applicants for the contributory parent visa classes are required to make a higher contribution towards their future health costs. 

There are two payment options for applicants in the Contributory Parent category:

  1. Permanent visa: pay a substantial second VAC in one instalment; or

  2. Temporary visa: pay a proportion of the second VAC to entitle parents to a two-year temporary residence visa including Medicare access and work rights. During that period, parents may apply at any time for a permanent visa at which time the remaining proportion of the substantial second VAC is required.

For the grant of a permanent visa in the Contributory Parent category, a 10-year, Assurance of Support bond is required.

Applicants for the parent visa classes can expect a substantial wait in the queue before being granted a visa. Applicants for the contributory parent visa classes can anticipate being processed more quickly.

An Assurance of Support is a commitment to provide financial support to the person applying to migrate so that the migrant will not have to rely on any government forms of support. It is also a legal commitment by a person to repay to the Commonwealth of Australia any recoverable social security payments made by Centrelink to those covered by the assurance.

 

The assurance is in force from the date of the assuree’s arrival in Australia or, for those applying within Australia, the date of grant of permanent residence.  For applicants applying for a Contributory Parent (Class CA–Migrant) visa or a Contributory Aged Parent (Class DG–Residence), the period that the assurance is in force is 10 years.