All You Need to Know About Parents Examption Australia

Parents exemption Australia is now possible thanks to recent announcements by the Minister of Home Affairs, Karen Andrews. Parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents may apply for a travel exemption to travel to Australia from 1 November 2021. Karen Andrews, Minister of Home Affairs of Australia, stated that the amendments would reunite many families the pandemic had separated. Thus, for Australians whose families are living overseas, this can serve as a great boon since parents were not included from the travel exemption earlier. 

Before Parents Exemption Australia

Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia’s borders were closed, and the entryways were rigorously regulated to plug and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Moreover, travel to Australia was only possible for citizens and residents of Australia. Additionally, exemptions were permitted for those who had received a personal exemption under special considerations. 

However, now, parents of Australian citizens can enjoy Australian exemption as announced by the Minister of Home Affairs. The minister has said: ’…parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents can reunite in Australia; they can hold their grandchildren and gather in person to share life’s milestones. The change is possible because millions of Australians have rolled their sleeves up and been vaccinated. In line with Australia’s National Plan, I look forward to further easing travel restrictions over coming weeks and months as Australia’s vaccination rate continues to climb.’

How to Apply for Parents Exemption Australia?

Applications for the Australia exemption for parents can be submitted through the Department of Home Affairs’ Travel Exemption portal. Applicants must note that adoptive parents, legal dependents, parents-in-law, biological parents, and step-parent associations are all permissible within this updated visa exemption Australia for parents. However, presenting sufficient proof of familial associations with an Australian permanent resident or citizen is important for Australian travel exemption parents. Before making travel arrangements to visit Australia, parents must have a valid passport, visa and evidence of vaccination to prove their immunisation. Prospective visa applicants can get an idea through examples on the department’s website. 

However, as of 6 July 2022, all travel restrictions have been lifted. Under the current parent travel exemption Australia guidelines, parents of Australian citizens need not have their relationship status assessed so long as they have a valid visa and complete all usual border entry conditions. Do you need to know more about the benefits of moving to Australia? Read our interesting facts about Australia. Additionally, if you are planning to visit Sydney, make sure you read our Sydney Travel Guide.

Proof of Permanent Australian Residency in Australia

Evidence of paternal relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident is required to avail of Australia visa exemption for parents, which can be:

• Adoption certificate
• Birth certificate
• Officially issued family status certificate/book 
• Marriage certificate

Apart from the documents mentioned above, some of the other documents required as evidence of permanent residency in Australia under Australia parents travel exemption are:

• Australian citizenship certificate
• Australian passport
• Australian birth certificate

Learn how to apply for Australian Citizenship if you need an Australian citizenship certificate. 

What Is the Quickest Way to Visit Australia Under Parents Exemption Australia?

Applying for a tourist visa and a travel exemption to enter Australia is one of the easiest methods for Australian citizens/permanent residents’ parents to visit Australia. Applications for parent exemption Australia can be made through the Department of Home Affairs’ Travel Exemption portal. The parents’ passport country will decide the types of visiting visa they can get, which are:

Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601)

• Valid for a year, it allows up to three months of stay per visit.
• Passport holders from the following countries – there are more – are qualified: Canada, Brunei, Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Singapore and the United States.
• The application fee is 20 Australian dollars.
• This visa is issued fairly promptly after application submission. 

e-Visitor Visa (Subclass 651)

• This visa is available to European passport holders.
• It is free and valid for a year.
• Visa holders can enter Australia when this visa is valid and stay up to three months per visit.
• The current processing time is usually within a day.

Visitor Visa (Subclass 600)

• Those with passports from countries other than those specified in the two visa classifications above must apply for a regular visiting visa under subclass 600 to avail of Australian travel exemption for parents.
• This visa can be issued for three to twelve months for single or several entries.
• The discretion of the case officer will set the conditions for a case.
• The Department of Home Affairs will prioritise applications for individuals whose travel exemptions have been accepted.

You can apply for Dual Citizenship in Australia to enjoy the citizenship of your country and Australia. 

If parents of Australian citizens/permanent residents want to visit Australia, they must apply for a travel exemption under parents exemption Australia. Australian exemption for parents includes processing periods from a few days to more than a week. However, parent visa applications for Australian citizens and permanent residents are prioritised if a travel exemption has already been issued. Read more about our translation services in Australia to ease your Australia visa translation process if you live outside Australia. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I apply for parents exemption Australia?

To apply for parents’ exemption in Australia beginning from 1 November  2021, go to the Department of Home Affairs’ Travel Exemption site. The portal will recognize several types of parental ties, including biological, adoptive, step-parents, legal dependents, and parents-in-law. Furthermore, proof of a relationship with an Australian citizen/resident will be needed, and the categories of proof accepted are listed on the department’s website. A valid visa and passport, among other relevant documents, can be valid proofs.

2. Is parent exemption in Australia possible?

For travel to Australia starting from 1 November 2021, applications for a travel exemption can be filed through the Department of Home Affairs’ Travel Exemption portal; for parents of Australian residents and permanent Australian residents. Parents must have a valid passport, visa, and vaccination proof to get a travel visa to Australia. However, evidence of relationship status with an Australian citizen or permanent Australian resident was necessary earlier, but not since 6 July 2022. 

3. Can I take my parents as dependents in Australia?

Yes, bringing along your parents as dependents in Australia is possible, provided certain conditions are met. Firstly, parents should have a sponsor; secondly, they must satisfy health and character criteria and pass the balance of family test to be eligible. To pass the balance of family test, at least half of the parent’s offspring must be eligible children and live in Australia permanently. “Eligible” children are Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents of Australia, and eligible New Zealand citizens residing in Australia. 

4. How much is the cost to bring parents to Australia?

The visa application charge for subclass 143 Contributory Parents is variable. The primary applicant must pay $4,355, and their dependent must pay $1,465 in fees. Moreover, the obligatory $43,600 per application must be paid before the visa is issued. This payment is asked once the prerequisites for health and police checks have been satisfied. This payment would be due in roughly 36 months, based on current processing times.

Similarly, the visa application charges vary for 864 Contributory Aged Parent (onshore) and 804 Aged Parent (onshore). 

The visa application charge for 870 Sponsored Parent (temporary) is $1,050 per applicant. Before the visa is issued, each applicant must pay $5,090 for a three-year visa and $10,180 for a five-year visa.

5. Which visa is best to bring parents to Australia?

Although different classes of Australian visas hold different appeals, some of the most coveted ones are subclasses 103, 173 and 143. Subclass 103, a permanent visa,permits the parents of an Australian citizen residing permanently in Australia, or a qualified New Zealand Citizen, to relocate to Australia permanently. On the other hand, subclasses 173 and 143 permit parents to remain in Australia temporarily and permanently, respectively, provided their child is an Australian citizen permanently residing in Australia or a qualified New Zealand citizen.

6. What are the two types of parent visas for permanent residency in Australia?

Two kinds of Australian Parent Visas enable permanent residency status: Contributory and Non-Contributory. The key distinction between these two is the time it takes to process them and the expense.

7. What should be the net taxable income of parents’ visa sponsors in Australia?

A sponsor’s taxable income should be at least AUD83,455; for the most recent year before the visa application date.

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