If the majority of your children are Australian permanent residents or citizens then you can meet the balance of family test and migrate to Australia on a permanent resident visa.

The processing times vary enormously, so it is important to establish when you intend to settle in Australia and make your plans.

Contributory Parent Visas

The contributory parent visa classes were passed by the Parliament in 2003, and represent a breakthrough in the visa opportunities for parents of Australians. The category redresses community concern that persons not of working age will cost the Australian taxpayer significant funds by providing for a significant upfront (currently about A$30,000 per parent. In addition an Assurance of Support, coupled with a 10 year bond in the region of A$10,000 is required. For those applicants unable to find the full application fee at once, a two stage contributory parent visa is available. This enables an applicant to split the fee into roughly two portions payable over two years.

The processing of Contributory Parent applications is proceeding relatively quickly (6-12 months).

Other Parent Visas

For those who wish migrate to Australia and join their children, but cannot meet the costs of the $30,000 application charges, then the parent visa stream is still in place. The processing times are longer because the number of visa places are very limited. At present the waiting time is as long as 15-20 years.

Retirement Visas

Prior to 1 July 2005, many parents who were not able to meet the "balance of family" test applied for a Retirement visa. This was a temporary visa for 4 years, which could be renewed every 2 years for an indefinite period.

From 1 July 2005 the Retirement visa was replaced by the Investor Retirement visa. The criteria for this visa include that applicants:

• are 55 years of age or older
• are sponsored by an Australian State or Territory government agency other than NSW
• have no dependent children or other dependent family members other than a spouse
• are married or in a de facto relationship, your partner must have no dependent children or other dependent family members
• have minimum assets legally owned and lawfully acquired by the applicant, or applicant and spouse, capable of and available for transfer to Australia, the amount depending on whether applicant intends to live in a regional or non-regional area of Australia. These assets will enable applicant, or applicant and spouse to meet initial settlement and ongoing costs of living in Australia
• have a minimum net income stream (for example, pension rights) that can be accessed for applicant or applicant and spouse, the amount depending on whether it is intended to live in a regional or non-regional area of Australia
• are able to make a designated investment in applicant's name or applicant's name and spouse's name, in the State or Territory in which applicant has been sponsored, the amount depending on whether applicant intends to live in a regional or non-regional area of Australia
  Note: Applicants must have held all of the assets listed above for 2 years prior to lodging visa application, unless the assets are related to superannuation and/or inheritance.
• have evidence that applicant, and spouse if applicable, hold an adequate health insurance package for the period of the intended stay in Australia
• have no intention of working full-time in Australia (applicant, and spouse if applicable, will only be allowed to work up to 20 hours per week while in Australia)
• are of good health and character