The non-contributory visa category includes regular sponsored parent, aged parent, carers and remaining relative visas.
Throughout 2013-14, a total of 2250 places were allocated to Parent (non-contributory) visas, including approximately 1700 places for Parent (subclass 103) visas and approximately 550 places for Aged Parent (subclass 804) visas.
What is a non-contributory parent visa?
The non-contributory visa category includes regular sponsored parent, aged parent, carers and remaining relative visas.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s 2012-13 Migration Program Report outlined a total of 2150 places for non-contributory parent visas, little more than 1 per cent of the total migration program.
Demand for the non-contributory parent visa is high, increasing from previous year by 52 per cent, leaving 31,800 clients still waiting approval by the time the report was published.
The report also outlined an increase of 9.6 per cent of people waiting approval over program year, coinciding with increases in the number of applicants awaiting approval in the contributory category, up 4.8 per cent over the program year.
To apply for any parent or contributory parent visa, applicants must be the parent of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, who is ‘settled’ in Australia at the time the application is lodged.
Applicants must also satisfy the balance of family test, meaning at least half of their children live permanently in Australia, or that more of their children live permanently in Australia than in any other country.
How does it differ from a contributory visa?
According to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, the key differences include waiting periods and price.
Applicants in the parent (non-contributory) category have a significantly longer wait for applications to be finalised, while contributory applicants are given a higher priority.
The contributory visa can cost up to $125,000.
