Visa Applicant

As the visa applicant, you must:

• have a child who is an eligible Australian citizen, permanent resident, or New Zealand citizen (see below)
• meet the ‘balance of family’ test. This requires that at least half of your children reside in Australia, or that more of your children reside in Australia than in any other single country
• be old enough to qualify for the Australian age pension, meaning 66–67 years old (depending upon your date of birth)
• pay an additional (‘contributory’) charge to the Australian Government immediately prior to the grant of your visa

Australian Child

Your Australian child must:

• be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
• be settled in Australia (generally this means that your child must have resided in Australia for at least two years)
• be at least 18 years old, and willing to sponsor your application

Note: You may instead be sponsored by your child’s spouse or de facto partner, provided that this person meets the above requirements. Alternatively, if your child is under 18, you may in some circumstances be sponsored by a relative or guardian of your child, or by a community organisation.

• undertake to provide you with any necessary financial and accommodation support for the first two years that you live in Australia