Amendments to Parent Category Visas

To apply from 27 March 2010, amended to better align the Regulations with objectives of family stream policy:

• Allow certain spouses, de factos, dependent children and family members to be added to applications for Contributory Parent visas between lodgement and approval;
• Permit certain applicants for Subclass 143 – Contributory Parent visas to be in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance when the visa is granted;
• Enable certain applicants for Subclass 864 – Contributory Aged Parent visas to remain eligible even if sponsoring child has died;
• Change decision criteria for a Subclass 864 – Contributory Aged Parent visa to ensure applicants who have held a substituted Subclass 676 visa can continue to meet the time of application criteria at the time of decision;
• Enable certain applicants for parent visas who are parents of children under 18 to be sponsored by 'relative' of the child or 'relative' of the child's spouse rather than a 'close relative'; 
• Take measures to reduce potential abuse of the Subclass 804 – Aged Parent visa