As we await the much anticipated introduction of the new temporary parent visa – scheduled for introduction this month – it is a good time to summarise what we know about the obligations and requirements to be met by a child who is to sponsor a new temporary parent visa application.

The Department of Immigration has already advised that the sponsor will need to:

• Be a biological, adoptive, or a step-child of their parent
• Provide valid evidence of their identity
• Be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
• Be 18 years or older
• Have lived in Australia for at least four years
• Meet a household income requirement
• Meet character requirements – ie provide police clearance certificates
• Accept legal liability for any outstanding public health debt their sponsored parent accrues

In respect of the character requirements we anticipate that these will follow the changes that were introduced for partner and prospective marriage visa applicants in November 2016.

Before the new visa is introduced some legislation is also required to become law.   This is presently sitting in the Upper House (the Senate) in the form of the Migration Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill 2016.

Among other things, this Bill will separate the role of the sponsor from the visa applicant, such that once it becomes law the sponsor of a parent visa will be required to be approved by the Department of Immigration before the visa application is lodged.

At the present time the application for approval of sponsorship by the child of a parent visa applicant is lodged at the same time as the parent visa application.

We are also expecting that for the new temporary parent visa the application for approval as a sponsor and the subsequent visa application by the parent will be submitted to the Department of Immigration electronically.

Check back here regularly at the Go Matilda Parent Visas Blog for more information about Australian’s new temporary visa for parents!