The Australian Government has created a pathway to permanent residency for eligible retirees. This pathway provides options to long-term residents who have contributed to, and are well established in the community. The government has created a pathway by setting aside a portion of places from the permanent migration scheme for parents. These placed will become available from 2022.
You may be eligible to apply for a pathway to permanent residence if, on 8 May 2018:
you held a Retirement visa (subclass 410) or Investment Retirement (subclass 405) visa or
your last substantive visa was a Retirement visa (subclass 410) or Investment Retirement (subclass 405) visa
There are two pathway options for eligible retirees. Either
Parent visa (subclass 103) or
Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143)
You will be subject to most of the existing requirements for a parent visa. However, you will not need to meet the sponsorship, balance of family test or Assurance of Support requirements.
You will however be granted a Bridging visa which will allow you to stay in Australia lawfully while we process your pathway application. A Bridging visa is not available to normal Parent visa (subclass 103) or Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) applicants. You will remain a temporary visa holder until your pathway application has been finalised.
The Department of Home Affairs will give priority to retirees who apply under the Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) category until places become available in the Parent visa subclass. There are 125 places for a 143 retiree applicants through to July 2019. No places will be available for retirees under the Parent visa (subclass 103) until 2022. Waiting times for Parent (subclass 103) visas will be significantly longer than those for Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) visas.
You are not eligible for Medicare whilst the application is awaiting decision. You must maintain adequate health insurance while we assess your pathway application or you will breach your visa conditions.
If your permanent pathway application is refused you will still be eligible to apply for a subsequent Retirement visa (subclass 410) or Investment Retirement (subclass 405). It is only NEW applicants that the Retirement visa (subclass 410) and the Investment Retirement (subclass 405) are closed to.
If you hold a Retirement visa (subclass 410) or Investment Retirement (subclass 405) and wish to apply for permanent residence please contact us and we will be able to assess your case.