Many new PR holders often ask:“I can only get a 3-year tourist visa for my parents by myself — can you get them a 5-year one?”“My DIY applications only allow a 3-month stay each time, but I heard it can be up to 12 months?”
Don’t get confused by “3 years” and “5 years”. Visa validity is NOT the same as length of each stay.This guide clearly explains the two concepts: visa validity and maximum stay per visit.
1. Understand the Two Key Concepts
A common source of confusion:
Visa validity (length of visa)e.g. 1, 3 or 5 years, allowing multiple entries during this period.
Length of each stayMaximum time you can stay in Australia per entry (3, 6 or 12 months).
Australia does not have a dedicated “family visitor visa”.Parents of Australian PRs or citizens apply for the standard Subclass 600 Visitor Visa.
Parents of Australian PRs or citizens apply for the standard Subclass 600 Visitor Visa.
2. Length of Each Stay: 3 Months vs 12 Months
3-month stay per visit
Available to all applicants, including parents of PRs/citizens
Advantages: No medical examination required, no mandatory health insurance
Suitable for: Short visits, when parents prefer to avoid medical checks
12-month stay per visit
Generally approvable for parents of PRs/citizens
Also possible for parents of non‑PR/non‑citizen applicants in some cases
Rule: Must not exceed 12 months of stay in any 18-month period
Mandatory: Health examination + comprehensive health insurance
Common misunderstanding:A 12-month expiry date shown on VEVO does not guarantee a full 12-month stay.The 12‑months‑in‑18‑months rule always applies.
3. How to Choose Visa Validity
Case 1: Parents visiting Australia for the first time
Recommended: 1-year multiple-entry, 3 months per stay
If 3 months is too short: apply directly for 12 months per stay (requires medical + insurance)
Case 2: Parents have visited Australia before
(including while you were on a student visa, 485, or after you obtained PR)
Second application usually grants 3-year multiple-entry
Rule: max 12 months stay in any 18-month period
Case 3: Parent migration (103 or 143) lodged and queue letter received
Important: must be an official queue letter, not just a lodgement acknowledgement
Usually approved for 5-year multiple-entry, up to 12 months per stay
For contributory visas (143/864), queuing starts on the date of lodgement even before the queue letter
Current queue letters being issued for 143 applications lodged in 2023
If no queue letter but parents have visited before, 5-year validity is not guaranteed — subject to officer discretion.
4. What If the Child Is NOT a PR or Citizen?
If the child holds:
500 Student Visa/
485 Graduate Visa/
462 Work & Holiday Visa/
482 Employer Sponsored Visa/
820 Partner Temporary Visa
491 Provisional PR Visa
Or has lodged 189/190/801 but not yet granted
Parents can only apply for a 600 Visitor Visa with 3-month stays.
First visit: usually 1-year multiple-entry, max 3 months per stay
After previous visits: often 3-year multiple-entry, still max 3 months per stay
5. Important Warning: Think Twice Before DIY Lodgement
Many people assume they know enough about Australian visas and quickly submit the application online.The result: refusal within 2–3 weeks.
A visa refusal history will significantly increase difficulty for future tourist visa applications, even after you become a PR.
We recommend using a professional migration agent, especially when medicals, insurance and stay calculations are involved.Don’t risk major problems just to save a small fee.
If your DIY application had incorrect stay periods, resulting in short validity or insufficient stay time,you may contact us to assess whether a longer visa can be reapplied.
