Can Both Parents Apply Together for an Australian Parent Visa? Primary & Secondary Applicants Explained
In many Australian Parent Visa subclasses, both parents can migrate through one combined family application — but the application is structured around a primary applicant and one or more additional applicants, not two identical “primary” Parent Visas. The rules are different again for Subclass 870, where family members cannot simply be included in one visa application.
This guide explains how couples apply for Subclasses 103, 143, 173, 804, 864 and 884, whether both parents must meet the aged-parent age requirement, how secondary applicant charges work, what happens if only one parent wants to migrate, and how the Subclass 870 two-parent sponsorship framework differs.
Can both parents apply together for a Parent Visa?
Yes, many Parent Visa subclasses allow the primary parent applicant to include a spouse or de facto partner as a member of the family unit. Home Affairs’ Parent Visa pages expressly state that family members can be included and additional applicants can attract additional Visa Application Charges.
The couple still needs to satisfy the criteria that apply to the primary and secondary applicants, including health and character requirements.
Primary applicant vs secondary applicant
The primary applicant is the person who satisfies the primary visa criteria — for example, the parent relationship, sponsorship and, for an aged-parent subclass, the aged-parent criterion. The spouse or partner can be a secondary applicant if they meet the relevant family-unit and secondary criteria.
This distinction is especially important for aged-parent pathways because families often assume both spouses must independently satisfy every primary criterion.
Do both parents need to be Age Pension age for Subclass 804 or 864?
The aged-parent requirement applies to the primary applicant. A spouse or de facto partner can potentially be included as a secondary applicant under the family-unit rules even if they do not independently satisfy the primary aged-parent criterion.
The application still needs to satisfy the secondary applicant criteria, and the relationship must be genuine and properly evidenced.
Can both parents be included in Subclass 103 or 143?
Yes. Home Affairs permits family members, including a partner, to be included in the relevant Parent Visa application. The primary parent satisfies the main visa criteria and the partner is assessed under the additional applicant framework.
This can be more administratively coherent than trying to run two entirely separate permanent Parent Visa applications, but the correct structure depends on the family.
Do both parents need to pass health and character?
Family members applying for the visa need to satisfy the applicable health and character requirements. Home Affairs may also request health assessment from non-migrating family members in some circumstances.
If one parent has a significant medical condition, the family should not assume that making the healthier parent the primary applicant automatically removes the health issue from the combined application.
Does the Balance of Family Test change when both parents apply?
The Balance of Family Test is part of the Parent Visa framework for Subclasses 103, 143, 173, 804, 864 and 884. It examines the relevant family links through children and stepchildren. A combined application should be planned using the actual family composition rather than treating each spouse’s children in isolation without considering the rules.
Blended families can become technically complex. Read our Balance of Family Test guide.
How much more does it cost to include the second parent?
Home Affairs charges an additional applicant charge where a visa permits more than one applicant in the combined application. The additional applicant amount depends on the visa, age and circumstances; it is not necessarily identical to the base charge paid by the primary applicant.
For current subclass headline costs, see our Parent Visa Costs Australia 2026 comparison.
Does Assurance of Support cover both parents?
Where Assurance of Support is required, the arrangement can cover the primary applicant and family members migrating on the visa. The assurer requirements and security can increase depending on the number of assurees and circumstances.
The sponsor does not necessarily have to be the assurer.
Can only one parent apply now and add the spouse later?
Home Affairs permits family members to be added to certain Parent Visa applications before decision, subject to the subclass rules. For example, the Department describes a process for adding a spouse or de facto partner to a pending 804 application before decision.
However, adding later can affect charges, evidence and processing. Where both parents already intend to migrate, it is usually better to decide the structure at the outset rather than rely on a future amendment.
What if the parents marry after the application is lodged?
Changes in relationship status must be disclosed. Whether a new spouse can be added depends on the visa subclass, timing and family-unit criteria. Do not wait until final processing to reveal a marriage that occurred years earlier.
What if the parents separate or divorce during the queue?
Parent Visa queues can last many years. If the primary and secondary applicant separate, the secondary applicant’s eligibility can be affected because their visa position is tied to the family-unit relationship underpinning the combined application.
Legal advice should be obtained early, particularly if there are family violence issues, dependency questions or a need to consider another visa pathway.
Can one parent remain overseas while the other is in Australia?
Location rules differ between subclasses and stages. Some Parent Visa applications permit applicants to be in or outside Australia at application, while Aged Parent strategies rely on onshore criteria. The location of the primary and secondary applicants must be checked against the actual subclass and decision stage.
How is Subclass 870 different for two parents?
Subclass 870 does not allow family members to be included in one visa application. Each parent needs their own Subclass 870 visa application.
However, Home Affairs states that an approved Parent Sponsorship can cover up to two parents per household at a time. This means the sponsor can potentially sponsor both mother and father, but each parent’s visa application and visa charge remain separate.
Can one parent choose 3 years and the other choose 5 years under 870?
Because each parent lodges an individual 870 visa application, the family can potentially have different visa periods depending on eligibility and the applications made. The sponsorship must still cover both parents and the household sponsorship limits must be respected.
What if one parent passes health and the other does not?
In a combined permanent/contributory Parent Visa application, the health position of each applicant matters. A refusal affecting one family member can have consequences for the application depending on the applicable health criteria.
For complex conditions, read our Parent Visa health requirement guide.
Should the older parent always be the primary applicant?
Not automatically. For aged-parent visas, the primary applicant must meet the aged criterion, which may make the older spouse the logical primary applicant. But the family should also consider health, Balance of Family issues, sponsor relationships, visa conditions and application history.
Choosing the primary applicant should be a legal strategy decision, not just a matter of convenience.
Case example: mother is 69 and father is 64
If the mother satisfies the aged-parent criterion for the chosen subclass and the father does not, the family may still be able to structure an aged-parent application with the mother as primary applicant and the father as her partner/secondary applicant, provided the secondary criteria are satisfied.
This is different from lodging two separate primary 804 applications.
Case example: both parents want Subclass 870
The child applies for an approved Parent Sponsorship capable of covering both parents. The mother and father then lodge separate 870 visa applications. Each application has its own visa charge and evidence, even though the sponsorship can cover both.
The right family structure can affect cost, health strategy and eligibility
Before lodging, identify who should be the primary applicant, whether the partner can be included, how charges apply, and whether an aged-parent, contributory or Sponsored Parent pathway best fits both parents.
Both parents applying together — FAQs
Do I need two separate Subclass 143 applications for my mother and father?
Not necessarily. A spouse or de facto partner can generally be included as an additional applicant where the family-unit rules are met.
Do both parents pay AUD49,900 for Subclass 143?
No. The base charge and additional applicant charges are structured differently. Use the current pricing table for the exact family configuration.
Can I include my spouse after the Parent Visa is queued?
Home Affairs permits adding family members before decision in relevant Parent Visa subclasses, subject to the rules and evidence. Obtain advice before relying on late addition.
Does the second parent need a separate sponsor?
In a combined standard Parent Visa application, the sponsorship structure is tied to the application rather than requiring two identical primary-applicant sponsorships. Subclass 870 is different.
Can 870 sponsorship cover mother and father together?
Yes, Home Affairs says a Parent Sponsorship can cover up to two parents in the sponsor’s household at one time, but each parent lodges their own 870 visa application.
What if one parent dies during processing?
Notify Home Affairs. The consequences depend on whether the deceased person was primary or secondary applicant and on the subclass. The surviving family member may need specific legal advice.
How should the couple choose the primary applicant?
For non-aged Parent Visas, either parent may be the logical primary applicant if the primary criteria can be met. For aged-parent visas, the person satisfying the aged-parent requirement will usually need to be the primary applicant. But age is not the only consideration: health, prior visa history, location, relationship evidence and the sponsor relationship can affect the structure.
What relationship evidence is needed for the second parent?
Home Affairs asks for evidence of the partner relationship, such as a marriage certificate or evidence establishing a de facto relationship. Where names differ, marriages have occurred in different jurisdictions or there are previous divorces, include the civil records needed to establish the current relationship clearly.
Can a de facto partner be included?
Potentially, if the relationship satisfies the family-unit and de facto requirements. Home Affairs’ Parent Visa guidance refers to evidence that can include joint financial and household material. The precise relationship criterion and timing should be checked for the application.
What if one parent does not want permanent residence?
The migrating parent can apply without forcing the spouse to migrate, but the non-migrating spouse must still be disclosed. Home Affairs may request health or character information from non-migrating family members depending on the subclass and circumstances.
Can the non-migrating parent join later?
Possibly through a later visa, but there is no automatic transfer of the first parent’s eventual permanent residence. If both parents foresee migration, compare the cost and eligibility of including the spouse now against a future separate visa, taking into account queues and age.
What if the secondary applicant turns 23 or ceases dependency?
This is more relevant where dependent children are included, but the principle illustrates why family-unit status can change during long Parent Visa processing. A person included as a secondary applicant must continue to satisfy the relevant criteria at the required decision time.
How do charges work for the second parent?
Home Affairs applies an additional applicant charge and, for some Parent Visa subclasses, second instalments. The secondary adult charge can be substantial but is not necessarily the same as the primary applicant’s base charge. The exact 2026 figure should be calculated using the current pricing table for the chosen visa.
Can the second parent be added years after queueing?
Some Parent Visa subclasses allow family members to be added before decision, and Home Affairs provides Form 1436 for adding an additional applicant after lodgement in relevant cases. But a late addition can trigger fresh health, character, relationship and fee requirements and may complicate the final stage.
What if the relationship ends after both parents are included?
The secondary applicant’s position can become vulnerable because their eligibility may depend on being a member of the family unit of the primary applicant. Separation should be disclosed and legal advice obtained about whether any independent basis remains.
Case example: mother meets aged criterion, father is younger
The mother can potentially be the primary 804 or 864 applicant while the father is included as her spouse/secondary applicant, assuming the family-unit and other criteria are satisfied. It is not necessary to wait until both independently meet the aged-parent age threshold merely to structure a combined application.
Case example: only one parent has a serious health issue
The family cannot simply make the healthier parent primary and assume the other parent’s health becomes irrelevant if the other parent is included as an applicant. Health criteria apply to migrating family members and can sometimes extend to non-migrating family members too. The health strategy should be analysed before finalising the application structure.
How Emigrate Lawyers structures two-parent applications
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Legal review: Reviewed by Madhab Kharel, Principal Lawyer, Emigrate Lawyers on 28 September 2026. General information only; not legal advice. Australian migration health criteria and Department procedures can change.
Official sources: Department of Home Affairs Parent Visa pages including Subclass 103, Subclass 804 and Subclass 870.
