Parent Visa
Balance of Family Test Australia: Only Child, Siblings, Stepchildren & Children Overseas
The Balance of Family Test is a mathematical eligibility test, not a discretionary assessment of which child is emotionally closest to the parent. It applies to the main permanent and contributory Parent Visa subclasses — 103, 143, 173, 804, 864 and 884 — and Home Affairs states that it cannot be waived even in compelling or exceptional circumstances. This guide explains how the test works in 2026, how children, stepchildren and adopted children are counted, what happens with an only child, how siblings in different countries affect the calculation, and why families should complete the test before paying substantial Parent
Madhab Kharel
