The Balance of Family Test — the Gatekeeper of Parent Visas, Worked Examples

Before you even discuss the near-AUD 50,000 cost or the decade-plus queue of permanent parent visas, there is a question to answer first — and many Vietnamese families fail right here: the balance of family test. Fail this test and a 103/143/864 application has no pathway, regardless of how much the family is prepared to pay.

The short answer: parents pass the balance of family test when at least half of their children are settled permanently in Australia, OR when more of their children live in Australia than in any other single country. It sounds simple, but how children are counted — and the near-miss scenarios — is where careful arithmetic matters. This article gives you the formula and five worked examples so you can run the numbers for your own family.

The official formula — two limbs, pass either one

Parents pass the test if they satisfy either of these:

1. Limb 1: at least half of all their children are Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens who are usually resident in Australia; OR
2. Limb 2: more of their children are usually resident in Australia than in any other single country (counted country by country — not “the rest of the world” combined).

Two details that are often missed:

• Children counted on the “Australia side” must be lawfully settled long-term — a child in Australia on a temporary visa (student, 482, 485…) generally does not count towards Australia.
• A tie under limb 2 is a fail: the Australian count must be greater than, not equal to, every other country.

How children are counted — who is in, who is out

The total count is broader than most people expect:

• Biological children of the applicant parent — including children from a previous marriage.
• Legally adopted children.
• Step-children of the current spouse or partner — these can count towards the total in some circumstances; the details depend on the legal relationship and circumstances, so check the current rules.
• Adult children, married children — still counted. The test does not care about a child’s age or marital status.

Some special situations may allow a child to be excluded from the count — for example a child who is missing, completely out of contact, or in circumstances where their place of residence cannot be established. This area has detailed rules and evidentiary requirements — do not self-assess an exclusion; check with a registered adviser before removing any child from the calculation.

Five worked examples — typical Vietnamese family patterns

Example 4 is the classic offside trap: a family spread across three countries assumes that helps, but because no country has fewer children than Australia, both limbs fail. Example 5 shows limb 2 rescuing large families spread across many countries — as long as Australia leads the count.

Which visas need the test — and which do not

This is why the 870 visa has become the main plan for many Vietnamese families: it is very common for only one or two of three or four siblings to settle in Australia — failing the test is the norm, not the exception.

Failed the test? Three realistic directions

1. The 870 visa — no balance of family test, and parents can stay up to 10 years. The requirements sit with the sponsoring child (approved sponsorship plus the household income threshold) — see the detailed 870 article.
2. Wait for the balance to shift — if another sibling is on a PR pathway (skilled, partner…), the moment they become a permanent resident and settle in Australia can flip the test. A 3-child family with 1 in Australia and 2 in Vietnam currently fails; one more sibling getting PR makes it 2/3 — a pass. Note the test is assessed at the relevant point in the application process — confirm timing with your adviser.
3. Long-stay visitor 600 — for parents who want extended periods with the family without settling; there is a mechanism allowing stays of up to 12 months at a time for parents of Australians, with limits worth knowing in advance.

What not to do: listen to “services” promising to “get around” the balance of family test. It is a legislated criterion — there is no lawful workaround, only correct counting and choosing the right visa type.

Summary

The balance of family test is the first gate of every permanent parent visa application: half the children in Australia, or Australia ahead of every other country. Count every child (including step-children and married adult children), remember that a tie fails limb 2, and if you fail — your family still has the 870, the wait-for-the-balance-to-shift option, or long-stay visitor visas.

Not sure how to count for your family’s circumstances, especially with step-children or estranged children? Book a free assessment — we will run the numbers with you before you spend a single dollar in fees.

References

• Department of Home Affairs — Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) — official criteria, including the balance of family test.
• Department of Home Affairs — Parent visa (subclass 103) — the non-contributory stream.
• Department of Home Affairs — Parent visas: queue and processing — queue context.

This article is general information current at publication. Australian migration rules change regularly — check the date and contact VisaAffairs before relying on it for your own case. Book a consultation for advice on your specific circumstances.