Introduction:

Australia's migrant population has grown over the years, resulting in an increased demand for family reunification visas. However, the supply of these visas has not increased at the same rate, resulting in a backlog of applications. In this blog post, we will explore the current state of parent visas in Australia and the possible reform options available, as proposed by the REVIEW OF THE MIGRATION SYSTEM FINAL REPORT 2023

Demand for Family Migration:

Since 1990, the number of Australians born overseas has increased from 3.8 million to 7.7 million, and the demand for family migration has also increased. However, the supply of family migration places has not increased commensurately, resulting in a backlog of applications.

Permanent Parent Visa Options:

There are two permanent parent visa options in Australia: Parent Visa and Contributory Parent Visa. The Parent Visa costs $6,625, and the processing time is over 40 years, while the Contributory Parent Visa costs $47,955 and has a processing time of 15 years. However, due to the high demand, the backlog of parent visa applications has increased from about 35,000 to 120,000 between 2010 and 2022.

Unsuccessful Attempts to Manage the Backlog:

Several unsuccessful attempts have been made to manage the backlog of parent visa applications in Australia. The Contributory Parent subclasses were introduced in 2003 to reduce fiscal impacts, but demand for parent migration remained high. The Migration Regulations 1994 were amended in 2014 to repeal eight Family stream visa subclasses, but concerns were raised about the negative impact on ethnic communities. The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa was introduced in 2019, but take-up has been lower than expected.

Possible Reform Options:

The panel has considered several possible reform options for managing the backlog of parent visa applications in Australia. These include a lottery model for selecting parent migrants, improving the temporary parent visa, and removing access to permanent residence. The lottery model has been successful in countries like Canada and New Zealand, where it has helped manage access to limited places. Improving the temporary parent visa and reducing the visa cost may also help satisfy demand from migrants to spend time with their parents in Australia. Finally, removing access to permanent residence for parents while improving access to temporary migration may provide a fairer approach.

Lottery Approach

One of the possible solutions to managing the demand for parent migration is the lottery approach. This approach has been used by Canada and New Zealand, who also face similar challenges of managing the demand for parent visas. Under this approach, applicants register for a visa within a set period and pay a fee. After the registration period closes, an electronic draw selects a specific number of entrants who are invited to apply for the visa. The number of applicants chosen from the lottery aligns with the number of available visas, which results in minimal to no backlog.

The lottery approach could be a viable solution for managing the demand for parent migration while avoiding further backlogs. However, the Australian government would need to consider how to apply the lottery to existing visa applicants and whether to retain the permanent parent visa program.

Improved Temporary Visa Product

In addition to managing permanent migration, the Australian government could also improve the temporary visa product to meet the demand for migrants to spend time with their parents in Australia. The current temporary visa product has a lower than anticipated take-up rate due to its high cost. To enhance the attractiveness of the temporary visa product without increasing costs, the government could adjust its settings. This could include reducing the Visa Application Charge (VAC) and retaining the requirement for health insurance. However, it is essential to note that parents on this visa may still place additional pressure on the health system, even with health insurance.

Another concern with the current temporary visa product is that parents are allowed to remain in Australia for an extended period, up to three or five years. This long stay period can result in people losing their homes and connections in their country of citizenship, making it difficult for them to depart Australia. To address this issue, the temporary visa product could limit each stay in Australia to a shorter period, for example, 12 months within an 18-month period, while allowing the visa to be used multiple times over ten years and for a longer total period in Australia over the life of the visa.

Removing Access to Permanent Migration

A more radical reform option is to remove access to permanent residence for parents while improving access to temporary migration. This approach may be contentious, but it could provide a cheaper, fairer, faster, and more certain form of family reunification than is currently available. The savings associated with this approach could allow for a substantial reduction in the cost of a long-term temporary visa product, making it accessible for a larger cohort.

Conclusion:

The backlog of parent visa applications in Australia has reached an untenable level, and a new and fairer approach is required. The panel has considered several possible reform options, including a lottery model, improving the temporary parent visa, and removing access to permanent residence. The success of these options will depend on their ability to meet demand without undue cost to the Australian community.