Does my child's spouse count as my child for the Balance of Family test?

No. Only the parent's own children — biological, legally adopted, or step-children (in qualifying circumstances) — count toward the Balance of Family test. A daughter-in-law or son-in-law does not count. The number of grandchildren also does not affect the count. The test is strictly about the parent's own children.

My child is an Australian permanent resident but not a citizen — do they count?

Yes. Australian permanent residents count for the Balance of Family test — the test does not require the child to be an Australian citizen. An Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen who is settled (lawfully residing) in Australia all count on the Australian side of the balance.

What does 'settled' mean for the purposes of the test?

In the context of the Balance of Family test, 'settled' means that the child is lawfully and habitually resident in Australia as an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. A child who is in Australia on a temporary visa (e.g. a student visa or working holiday visa) is NOT considered settled in Australia for the purposes of the test — even if they have lived there for several years.

Can the Balance of Family test be assessed at the time of lodgement, or must it be re-assessed at the time of grant?

The Balance of Family test is assessed at the time of decision on the application (when the visa is being granted), not necessarily at the time of lodgement. For parent visa applications with long processing queues, this means the family configuration at the time of grant — which may be 12–15 years after lodgement — is what matters. If a sibling migrates to Australia in the interim, they would count toward the balance at decision time. If an Australian-resident child dies or leaves Australia and renounces PR, the count changes.

If a child who counted on the Australian side of the balance passes away after lodgement, does the parent fail the test?

The rules on this are specific and complex. Whether a deceased Australian-resident child continues to count toward the balance depends on the circumstances of their death and settlement. This is an area where the Migration Regulations contain detailed provisions — and where professional legal advice from a registered migration agent or migration lawyer is essential. The Department will apply the rules as at the time of decision.

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Parent VisasPartner & Family · Support Guide

The Balance of Family Test
Who Must Satisfy It and How to Pass

The Balance of Family test determines whether a parent has enough of their children settled in Australia to be eligible for a permanent parent visa. It applies to most permanent parent visa subclasses but not to the subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa.

General information current as at August 2026. Requirements are subject to change — verify with the Department of Home Affairs before lodging.

The Short Answer

The Balance of Family test has two alternative ways to pass: (1) at least half of the parent's children are Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens settled in Australia; OR (2) more of the parent's children are settled in Australia than in any other single country. Children are counted broadly — biological, legally adopted, and step-children from any relationship all count. A child who is deceased or is a refugee is treated under specific rules. The Balance of Family test is required for subclasses 103, 143, 173, 804, and 864 — but not for the subclass 870. Nanak Migration Group (MARN 2619467) can assess whether your family satisfies the test before you lodge.

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Reviewed by Navpreet Aulakh, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2619467)

Last reviewed: July 2026

2 ways

Two alternative ways to pass the Balance of Family test

Half-or-more in Australia, OR more in Australia than in any other single country. Either test passing is sufficient.

Broadly counted

Biological, adopted and step-children all count

The test counts all of the parent's children broadly — not just the child who is sponsoring the visa.

Not required

The subclass 870 does NOT require the Balance of Family test

The 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa is exempt from the Balance of Family test — making it accessible to parents who fail the test for permanent visas.

5 visas

The test applies to five permanent parent visa subclasses

Subclasses 103, 143, 173, 804, and 864 all require the Balance of Family test to be satisfied.

What it is Two ways to pass Who counts Which visas Worked examples If you fail FAQ Related pages

The requirement

What Is the Balance of Family Test?

The Balance of Family test is a statutory requirement that applies to most permanent parent visa subclasses. Its purpose is to ensure that Australia's parent migration program benefits families who are genuinely moving their centre of family life to Australia — not families who have only a single child in Australia and the majority of family connections elsewhere.

To satisfy the Balance of Family test, the applicant parent's children and step-children must be assessed. The Department of Home Affairs counts all of the parent's children and step-children and then checks whether Australia has at least as many (or more) than any other country.

The test is about where children are settled — not about the sponsoring child

The Balance of Family test looks at ALL of the parent's children — not just the child who is sponsoring the visa. A parent with 5 children, only 1 of whom is in Australia and 4 of whom are in India, would fail the test. A parent with 5 children, 3 in Australia and 2 in India, would pass it. The sponsoring child must be the one who meets the settled Australian resident requirement, but all children count toward the balance.

Passing

The Two Alternative Ways to Pass

At least half of the parent's children are settled in Australia

If the parent has 4 children, at least 2 must be Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens settled in Australia. If the parent has 3 children, at least 2 (rounding up — majority) must be settled in Australia. The "settled" requirement means the child must be lawfully residing in Australia as a citizen, PR or eligible NZ citizen — not just visiting or on a temporary visa.

Example: Parent has 4 children: 2 in Australia (citizens), 1 in India, 1 in UK. 2/4 = 50% — PASSES test 1.

More of the parent's children are settled in Australia than in any other single country

Even if fewer than half the parent's children are in Australia, if Australia has more than any other individual country, the test is satisfied. This is particularly useful for parents with children spread across many countries.

Example: Parent has 6 children: 2 in Australia (citizens), 1 in UK, 1 in Canada, 1 in India, 1 in New Zealand. Australia has 2; no other country has more than 1 — PASSES test 2 (even though Australia has only 33% of children).

Both tests can apply — passing either one is sufficient

The parent only needs to satisfy ONE of the two tests. A parent who cannot pass test 1 (half or more) may still pass test 2 (more than any other single country) if their non-Australian children are spread across multiple countries. Nanak Migration Group (MARN 2619467) can assess your family's specific configuration.

Counting children

Who Counts as a Child for the Balance of Family Test?

Biological children

All biological children of the parent count, regardless of age, marital status, or whether they are in contact with the parent. Adult children count the same as minor children.

Legally adopted children

Children who have been legally adopted by the parent (under the law of the country of adoption) count as the parent's children for the Balance of Family test.

Step-children

Step-children are counted in some circumstances. The rules for step-children are specific — a child is a step-child of the parent if they are the child of the parent's spouse or de facto partner (current or former). Step-children who are counted must be identified carefully — seek advice if you have step-children in the count.

Deceased children

A child who is deceased is treated as follows: if the child died as an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen settled in Australia, they may still count toward the 'Australian' side of the balance. The rules are specific — confirm with a migration agent.

Children who are refugees

A child who is outside Australia because they are a refugee (within the meaning of the Migration Act) may be excluded from the count in some circumstances. The rules are complex — this is an area where professional advice is important.

Step-child rules are complex — don't assume

The rules for counting step-children are not simple. A step-child from a former relationship, a step-child who has been adopted, or a step-child who is not in regular contact with the parent may be treated differently. Before assuming a step-child does or does not count toward your family's balance, seek a professional assessment.

Where it applies

Which Visas Require the Balance of Family Test?

Visas requiring the Balance of Family test

Subclass 103 — Parent

Permanent, offshore

Subclass 143 — Contributory Parent

Permanent, offshore

Subclass 173 — Contributory Parent Temporary

Temporary, leads to 143

Subclass 804 — Aged Parent

Permanent, onshore

Subclass 864 — Contributory Aged Parent

Permanent, onshore

Visas NOT requiring the Balance of Family test

Subclass 870 — Sponsored Parent (Temporary)

BoFT not required

Worked examples

Worked Examples — Different Family Spreads

PASSES — Test 1

4 children total. 2 in Australia (citizens). 1 in India. 1 in Pakistan.

2 of 4 children (50%) are settled in Australia. Test 1 satisfied — at least half in Australia.

PASSES — Test 2

5 children total. 2 in Australia (PRs). 1 in UK. 1 in Canada. 1 in Philippines.

Australia has 2; no other country has more than 1. Test 2 satisfied — even though Australia has only 40% of children.

FAILS

4 children total. 1 in Australia (citizen). 3 in India.

Only 25% of children are in Australia. India has more children (3) than Australia (1). Neither test is satisfied.

FAILS

6 children total. 2 in Australia. 2 in India. 1 in UK. 1 in Canada.

Australia has 2 (33%). India also has 2. Australia does not have MORE than any other single country — it ties with India. Test 2 requires strictly more, not equal.

PASSES — Test 1

6 children total. 3 in Australia (2 citizens + 1 PR). 2 in India. 1 in UK.

Australia has 3 (50%). Test 1 satisfied — at least half of the parent's children are settled in Australia.

SEEK ADVICE

3 biological children (2 in Australia, 1 in India) + 2 step-children (1 in Australia, 1 overseas).

Whether step-children count depends on specific circumstances. Professional assessment is recommended before assuming the test is passed or failed. The outcome depends on the step-child rules in your situation.

Alternatives

What to Do if You Fail the Balance of Family Test

If the Balance of Family test cannot be satisfied — either currently or in the foreseeable future — the options available to the parent are more limited. However, there are pragmatic alternatives.

Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa

The 870 does not require the Balance of Family test. A parent who fails the test can still apply for the 870 and live in Australia for up to 10 years in total (in 3-year or 5-year grants), subject to the sponsor income threshold and other requirements. The 870 grants no work rights and does not lead to permanent residence, but it allows extended family time without entering the permanent visa queue.

Extended visitor stays

A parent can visit Australia on a multiple-entry visitor visa (subclass 600) for stays of up to 12 months at a time (in some cases). While not a long-term solution, extended visitor visits can allow family time while the situation is assessed. Visitor visas do not allow work, do not accumulate toward any permanent pathway, and are assessed individually each time.

Wait for the family balance to shift

In some cases, if an additional sibling is considering migrating to Australia, the balance of family could shift to a passing configuration in the future. This is a planning consideration rather than an immediate solution — but families who are close to passing may want to consider whether future migration by another sibling could change the outcome. A migration agent can assess what would be needed for the balance to shift.

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Check whether your family passes the Balance of Family test

Nanak Migration Group (MARN 2619467) assesses the Balance of Family test configuration for your specific family before you commit to any parent visa application.

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General information only — not immigration advice

About this information

This information is general in nature and does not constitute immigration assistance or legal advice for any individual situation. Requirements including occupation lists, fees and processing criteria change without notice.

No outcome representation

Nanak Migration Group Pty Ltd makes no representation that information on this site is complete, current or applicable to your circumstances. Nothing here guarantees, implies or represents any visa outcome, approval likelihood or processing time.

Get personal advice

Obtain advice tailored to your situation from a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner. Navpreet Aulakh, MARN 2619467, is registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority.

Information current as at August 2026. Verify all requirements with the Department of Home Affairs (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au) before lodging any application.

The Balance of Family Test
Who Must Satisfy It and How to Pass

General information current as at August 2026. Requirements are subject to change — verify with the Department of Home Affairs before lodging.

The Short Answer

What Is the Balance of Family Test?

The Two Alternative Ways to Pass

Who Counts as a Child for the Balance of Family Test?

Which Visas Require the Balance of Family Test?

Worked Examples — Different Family Spreads

What to Do if You Fail the Balance of Family Test

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Pages

Check whether your family passes the Balance of Family test

What Is the Balance of Family Test?

The Two Alternative Ways to Pass

Who Counts as a Child for the Balance of Family Test?

Which Visas Require the Balance of Family Test?

Worked Examples — Different Family Spreads

What to Do if You Fail the Balance of Family Test

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Pages

Check whether your family passes the Balance of Family test