Migrants trying to bring elderly parents to Australia say recently tightened visitor-visa rules are compounding already lengthy waits for permanent Parent visas, according to an SBS News In Depth podcast released on 14 October 2026. The episode features case studies of families who have waited up to 12 years for the contributory Parent (subclass 143) visa only to discover that short-term Visitor (subclass 600) options are also narrowing. Under revised Ministerial Directions that took effect this month, visitor-visa holders who apply for subsequent visas onshore face stricter ‘no further stay’ conditions, and the Department of Home Affairs has begun scrutinising applicants more closely for health-insurance coverage and genuine-temporary-entrant intent. Migration agents interviewed by SBS say the new rules have resulted in a surge of refusals for parents over 75, who must now purchase costly comprehensive medical insurance before arrival—a significant barrier for low-income migrant families. For employers the issue is not merely humanitarian. HR departments note that skilled migrants distracted by family-care obligations abroad are more likely to turn down contract extensions or seek alternative destinations with faster reunification pathways, undermining retention in sectors already facing talent shortages. Businesses are therefore lobbying the government to release additional Parent-visa places in the 2026-27 migration programme or create provisional ‘family-care’ visas that would allow temporary entry while permanent applications are processed. In the meantime advocates recommend practical steps: encourage affected staff to lodge visitor-visa applications well in advance, budget for higher health-insurance premiums, and gather detailed evidence of return incentives for visiting parents. They also advise subscribing to departmental alert services, as further changes are possible ahead of the mid-year Economic and Fiscal Outlook. Home Affairs maintains that the reforms are designed to curb so-called ‘visa hopping’ and ensure that visitor pathways are used for genuine short stays, but insists compassionate and compelling circumstances will still be considered on a case-by-case basis. Industry groups counter that processing queues and new cost burdens effectively shut out lower-income families, raising questions about the equity of Australia’s migration system.
Source: SBS News
