The new visa will allow Australians to sponsor their parents to stay in Australia for up to five years at a time. You might be eligible to apply for a parent category visa if: you have a child who is an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.

Typically, you'll fill out visa application forms online, print and mail them in, or hand deliver them to the nation's local consulate. After processing your documents, the consulate will mail you a visa that attaches into your passport. On average, the process takes anywhere from two weeks to two months.

To organize your visa we'll simply need to confirm your passport and personal details and it normally takes 48 hours for the visa to be granted. Once the visa is issued you have 12 months to enter Australia and it will start only on the date you arrive in the country and will be valid for 1 year from then on.