Families decry new onshore priority for offshore parent visa applications

In late July, the Department of Home Affairs introduced a ministerial direction that places onshore family visa applications ahead of offshore ones, affecting parent, partner, child and carer streams. Applicants like Amy Hu, whose parents paid over $6,000 for temporary visas and later sought permanent contributory visas, now see their expected 2027 grant dates become uncertain. Similarly, Evon Yu, an international student turned resident, worries her parents' visa could be delayed indefinitely, prompting her family to consider returning to China.

Petitions opposing the policy have attracted more than 1,600 signatures, highlighting concerns that the shift undermines family unity. The department maintains that the measure will help lower net overseas migration and improve processing for those already contributing to Australia, while noting that parent visa processing continues and processing times will be updated for 2026-27. Experts warn that the change may exacerbate a multi-decade backlog and leave offshore families without clear timelines.