Balance of Family Test Australia: How It Works for Parent Visas

Migratio Editorial · Last updated 23 July 2026

TL;DR: The Balance of Family test is a mandatory eligibility criterion for most Australian parent visas. You pass if at least half of all your children are 'eligible children' living permanently in Australia — or if more of your children live in Australia than in any other single country. Children on temporary visas do not count. The test cannot be waived.

If you are planning to apply for an Australian parent visa, the Balance of Family test is one of the first hurdles to clear. It is a numerical check of where your children live, and it either opens or closes the door to most parent visa subclasses. Understanding exactly how the test is calculated — and who counts — can save a great deal of time and frustration before you commit to an application.

What the Balance of Family Test Is

The Two Limbs: How You Can Pass

Who Counts as an 'Eligible Child'

Which Children Are Counted in the Total

Worked Examples

Which Parent Visas Require the Test

Common Misunderstandings

Checking Your Position Before You Apply

Frequently asked questions

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