How does the balance of family test work for Australia's subclass 173 visa in 2026?
The balance of family test for the Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173) is passed in either of two ways: at least half of your children and step-children are eligible children, or more eligible children live in Australia than in any other single country. You only need to satisfy one of the two. According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs' Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173) page, as of the August 2026 official page, meeting this test is a separate eligibility requirement from having an approved sponsor, meeting health and character requirements, and repaying any debt to the Australian Government.
What does the balance of family test actually ask?
It asks a counting question about your whole family, not about the child who is sponsoring you. Two limbs are available, and they are alternatives:
| Limb | The question it asks | Typical family it suits |
|---|---|---|
| At least half | Are at least half of your children and step-children eligible children? | Families with few children, most of them in Australia |
| More than any other country | Do more eligible children live in Australia than in any other single country? | Larger families whose children are scattered across several countries |
Because the limbs are alternatives, a family can fail the first and still pass the second. The reverse is also true, so it is worth working through both rather than stopping at the one that looks easier.
Who counts as an eligible child?
The official eligibility page refers to "eligible children" without restating the definition, and points to the separate balance of family test page for detail. The subclass 173 criteria set out in the Migration Regulations 1994 describe the qualifying child as a settled Australian citizen, a settled Australian permanent resident, or a settled eligible New Zealand citizen; the test itself is defined in regulation 1.05 of those Regulations. In practice, the same child who can be an eligible sponsor is also the child who counts toward the test.
Sponsorship and the family test are still two different requirements. The Department's page states that a sponsor must be settled and usually resident in Australia and aged 18 or over, that sponsorship must be approved, and that an eligible relative or community organisation can sponsor where the child is under 18. Passing the family test does not remove the need for an approved sponsor.
Which children go into the count?
The official wording brings in children and step-children, so step-children are counted on the same footing as biological children.
Assume a parent with four children in total: one biological child who is a settled Australian permanent resident, one step-child who is a settled Australian citizen, and two children living overseas. The count runs over all four. Two of four is exactly half, so the first limb is met — the step-child counts fully toward the two.
Children can also be left out of the count in defined circumstances. The Department's document list for this visa includes "evidence that your child should not be included in the balance of family test", with a death certificate given as the example. Assume a parent with four children where one has died and is excluded on that basis: the test then runs over three children, so two eligible children in Australia is more than half rather than exactly half.
How does the "at least half" limb work in practice?
Take the total number of children and step-children who are not excluded, then ask how many of them are eligible children. Assume a parent with four children: two are settled in Australia and two live in China. Two of four is half, and half is enough — the wording is "at least half", not "more than half".
Assume instead a parent with five children: two in Australia, two in India and one in Singapore. Half of five is two and a half, so three eligible children would be needed. Two is not enough, and the first limb fails. That family has to rely on the second limb — and on these numbers it would also fail there, because Australia (two) does not exceed India (two). A tie is not "more than".
How does the "more than any other single country" limb work?
This limb compares countries one at a time, not Australia against the rest of the world combined. You sort your children by country of residence and ask whether the Australian number is higher than each other country's number individually.
Assume a parent with six children: two live in Australia, and one each lives in the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and France. Half of six is three, so the first limb fails. But Australia's two is greater than one, which is the highest count in any other single country, so the second limb is met. This is the family shape where the two limbs give genuinely different answers: children spread thinly across several countries rather than concentrated in one.
The same limb fails where a second country matches Australia's number. Assume five children with two in Australia, two in India and one in Singapore: two is not more than two, so neither limb is met.
What documents does the Department ask for?
The subclass 173 document guidance lists three categories specifically for the balance of family test:
- evidence of how you are related to each child;
- evidence of each child's Australian citizenship or country of permanent residence;
- evidence that a child should not be included in the test, such as a death certificate.
The first two do the counting work: one set establishes who has to be counted, the other establishes which country each child belongs to. These examples are illustrations of how the two limbs are applied rather than a prediction of any outcome; this article is general information and not personalised advice, and the wording and any figures relevant to your own family should be checked against the Department's current published page.
What if your family composition changes before a decision?
The Department's page asks applicants to report changes to family composition, including the birth of a child, after lodgement. The subclass 173 criteria in the Migration Regulations 1994 also require the parent relationship to continue to be satisfied at the time of decision. A new child, or a child moving between countries, can therefore change which limb you are relying on — and in a family that only passes by a narrow margin, it can change the result. The temporary subclass 173 stage sits alongside the contributory parent permanent stages, so the same counting exercise tends to matter again later rather than being a one-off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do step-children count in the balance of family test?
Yes. The official wording covers "children and step-children", and step-children are counted in the total as well as among the eligible children. A step-child who is a settled Australian citizen or permanent resident counts exactly like a biological child in the same position.
Is exactly half enough, or do I need more than half?
Exactly half is enough, because the requirement is "at least half". With four children, two eligible children in Australia meets the first limb; with five children, you would need three, since half of five is two and a half.
My children are spread across four countries — does that help or hurt me?
It can help under the second limb. That limb compares Australia against each other country individually, so several countries with one child each can be beaten by two children in Australia even though two is well under half of a large family.
What counts as a tie, and does a tie pass?
A tie fails. The second limb requires more eligible children in Australia than in any other single country, so if another country has the same number as Australia, that limb is not met and you would need the "at least half" limb instead.
Which documents show each child's country of permanent residence?
The Department's document list for this visa asks for evidence of each child's Australian citizenship or country of permanent residence, alongside evidence of your relationship to each child. Together these let the count be done child by child.
Can a child be left out of the calculation?
Yes, in defined circumstances, and the Department gives a death certificate as the example of the evidence used. Removing a child changes both the total and the halfway point, so it can move a family from "just short" to "just over".
Is passing the balance of family test the same as having a sponsor?
No. Sponsorship is a separate requirement: the sponsor must be settled and usually resident in Australia and aged 18 or over, and the sponsorship must be approved. The family test is a separate count over all of your children and step-children.