Parent Resident Visa expression of interest (EOI) selection process
To apply for a Parent Resident Visa, you must first submit an expression of interest (EOI). The EOI goes into the parent category EOI pool. When we select your EOI, if you meet the requirements, you can be invited to apply for the visa.
Note
How we select Parent Resident Visa expressions of interest (EOIs) changed on 5 October 2026. From 5 October, every year we will select approximately:
- 90% of EOIs based on the date order they were submitted
- 10% of EOIs based on a random ballot.
The first selection using this new model will be on 10 November 2026. The number of Parent Resident Visas we can approve each year and the visa criteria will not change.
Check the following page for updates about the next EOI selection and common questions about the changes.
2026 changes to the Parent Resident Visa EOI selection process
Read the news announcement on 5 October 2026.
Parent Resident Visa category hybrid selection process now in place
Before you submit an EOI
Check what information you need to provide
You do not need to provide any documents in your EOI, but you will need to provide details about how you, and your partner if included, meet the visa requirements.
You can only have 1 EOI in the pool at a time. Check that you understand these requirements before submitting the EOI form.
Organise ahead for the next EOI selection
We make a selection 4 times a year. We email out updates for when EOI draws occur each year.
To be included in a ballot draw, your EOI must be submitted by the last day of the month before the selection.
For example, submit your EOI on or before 31 July to be in an August selection.
How the selection works
- Selections occur 4 months each year, and generally take place on the second Tuesday of the relevant month.
- To be included in a selection, your EOI must be submitted by the last day of the month before the selection. For example, submit your EOI on or before 31 July to be in an August selection.
- We select enough to reach 2,500 visa approvals each year.
- You can submit your EOI online.
Note
You can only be included in 1 EOI. If your EOI in the pool includes someone already in another EOI, we will contact you to confirm which EOI you would like us to remove.
If you do not respond or we cannot contact you, your most recently submitted EOI will be removed from the pool and we will notify you.
What happens when you submit your EOI
Parent category EOI pool
First-time applicants
When you submit your EOI, it joins the parent category EOI pool for the visa. The EOIs are queued based on the date order that they were submitted.
If your current EOI did not expire before 5 October 2026
Your EOI was transferred into the parent category EOI pool. We will email you after 5 October 2026 with an update about your EOI.
If you resubmitted an EOI before 5 October 2026
Your EOI will have been transferred to the parent category EOI pool.
We will email you after 5 October 2026 with an update about your EOI. Check that your email contact details are kept up to date.
Selection of EOIs from the pool
How is the selection organised?
EOIs are selected in 2 ways from the parent category EOI pool — by date order and a ballot draw.
The first selection is from the pool. Approximately 90% of EOIs selected from the pool are based on the date order they were submitted (with the earliest selected first).
The second selection is based on a random ballot draw from the pool. Approximately 10% of EOIs are selected this way.
What happens when your EOI is selected
Once EOIs are selected, they go through a checking process.
After we check your EOI, you will either be invited to apply for the Parent Resident Visa or advised if your EOI will be declined.
Check that your email contact details are kept up to date.
If you need to update the information in your EOI, check how to do this on the page 'Update or withdraw your Parent Resident Visa expression of interest (EOI)'.
Update or withdraw your Parent Resident Visa expression of interest (EOI)
If your EOI is not selected and how to stay in the pool
To keep your EOI in the parent category EOI pool, you must complete the 'Confirmation of Parent Resident Visa expression of interest (EOI)' form within 6 months of your EOI's 2-year anniversary date.
To work out your deadline, check the date your current EOI was submitted. You must submit your confirmation form within 6 months of your EOI's 2-year anniversary date.
Example
- You submitted your EOI on 1 May 2026. Your next 2-year anniversary is on 1 May 2028.
- You have up to 6 months from the anniversary date to confirm you want to stay in the pool. Six months from 1 May 2028 is 1 November 2028.
- Therefore, you must submit your confirmation form before midnight 1 November 2028.
If you do not confirm with us within the 6-month timeframe, your EOI will expire and be removed from the pool.
Confirmation of Parent Resident Visa expression of interest (EOI)