Parent Visa Australia - Compare Your Pathway Before You Commit
Parent visas are not one decision. They are a pathway choice involving offshore or onshore lodgement, contributory or non-contributory charges, balance of family test risk, sponsorship, health and character checks, and long Home Affairs queue settings.
Subclass 103Subclass 143Subclass 173Subclass 804Subclass 864Subclass 884Balance of family test
Parent Visa At A Glance
Parents of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen may have a parent visa pathway, subject to the relevant subclass criteria.
Most parent pathways require at least half of the parent’s children to be eligible children, or more eligible children in Australia than in any other single country.
Home Affairs says parent visas are capped and queued. New Contributory Parent visa estimates are around 15 years; Parent and Aged Parent estimates are around 33 years.
Parent Visa Pathway Tree
Subclass 173 – Contributory Parent (Temporary)
A temporary contributory parent pathway that can be used as the first stage before applying for the permanent subclass 143 pathway.
Subclass 143 – Contributory Parent (Permanent)
A permanent contributory parent pathway. Families should plan for significant government charges and possible second-instalment costs.
Subclass 103 – Parent Visa
A permanent parent visa pathway with a lower starting charge and a very long Home Affairs queue.
Subclass 884 – Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary)
A temporary contributory aged parent pathway that can be used as the first stage before applying for subclass 864.
Subclass 864 – Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent)
A permanent contributory aged parent pathway. The applicant must meet aged parent settings and relevant Home Affairs requirements.
Subclass 804 – Aged Parent Visa
A permanent aged parent pathway. The applicant must be old enough to receive the Australian age pension.
The right parent visa Australia pathway depends on the parent’s location, age, balance of family position, sponsor eligibility, timing tolerance and cost strategy.
Parent Visa Comparison Table as per Department of Home Affairs
| Subclass | Apply from | Type | Primary applicant charge shown by estimator | Processing overview | Pathway to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 173 | Offshore | Temporary | AUD 3,395.00 | Contributory parent queue; Home Affairs estimates new Contributory Parent visas around 15 years | 143 |
| 143 | Offshore | Permanent | AUD 5,040.00 | Contributory parent queue; second instalment may apply | Permanent residence |
| 103 | Offshore | Permanent | AUD 5,280.00 | Parent visa queue; Home Affairs estimates Parent and Aged Parent visas around 33 years | Permanent residence |
| 884 | Onshore | Temporary | AUD 5,040.00 | Contributory aged parent queue; applicant must meet aged parent settings | 864 |
| 864 | Onshore | Permanent | AUD 5,040.00 | Contributory aged parent queue; second instalment may apply | Permanent residence |
| 804 | Onshore | Permanent | AUD 5,280.00 | Aged Parent queue; applicant must be old enough to receive the Australian age pension | Permanent residence |
These are primary applicant charges shown by the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator in the checked scenario. Home Affairs warns that the estimator does not include second instalments payable for some visas. Always check the official estimator and current pricing table before lodging.
Eligibility Requirements
- Eligible child or sponsor: parent visa pathways generally require an eligible child who is a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Balance of family test: Home Affairs measures the parent’s family links to Australia and states the test is not waived, even in compelling or exceptional circumstances.
- Sponsorship: Home Affairs must approve the sponsorship where sponsorship is required.
- Health and character: applicants and family members must meet relevant health and character requirements.
- Australian Government debts: debts to the Australian Government must be repaid or under an approved arrangement where the subclass requires it.
- Aged parent pathways: subclass 804, 864 and 884 pathways involve aged parent settings, including being old enough to receive the Australian age pension where required.
Queue Estimates
Parent visas are subject to a strictly managed queue. Home Affairs releases places in the order applications were lodged. Current queue estimates as at 31 March 2026 are:
| Visa Subclass | Estimated Wait | Queue Released To |
|---|---|---|
| Contributory Parent (Subclass 143 / 173) | At least 12 years | November 2018 |
| Parent Visa (Subclass 103) | At least 29 years | July 2013 |
| Aged Parent (Subclass 804) | At least 29 years | December 2012 |
Source: Department of Home Affairs, as at 31 March 2026. Queue estimates are indicative only and subject to change.
Assurance of Support
An Assurance of Support (AoS) is a legal commitment to repay certain government payments made to a visa holder. It is required for contributory parent visas and some other parent pathways. The assurer need not be the same person as the sponsor.
The assurer lodges the AoS application with Services Australia and obtains a Customer Reference Number (CRN). A security bond is paid at this stage.
Once the AoS is approved by Services Australia, the assurer must notify Home Affairs of the CRN within 28 days of receiving the request. Failure to notify within this window can affect the visa application.
The AoS period is 10 years for Contributory Parent visa holders (Subclass 143). During this period the assurer is legally responsible for repaying certain Centrelink payments if the visa holder accesses them.
Costs Breakdown as per Department of Home Affairs
| Subclass | Pathway | Primary applicant charge shown by estimator | Cost note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subclass 173 | Contributory Parent (Temporary) – Offshore | AUD 3,395.00 | Can lead to subclass 143. Additional applicant charges, second instalments, card surcharges and professional fees are separate. |
| Subclass 143 | Contributory Parent (Permanent) – Offshore | AUD 5,040.00 | Permanent contributory parent pathway. Additional applicant charges, second instalments, card surcharges and professional fees are separate. |
| Subclass 103 | Parent Visa – Offshore | AUD 5,280.00 | Permanent non-contributory pathway. Additional applicant charges, second instalments, card surcharges and professional fees are separate. |
| Subclass 884 | Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) – Onshore | AUD 5,040.00 | Can lead to subclass 864. Additional applicant charges, second instalments, card surcharges and professional fees are separate. |
| Subclass 864 | Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent) – Onshore | AUD 5,040.00 | Permanent contributory aged parent pathway. Additional applicant charges, second instalments, card surcharges and professional fees are separate. |
| Subclass 804 | Aged Parent Visa – Onshore | AUD 5,280.00 | Permanent aged parent pathway. Additional applicant charges, second instalments, card surcharges and professional fees are separate. |
Professional fees: Pacific Visa Group professional fees are quoted separately after a consultation and depend on the pathway, complexity, family composition, evidence issues and level of representation required.
Strategic Issues To Decide Before Lodging
- Contributory or non-contributory: the lower-charge pathway can involve a much longer queue; the contributory pathway can involve significant second-instalment cost.
- Temporary-to-permanent: 173 to 143 and 884 to 864 pathways may suit families who want to stage the pathway, but the total cost and timing should be checked before lodging.
- Onshore aged parent strategy: onshore options require close attention to age, location, current visa conditions and whether an application can validly be lodged.
- Balance of family test risk: this should be mapped before spending money on forms, translations, health checks or professional preparation.
- Visitor visa interaction: travelling to Australia while considering a parent visa needs careful advice because conditions and long-term intentions can matter.
Evidence And Documents
- Parent and sponsor identity documents.
- Birth certificates and family relationship evidence connecting parent, child and stepchild relationships.
- Evidence of each child’s citizenship, permanent residence or usual country of residence for balance of family test purposes.
- Sponsor status and settlement evidence.
- Documents relevant to health, character, assurance of support and Australian Government debt issues.
- Any previous visa history, refusals, withdrawals or bridging visa concerns.
Why Pacific Visa Group
We compare parent visa 103, contributory parent visa 143, 173, aged parent visa 804, contributory aged parent visa 864 and 884 before you commit.
We map children, stepchildren and eligible-child issues against the Home Affairs balance of family test.
We separate government charges, second-instalment risk, professional fees and queue expectations so the decision is commercially clear.
Related visa services
Ready To Compare Parent Visa Pathways?
Book a consultation to review balance of family, sponsor eligibility, onshore and offshore options, government charges and timing before choosing a parent visa pathway.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a parent visa take to process?
Processing times depend on which subclass you apply for. Contributory Parent visas (Subclass 143/173) currently have an estimated queue wait of at least 12 years, with the queue released to November 2018 as at 31 March 2026. Non-contributory Parent visas (Subclass 103) have a queue wait of at least 29 years, with the queue released to July 2013. Aged Parent visas (Subclass 804) have a similar wait of at least 29 years. These figures are indicative only and subject to change based on visa allocation decisions.
What is the balance of family test?
The balance of family test is a requirement under Australian migration law that measures a parent’s family links to Australia compared with other countries. To pass the test, at least half of the parent’s children must be settled Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens — or more children must live in Australia than in any other single country. The test applies to most parent visa subclasses and cannot be waived, even in compelling or exceptional circumstances.
What is the difference between a contributory and non-contributory parent visa?
The key differences are cost and processing time. Contributory parent visas (Subclass 143/173) attract a significantly higher government charge — often over $40,000 per applicant — in exchange for a shorter estimated queue wait of around 12 years. Non-contributory parent visas (Subclass 103) have a much lower government charge but come with an estimated queue wait of 29 years or more. There is also a temporary contributory pathway (Subclass 173) that allows parents to live in Australia while waiting for the permanent stage-two visa (Subclass 143) to be processed.
Can my parent stay in Australia while waiting for their visa?
It depends on the visa subclass and bridging visa entitlements. If your parent applied onshore for the Subclass 804 (Aged Parent) or Subclass 864 (Contributory Aged Parent), they may be entitled to remain in Australia on a Bridging Visa A while their application is assessed. Applicants lodging offshore (Subclass 103 or 143) must be outside Australia until invited to enter. The Subclass 173 temporary contributory parent visa is specifically designed to allow parents to live in Australia while the permanent application is in the queue. Each situation is different and we recommend seeking advice before lodging.
What is the Assurance of Support and who can provide it?
An Assurance of Support (AoS) is a legal commitment made to the Australian Government to repay certain social security payments if the visa holder accesses them during the AoS period. It is required for contributory parent visas (Subclass 143/173). The AoS period for Subclass 143 holders is 10 years. Importantly, the assurer does not need to be the same person as the sponsor — any eligible person can act as assurer. The assurer applies through Services Australia, pays a security bond, and must notify Home Affairs of the Customer Reference Number (CRN) within 28 days of receiving the request.
Official fee and source links
Use these official government links to verify parent visa eligibility, balance of family rules, queue information and current charges before relying on any visa detail.
- Home Affairs – Parent visa subclass 103
- Home Affairs – Contributory Parent visa subclass 143
- Home Affairs – Contributory Parent Temporary visa subclass 173
- Home Affairs – Aged Parent visa subclass 804
- Home Affairs – Contributory Aged Parent visa subclass 864
- Home Affairs – Contributory Aged Parent Temporary visa subclass 884
- Home Affairs – Balance of family test
- Home Affairs – Parent visa queue release dates
- Home Affairs – Visa pricing estimator
- Home Affairs – Current visa pricing table