Parent Visa Australia - Compare Your Pathway Before You Commit
Parent visas are a pathway choice involving offshore or onshore lodgement, permanent or temporary outcomes, government charges paid in instalments, the balance of family test, sponsorship, health and character requirements, and long Home Affairs queues.
Subclass 103Subclass 143Subclass 173Subclass 804Subclass 864Subclass 884Subclass 870 temporary optionBalance 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)
Stay for up to 2 years and, if eligible, apply separately for subclass 143 before the 173 expires. This two-stage route spreads charges but generally costs more overall than applying directly for subclass 143.
Subclass 143 — Contributory Parent
A permanent visa with a substantially higher government charge than subclass 103. It remains capped and queued.
Subclass 103 — Parent
A lower-cost permanent pathway with a very long queue. Check the subclass location rules before applying.
Subclass 884 — Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary)
A temporary onshore pathway followed by a separate subclass 864 application if permanent residence is pursued.
Subclass 864 — Contributory Aged Parent
A permanent onshore pathway for an applicant old enough to receive the Australian Age Pension, subject to all other criteria.
Subclass 804 — Aged Parent
A lower-cost permanent onshore pathway with a very long queue.
Subclass 870 requires approved sponsorship first. A person generally cannot apply for the parent subclasses above if they have already applied for or hold a subclass 870 visa. Obtain advice before changing pathways.
Parent Visa Comparison Table as per Department of Home Affairs
| Subclass | Application setting | Outcome | Home Affairs starting cost — single applicant | Lodgement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 103 | In or outside Australia, subject to criteria | Permanent | From AUD 8,665 over 2 instalments | Online |
| 143 | In or outside Australia, subject to criteria | Permanent | From AUD 49,900 over 2 instalments | Online |
| 173 | Check application and decision-location rules | Temporary — up to 2 years | From AUD 33,375 over 2 instalments | Paper |
| 804 | In Australia at application and decision | Permanent | From AUD 8,665 over 2 instalments | Online |
| 864 | In Australia at application; subclass decision rules apply | Permanent | From AUD 49,900 over 2 instalments | Online |
| 884 | In Australia, subject to criteria | Temporary — up to 2 years | From AUD 33,375 over 2 instalments | Paper |
| 870 | Temporary sponsored-parent option | 3 or 5 years at a time | Check the current estimator after sponsorship approval | Online |
Fees checked 16 August 2026. Starting costs are for one standard applicant and are not a quote. Charges vary by pathway, family composition, concessions and the date Home Affairs receives the application. Additional applicant charges, health examinations, police certificates, biometrics, translations, professional fees, an Assurance of Support bond and payment surcharges may apply.
Cost concession: from 1 July 2026, a lower cost may apply to eligible primary applicants using a valid passport from specified Pacific Island countries or Timor-Leste. Eligible accompanying family members may also receive the lower cost.
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 capped and queued. Home Affairs currently estimates approximately 15 years for a newly lodged Contributory Parent visa and approximately 33 years for a newly lodged Parent or Aged Parent visa. These are estimates, not guarantees.
As at 31 May 2026, applications were being released up to approximately November 2018.
Applications were being released around February–March 2014.
Applications were being released around February–April 2014.
Home Affairs last updated this queue information on 9 July 2026. Estimates and release dates can change with application volumes, program places and processing priorities.
Assurance of Support
An Assurance of Support (AoS) is a legal commitment to repay certain recoverable Australian Government payments received by the visa holder during the AoS period. Permanent parent visas normally require an acceptable AoS unless a specific exemption applies.
- Home Affairs will advise when the AoS is required.
- The assurer does not have to be the visa sponsor; an eligible individual, multiple people or an organisation may provide it.
- Services Australia assesses the assurer and may require a security bond.
- The AoS, visa application charges and professional fees are separate costs.
- Temporary contributory and subclass 870 arrangements have different requirements.
Costs Breakdown as per Department of Home Affairs
| Pathway | Starting charge | Planning point |
|---|---|---|
| 103 or 804 | From AUD 8,665 over 2 instalments | Lower charge; current estimate about 33 years. |
| 143 or 864 direct | From AUD 49,900 over 2 instalments | Higher charge; current contributory estimate about 15 years. |
| 173 or 884 first stage | From AUD 33,375 over 2 instalments | A separate permanent application is required; the two-stage route generally costs more overall. |
| 870 temporary | Use the official estimator | Approved sponsorship first; no direct permanent residence and a maximum 10 years total stay. |
Do not budget using the first instalment alone. Confirm the price on the lodgement date and allow for additional applicants, medicals, police checks, biometrics, translations, AoS bond and payment surcharges.
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
Identity and relationships
- Passport identity pages, national identity documents and name-change evidence.
- Birth, adoption, marriage, divorce and civil records establishing family relationships.
Sponsor and Balance of Family evidence
- Sponsor status, settled evidence and required sponsorship information.
- Relationship, citizenship, permanent residence and usual-residence evidence for every child and stepchild.
- Evidence supporting any permitted exclusion from the test.
Other applicant evidence
- Partner and dependant identity, relationship, custody and dependency records.
- Health examinations, police certificates and biometrics when requested.
- Assurance of Support evidence when requested for a permanent parent visa.
- Evidence concerning prior visas, refusals, cancellations or government debts where relevant.
- English translations of all non-English documents, following the subclass rules for translator details, certified copies and original police certificates.
Requirements vary by subclass and history. Do not obtain time-sensitive police or health checks earlier than Home Affairs instructs.
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?
Home Affairs currently estimates approximately 15 years for a newly lodged Contributory Parent visa and approximately 33 years for a newly lodged Parent or Aged Parent visa. As at 31 May 2026, releases had reached about November 2018 for contributory cases and early 2014 for subclasses 103 and 804. These are estimates, not guarantees.
What is the balance of family test?
Generally, at least half of the parent’s children and stepchildren must be eligible children, or more eligible children must live in Australia than in any other single country. Evidence is required for every child. The test cannot be waived.
What is the difference between a contributory and non-contributory parent visa?
Contributory visas have much higher charges but a current estimated queue of about 15 years, compared with about 33 years for subclasses 103 and 804. The temporary 173 and 884 pathways require separate permanent-stage applications and generally cost more overall than applying directly for 143 or 864.
Can my parent stay in Australia while waiting for their visa?
It depends on the subclass, current visa and conditions, and whether a valid onshore application can be lodged. An eligible onshore aged-parent applicant may receive a bridging visa, but this is not automatic. A subclass 173 application does not provide an associated bridging visa.
What is the Assurance of Support and who can provide it?
An AoS is a commitment to repay certain recoverable government payments. Permanent parent visas normally require an acceptable AoS unless exempt. The assurer need not be the sponsor and may be an eligible individual, multiple people or an organisation. Home Affairs will advise when it is required.
Official fee and source links
Information checked against the Department of Home Affairs on 16 August 2026. Fees, queues and procedures can change.