Subclass 143, 103 and 804 · Family
Parent visa.
Parent visas allow Australian citizens, permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens to sponsor a parent to live permanently in Australia. The pathway you choose will shape costs, waiting times and planning horizons — often by decades.
Find a migration agent for your parent visa application.
Registered migration agents for parent visa
788 businesses with specialisation in family visas.
Australian Study and Visa Services Pty Ltd
Perth, WA
Visaenvoy
Melbourne, VIC
AustraliaMigrate Pty Limited
Chatswood, NSW
VISAINFO Pty Ltd
Sydney, NSW
Immigration Affairs
Sydney, NSW
PAX Migration Australia
Adelaide, SA
Work Visa Lawyers
Hindmarsh, SA
Smart Study Australia PTY LTD
Sydney, NSW
Australian Immigration Agency Pty Ltd
Brisbane City, QLD
LC Migration
Canberra City, ACT
Migrationways Australia Pty Ltd
Melbourne, VIC
Immigration Gurus
Manoora, QLD
About the parent visa
Australia offers several parent visa subclasses, broadly split into two categories: contributory and non-contributory. Contributory parent visas — the Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) and the Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173) — require a significantly higher visa application charge but offer comparatively faster processing. The subclass 173 is a temporary visa that acts as a bridging pathway to the permanent subclass 143; some applicants apply for both in sequence. Non-contributory options include the Parent visa (subclass 103) and the Aged Parent visa (subclass 804, onshore) and subclass 884 (Aged Parent Temporary, onshore). The subclass 804 and 884 are available only to parents who are already in Australia and meet the aged parent definition — that is, they have reached the minimum age that would make them eligible for the Age Pension if they were Australian citizens.
The cost difference between contributory and non-contributory visas is substantial. As of 2025–26, the government visa application charge for the permanent Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) is approximately $47,755 for a primary applicant, with a second instalment (Second VAC) of around $19,420 payable when the permanent visa is about to be granted. For the non-contributory Parent visa (subclass 103), the primary charge is approximately $6,765 — but the trade-off is processing time. The queue for subclass 103 is currently measured in decades, not years. The Department of Home Affairs has publicly indicated that some non-contributory parent visa applications lodged now should not expect a decision for around 30 years or more. This is not a projection to be rounded down; it is a structural reality of how the program is capped and queued.
Every parent visa application must satisfy the balance of family test. This test requires that at least half of the applicant's children live permanently in Australia, or that more of the applicant's children live permanently in Australia than in any other single country. Demonstrating this requires documentary evidence of each child's residency status. Applicants must also be sponsored by their child (or their child's partner), and that sponsor must lodge a formal sponsorship with the Department. Contributory parent visa applicants are additionally required to provide an assurance of support (AoS) — a bond lodged with Centrelink that guarantees the Australian Government will not bear social security costs for the visa holder for a set period. The AoS bond for a contributory parent is around $10,000 for the primary applicant and $4,000 for a secondary applicant; these amounts are held for ten years and returned (without interest) if no recoverable social security payments are made during that time.
A registered migration agent can provide substantial value across a parent visa application. The cost-benefit analysis between contributory and non-contributory pathways is genuinely complex — it depends on the parent's age, health, financial circumstances, the sponsor's situation, and how long the parent is likely to need to remain in Australia. An agent can advise on which subclass to pursue, prepare the sponsorship application, manage the assurance of support process, and identify whether the parent may be eligible for a health waiver (available in limited circumstances where health costs are unlikely to exceed a threshold). Agents also assist where applications are complex — for example, where children are spread across multiple countries and the balance of family test requires careful documentation, or where a parent's health or character history may require additional submissions.
Reviewed by MIGI editorial team
Subclasses covered
Subclass 103 — Parent visa
This permanent visa lets a parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen move to Australia.
Subclass 143 — Contributory Parent visa
This permanent visa lets a parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident of Australia or eligible New Zealand citizen move to Australia.
Subclass 173 — Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa
This temporary visa lets a parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen stay temporarily in Australia.
Subclass 804 — Aged Parent visa
This permanent visa lets an aged parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen stay in Australia.
Subclass 864 — Contributory Aged Parent visa
This permanent visa lets the aged parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen stay in Australia.
Subclass 870 — Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa
This temporary visa lets a parent of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen visit Australia for up to 3 or 5 years.
Subclass 884 — Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa
This temporary visa lets the aged parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen stay temporarily in Australia.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between contributory and non-contributory parent visas?
Contributory parent visas (subclass 143 and 173) require a much higher application charge — in the range of $47,000–$48,000 for the permanent visa, plus a second instalment before grant — but are processed considerably faster than non-contributory visas. Non-contributory parent visas (subclass 103 and 804) have lower application charges but face a waiting queue that currently extends to around 30 years or more for new applicants. The right choice depends on your parent's age, health and financial circumstances. A registered migration agent can help you weigh the options.
How long does a parent visa take to process?
Processing times vary significantly by subclass. Contributory parent visas (subclass 143 and 173) are processed considerably faster — recent indicative times have ranged from several months to a few years depending on case complexity. Non-contributory parent visas (subclass 103 and 804) face a statutory queue that is currently estimated at around 30 years or more for new applications. The Department of Home Affairs allocates a capped number of places to non-contributory visas each program year. Be cautious of any source that understates how long the non-contributory queue is — it is one of the longest in the Australian immigration system.
What is the balance of family test?
The balance of family test is a requirement for all parent visa subclasses. It is satisfied when at least half of the applicant's total number of children live permanently in Australia, or when more of the applicant's children live permanently in Australia than in any other single country. Children who are deceased are excluded from the count. Step-children and legally adopted children can be counted. The test must be met at the time of application and again at the time of decision. Gathering the required documentation — particularly for applicants with children living in multiple countries — can be complex.
What is an assurance of support and how much does it cost?
An assurance of support (AoS) is a legal commitment made by a supporter (usually the sponsoring child) to the Australian Government that they will repay certain social security payments if the visa holder claims them during the AoS period. It is required for contributory parent visa applicants. The AoS is lodged with Centrelink, and requires a bond of approximately $10,000 for the primary visa holder and $4,000 for a secondary applicant (these amounts are set by the Department and subject to change). The bond is held for ten years and refunded at the end of the period if no recoverable payments were made. The AoS does not affect the parent's right to access Medicare, which operates separately.
Can a migration agent help speed up a parent visa application?
A registered migration agent cannot change the Department's processing queue or override program caps. However, they can meaningfully reduce the risk of delays caused by incomplete or incorrect applications, missing documentation, or avoidable requests for further information. For contributory parent visas, an agent can ensure the application is complete and well-prepared from the outset. For non-contributory visas, the queue is structural — but an agent can advise whether any faster alternatives exist for your circumstances, such as whether a contributory pathway is worth the additional cost. In cases involving health or character issues, an agent can advise on the merits of seeking a waiver and prepare supporting submissions.
