Parent Visa Australia: Permanent and Temporary Options

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Parent Visa Australia

If your children have settled in Australia as citizens or permanent residents, there are several visa options that can bring you here, either to visit for a long stretch or to live permanently. This page explains every parent visa subclass, what each one costs, how long the wait really is, and who qualifies, so you can work out which pathway fits your family.

What Is a Parent Visa?

A parent visa lets the parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen come to Australia to join their family. Some parent visas are temporary and let your parents stay for a set number of years. Others are permanent and give them the right to live here for the rest of their lives. The right one for you depends on your age, your finances, how long you’re willing to wait, and whether you want to settle permanently or just spend longer visits together.

Our registered migration agents in Melbourne help families work through the parent visa process honestly. We’re upfront about the real costs and waiting times, we check your eligibility before you spend anything, and we manage the application from lodgement through to grant.

Parent visas sit within Australia’s wider family visa program, which also covers partner visas and other family visas.

Permanent vs Temporary Parent Visas

The first choice most families face is between a permanent visa and a temporary one, and it usually comes down to time, money and what your parents actually want.

Permanent parent visas (subclasses 103, 143, 804 and 864) give your parents the right to live in Australia indefinitely. Once granted, they can enrol in Medicare and work without restriction, and they can apply for citizenship later once they meet the residence rules. The catch is cost and waiting time. The cheaper permanent visas have queues stretching close to 30 years, while the faster contributory versions cost tens of thousands of dollars per parent.

Temporary parent visas (subclasses 870 and 600) don’t lead to permanent residency, but they’re far quicker and cheaper. They suit families who want their parents nearby for extended periods without the wait or the expense of a permanent visa. Your parents won’t get Medicare or work rights on these visas, and they’ll need private health insurance for their stay.

Plenty of families use both. It’s common to lodge a permanent contributory application and, because the queue is so long, use a temporary or visitor visa so parents can spend real time in Australia while they wait.

Parent Visa Options in Australia

There are six parent visa subclasses in use. Here’s how each one works.

Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143)

The 143 is the permanent contributory parent visa, and it's the one most families choose when they want a permanent result without waiting decades. You generally apply from outside Australia and need to be offshore when it's granted. The application charge is split into two parts: a smaller first instalment of around $4,990 per applicant when you lodge, and a much larger second instalment of about $43,600 per applicant later, once your place in the queue comes up. That brings the total to roughly $48,000 per parent. Once granted, your parent can live in Australia permanently, enrol in Medicare and work without restriction. Fees are indexed each year, so we'll confirm the current figures for your situation.

Parent Visa (Subclass 103)

The 103 is the non-contributory permanent parent visa. The application charge is far lower, around $5,000 per applicant, but the trade-off is the wait. Processing currently runs close to 30 years, so in practice it only suits younger parents who can wait a very long time. You apply from outside Australia. Because of the queue, many families who first consider the 103 end up choosing the contributory 143 instead.

Contributory Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 864)

The 864 is the contributory version of the aged parent visa, for parents who have reached Australian age pension age and are already in Australia. Like the 143, it costs around $48,000 per applicant but is processed far faster than the non-contributory option. Because you apply onshore, your parent is usually granted a bridging visa and can stay in Australia while the application is processed. Once granted, it gives permanent residency.

Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 804)

The 804 is the non-contributory permanent visa for parents who are already in Australia and have reached age pension age. The application charge is low, but like the 103 the wait runs for decades. Your parent can usually stay in Australia on a bridging visa while it's processed, which is the main reason some families still lodge it. It mainly suits parents who are already onshore and meet the aged parent criteria.

Visitor Visa for Parents (Subclass 600)

If your parents just want to visit rather than move here, the subclass 600 Sponsored Family stream works as a visitor visa for parents. It lets them visit for up to 12 months at a time. It doesn't lead to permanent residency, but it's much faster and cheaper than the permanent options and it's a straightforward way to have your parents around for a longer stay. As the sponsor, you may be asked to provide a bond in some cases.

Parent Visa Eligibility Requirements

Every parent visa has its own rules, but a few requirements apply across the board. Getting these right before you lodge is where a registered agent saves you the most time and money, because some of them can’t be waived once you’ve applied.

Balance of Family Test

Every permanent parent visa requires the parent to pass the balance of family test. This is a straightforward numbers test with no discretion and no waiver, even in compelling circumstances. To pass, either at least half of your children must live permanently in Australia as citizens or permanent residents, or more of your children must live in Australia than in any other single country. All of your children count, including stepchildren and adopted children, and children living overseas count against you. This test is where many parent applications fall down, so it's worth mapping your whole family accurately before you lodge.

Sponsor Requirements

Your parent needs a sponsor, which is usually you as their child, or your partner. The sponsor has to be a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, generally aged 18 or over, and usually resident in Australia for at least two years before the application. For the temporary 870 visa, the sponsor has to be approved first, before the parent can apply.

Health and Character Requirements

All parent visa applicants have to meet Australia's health and character requirements. Your parents will need health examinations, and because most applicants are older, these are assessed closely. They'll also need police clearances from every country they've lived in for 12 months or more over the past 10 years. Health is usually assessed near the end of the process rather than at lodgement, so if a parent's health changes during a long wait, it can come up at that point.

Assurance of Support

Every permanent parent visa also requires an Assurance of Support, or AOS, lodged with Services Australia. It's a legal commitment by an Australian resident, usually the sponsoring child, to repay the government for certain welfare payments the parent might claim during a set period after the visa is granted. The assurer has to pass an income test, and the assurance is backed by a refundable bond held through the Commonwealth Bank.

How much the bond is and how long it's held depends on the subclass. For the contributory visas (143 and 864), the bond is $10,000 for one parent or $14,000 for two, held for 10 years. For the non-contributory visas (103 and 804), it's $5,000 for one parent or $7,000 for two, held for two years. The bond is refunded at the end of the period if your parents haven't claimed any recoverable payments. One thing worth knowing: the assurer's liability isn't capped at the bond, so if a parent claims more than the bond covers, the assurer is liable for the difference. We walk both the parent and the sponsoring child through what the AOS means before you lodge, so everyone understands the commitment.

Parent Visa Costs

Parent visa costs vary widely between the contributory and non-contributory options.

The non-contributory visas (103 and 804) are cheap upfront, around $5,000 per applicant, but come with waits of close to 30 years. The contributory visas (143 and 864) cost far more, roughly $48,000 per applicant split across two instalments, but they’re processed much faster. The large second instalment, currently about $43,600 per parent, is only requested once your application is close to grant, so you’re not paying the full amount at lodgement.
On top of the visa charges, budget for health examinations, police clearances, certified translations, the Assurance of Support bond, and agent or legal fees if you use them. The temporary visas are far cheaper: around $5,700 to $11,500 for the 870 depending on length, and a few hundred dollars for a 600 visitor visa.

These charges are indexed and change over time, usually each July, so we’ll give you the current figures for your situation. You can also check them on the Department of Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator, and you can see how we charge for our own work on our fees page.

Parent Visa Processing Times

Processing times are the hardest part of the parent visa system, and they’re the main reason families choose one subclass over another.

The permanent parent program is capped at 8,500 places a year across all subclasses, with most of those going to contributory applications. Because demand runs well ahead of the cap, applications sit in a queue. As things stand in 2026, the Department is releasing contributory applications lodged around 2018, which means a new contributory 143 or 864 application today has a realistic wait of about 14 years from lodgement to grant. That’s long, but it’s far shorter than the non-contributory 103 and 804 visas, where the wait runs close to 30 years.

The temporary visas are a different story. A subclass 870 is usually decided within months rather than years, and a 600 visitor visa is faster again. That’s why so many families pair a long-term permanent application with a temporary visa, so their parents can spend real time in Australia while the permanent visa works through the queue.

These timeframes shift as the program caps and demand change, so we’ll give you the current picture for your subclass when we assess your case.

How to Apply for a Parent Visa

The application process depends on the subclass, but the broad steps are similar for the permanent visas.

First, we check that your parent passes the balance of family test and that you meet the sponsor requirements. This is the step that matters most, because the test can’t be waived once you’ve lodged. Next, we gather the documents: passports and birth certificates, evidence of your status in Australia, proof of your relationship, and police clearances. We then lodge the application and pay the first visa charge, which secures your queue date.

After that, the application sits in the queue. When your place comes up, the Department asks for health examinations, the second instalment for contributory visas, and the Assurance of Support. Your parent needs to be in the right place at the time of decision, onshore or offshore depending on the subclass, so timing matters here.

Because the stakes are high and the waits are long, a small mistake at lodgement can cost years. We manage the whole process so it’s done right the first time. Book a free consultation and we’ll help you work out which parent visa pathway makes sense for your family.

Parent Visa FAQs

Can I bring both my parents to Australia?

Yes. Both parents can usually be included in one application, with one as the main applicant and the other as their partner. This is generally more cost-effective than lodging two separate applications, though you’ll still pay charges for each parent.

Which parent visa is the fastest?

For a permanent result, the contributory visas (143 and 864) are the fastest, though fast still means around 14 years at the moment. If you want your parents here quickly and don’t need permanent residency, the temporary 870 or a 600 visitor visa is decided in months.

Can my parents work on a parent visa?

On the permanent visas, yes. Once the visa is granted your parents can work without restriction. On the temporary 870 and the 600 visitor visa, they can’t.

Do my parents get Medicare?

Once a permanent parent visa is granted, your parents can enrol in Medicare. On the temporary 870 and 600 visas they can’t, which is why private health insurance is required for those.

What is the balance of family test?

It’s a numbers test that every permanent parent visa applicant has to pass. Either at least half your children live permanently in Australia, or more of your children live here than in any other single country. It can’t be waived, so it’s worth checking before you lodge.

Is there really a 10-year parent visa?

The closest option is the subclass 870, which lets your parents stay for up to five years at a time, up to a total of 10 years. It’s temporary and doesn’t lead to permanent residency, but it lets your parents spend long stretches in Australia.

Can I apply for a permanent visa and have my parents visit while they wait?

Yes, and it’s common. Because the permanent queues are so long, many families lodge a 143 and use visitor visas or an 870 so their parents can be in Australia during the wait.

Want to Bring Your Parents to Australia?

Book a free 30-minute consultation with one of our registered parent visa agents in Melbourne. We will assess your eligibility, explain all your options, and give you an honest picture of the costs and timeframes involved.