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Australian Parent Visas
Reviewed by Mohammad Saghir Khan, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 1170510)Last reviewed:
Australia has permanent parent visas and a temporary option. Contributory parent visas (subclass 143, or 173 then 143, and 864/884 for parents of pension age in Australia) cost more but have a shorter wait, which Home Affairs estimates at about 18 years for new applications. Non-contributory parent visas (subclass 103 and 804) cost less, but the estimated wait is about 42 years. All permanent parent visas require the balance of family test and an Assurance of Support. The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870) lets parents visit for 3 or 5 years at a time, up to 10 years, without the balance of family test.
Parent Visas at a Glance
| Permanent options | Contributory Parent 143 (or 173 then 143), Contributory Aged Parent 864 (or 884 then 864), Parent 103, Aged Parent 804 |
|---|---|
| Temporary option | Sponsored Parent (Temporary) 870: 3 or 5 years per visa, up to 10 years |
| Sponsor | A settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen child, aged 18 or over |
| Balance of family test | Required for permanent parent visas, not for the 870 |
| Estimated wait | Contributory about 18 years; non-contributory about 42 years (Home Affairs, October 2026) |
| Government charges | Contributory Parent 143: from AUD 49,900 over 2 instalments for one parent. Parent 103: from AUD 8,665. Sponsored Parent 870: AUD 6,370 for 3 years or AUD 12,440 for 5 years (from 1 July 2026) |
| 2026–27 places | 7,060 parent places, down from 8,500 |
Compare the Parent Visas
| Visa | Type | Where to apply | Key points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contributory Parent (143) | Permanent | In or outside Australia | Higher cost, shorter queue. Can be applied for directly or after a 173 |
| Contributory Parent (Temporary) (173) | Temporary, 2 years | In or outside Australia (outside at decision) | Spreads the cost over two visas, then apply for the 143 |
| Contributory Aged Parent (864) and Temporary (884) | Permanent / temporary | In Australia | For parents old enough for the Age Pension |
| Parent (103) | Permanent | In or outside Australia | Lower cost, very long queue |
| Aged Parent (804) | Permanent | In Australia | For parents of Age Pension age, very long queue |
| Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (870) | Temporary, 3 or 5 years | Outside Australia (with limited exceptions) | No balance of family test, no work, no path to permanent residence |
The Balance of Family Test
For permanent parent visas, the parent must show that at least half of their children (including step-children) live permanently in Australia, or that more of their children live permanently in Australia than in any other single country.
Sponsor and Assurance of Support
- The sponsor is usually the parent's child (or the child's partner) who is a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, aged 18 or over.
- The sponsor agrees to provide support, accommodation and financial help for the parent's first 2 years in Australia.
- Permanent parent visas also need an Assurance of Support: a legal commitment, backed by a bond, to repay certain social security payments. You are told when to provide it.
Queues and Waiting Times
Parent visas are capped. The 2026–27 Migration Program has 7,060 parent places, down from 8,500. Once an application is assessed, it joins a queue for release of a place. Home Affairs estimates that new contributory parent applications may take around 18 years and new non-contributory applications around 42 years. Under Ministerial Direction 117, contributory parent visas are processed ahead of non-contributory parent visas.
The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (870)
- Lets parents, step-parents and parents-in-law stay for 3 or 5 years per visa, up to 10 years in total.
- The child must be approved as a sponsor first. Permanent residents and New Zealand citizens need to have usually lived in Australia for 4 years, and the household must meet an income test of AUD 83,454.80 in taxable income.
- Parents need private health insurance from an Australian insurer, cannot work, and must spend at least 90 days in a row outside Australia before applying for another 870.
- Applying for or holding an 870 stops the parent from applying for a permanent parent visa.
- Charges from 1 July 2026: AUD 1,515 first instalment, plus a second instalment of AUD 4,855 for 3 years or AUD 10,925 for 5 years.
- Home Affairs figures updated on 29 September 2026 show 90% of 870 visa applications decided within 9 months, and 90% of sponsorship applications within 4 months.
Choose carefully. Applying for an 870 rules out permanent parent visas, and switching between contributory and non-contributory visas affects your place in the queue. Get advice on the right long-term plan before you apply.
How to Apply
- Check the balance of family testList all of the parent's children and where each lives permanently.
- Choose permanent or temporaryCompare cost, waiting time and whether the parent needs to stay in Australia now, using the 870 if appropriate.
- Confirm the sponsorCheck that the sponsoring child is settled and, for the 870, is approved and meets the income test.
- Lodge the applicationApply with identity documents, evidence of the parent-child relationship and the sponsor's documents, and pay the first instalment.
- Health, character and Assurance of SupportComplete health examinations and police checks, and provide the Assurance of Support when asked.
- Pay the second instalment and receive the visaWhen a place is available, Home Affairs asks for the second instalment before granting the visa.
How Aussie ASEAN Can Help
We compare every parent visa option for your family, including cost, waiting time and the impact of choosing an 870, and check the balance of family test and sponsor requirements. We then prepare and lodge the application and manage it through the queue.
Free tools for this visa
Related visas
Every case is different. Talk to a Registered Migration Agent about your Parent Visas before you lodge.
Book a consultationSources: Home Affairs: About parent visas · Balance of family test · Parent visa queue and processing · Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (870) · Migration Program planning levels
Frequently Asked Questions
Plain-English answers to the questions we are asked most often.
Which parent visa is fastest?
Among permanent visas, contributory parent visas (143 and 864) are processed ahead of non-contributory visas. Home Affairs estimates about 18 years for new contributory applications, compared with about 42 years for the Parent (103) and Aged Parent (804) visas. The temporary 870 is much faster, with 90% decided within 9 months.
What is the balance of family test?
At least half of the parent's children must live permanently in Australia, or more of their children must live permanently in Australia than in any other single country. Step-children count. It applies to permanent parent visas but not to the 870.
How much does a contributory parent visa cost?
From 1 July 2026, the Contributory Parent visa (143) costs from AUD 49,900 for a single applicant, paid in 2 instalments: AUD 6,300 when you apply and the rest before the visa is granted. Costs may be lower if you already hold a 173. Health checks and the Assurance of Support bond are extra.
Can my parents work in Australia?
Parents on permanent parent visas, and on the temporary 173 and 884, can work. Parents on the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (870) cannot work.
What is the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa?
The 870 lets parents stay in Australia for 3 or 5 years at a time, up to 10 years in total. The sponsoring child must be approved first and meet an income test. There is no balance of family test, but the visa does not lead to permanent residence.
Can my parents apply for a permanent visa after an 870?
No. A parent who has applied for or holds an 870 cannot apply for a permanent parent visa. Consider this carefully before choosing the 870.
Can my parents stay in Australia while they wait?
For the Aged Parent (804) and Contributory Aged Parent (864/884) visas, parents of Age Pension age apply in Australia and may receive a bridging visa. For other parent visas, they generally wait outside Australia and visit on a Visitor visa.
How many parent visas are granted each year?
The 2026–27 Migration Program has 7,060 parent places, down from 8,500 in 2025–26. Because many more people apply, there are long queues.
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