Overview
Parent visas let a parent of a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen live in Australia permanently. Contributory Parent visas (subclasses 143 and 173 offshore, 864 and 884 onshore) carry a much larger second-instalment charge but Home Affairs estimates around 18 years for new applications; non-contributory Parent visas (103 offshore, 804 onshore) are far cheaper but the estimate is around 42 years. The 2026-27 Migration Program allocates 7,060 Parent places. The parent must pass the balance-of-family test, and the sponsoring child provides an Assurance of Support — a 10-year bond for contributory visas, 2 years for non-contributory.
The big decision is contributory vs non-contributory. Contributory parent visas cost much more but Home Affairs estimates around 18 years for new applications; non-contributory visas are cheaper but the estimate is around 33 years. Either way the queue is long, grants are capped, and the right plan usually combines a permanent application with a temporary visa so parents can spend time in Australia meanwhile.
Which parent visa subclass applies?
There are six: the Contributory Parent (143) and its two-step temporary version (173) for parents outside Australia; the Contributory Aged Parent (864) and two-step (884) for parents in Australia who are age-pension age (67); and the non-contributory Parent (103) offshore and Aged Parent (804) onshore. The table above compares them. Onshore applicants (804, 864, 884) get a bridging visa and can remain in Australia — with Medicare — while they wait; offshore applicants wait overseas.
Who passes the balance-of-family test?
At least half of the parent’s children must live lawfully and permanently in Australia, or more children must live in Australia than in any other single country. A parent with two children, one in Australia and one elsewhere, passes; a parent with three children and only one in Australia does not, unless the other two are in different countries. The sponsoring child must be settled — usually resident in Australia for at least two years.
How long is the queue, and how many places are there?
Grants are capped each program year: 6,800 contributory and 1,700 non-contributory places in 2025-26 (legislative instrument F2026L00724), and the 2026-27 Migration Program allocates 7,060 Parent places in total. Applications are released for final processing in queue-date order — as at 31 August 2026 the Department had released Contributory Parent applications queued up to November 2018, Contributory Aged Parent up to November 2020, Parent up to March 2014 and Aged Parent up to October 2014. On those numbers Home Affairs estimates (page updated 6 October 2026) around 18 years for new contributory and around 42 years for new Parent and Aged Parent applications. Ministerial Direction 117 sets the processing order within the Family stream.
What does the sponsor have to provide?
The sponsoring child (or another assurer) lodges an Assurance of Support with Services Australia before grant: 10 years with a A$10,000 bank guarantee for contributory visas (plus A$4,000 for a second adult), or 2 years with A$5,000 (plus A$2,000) for non-contributory visas. The assurer must meet an income test. For contributory visas the second-instalment charge — several tens of thousands of dollars per parent, set by Home Affairs and indexed each 1 July — is payable before grant; the first-instalment charge is the fee shown above.
What can parents do while they wait?
Parents of Australians can be granted longer-validity Visitor visas (600) — up to 5 years for parents in the 103 queue — with stays of up to 12 months in any 18-month period, or the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (870) for 3 or 5 years at a time (10 years total), which requires the sponsoring child to earn at least A$83,454.80. Neither allows work, but both can be held while a permanent application sits in the queue.
Fees and processing times shown above are sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and displayed with the date verified.
Who is eligible for the Subclass 143 visa?
- Have a child who is a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible NZ citizen (usually living in Australia for at least 2 years) who sponsors you
- Meet the balance-of-family test — at least half your children live permanently in Australia, or more live in Australia than in any other single country
- Onshore Aged Parent (804) and Contributory Aged Parent (864/884): be old enough to receive the Australian age pension (67)
- Have an Assurance of Support lodged by the time of decision — 10 years for contributory visas, 2 years for non-contributory
- Meet health and character requirements; the second-instalment charge for contributory visas is payable before grant
How much does the Subclass 143 visa cost?
The base application charge is A$4,040. An additional A$2,020 applies per applicant aged 18 or over. This is the first instalment for most applicants; a much larger second instalment is payable before grant, plus an Assurance of Support bond. Checked against the official Home Affairs pricing table on 2 October 2026. See every Subclass 143 stream's charge and processing time, or compare every visa on our Australian visa fees table. Fees are indexed each year — see the official Visa Pricing Estimator for the current figure.
How long does the Subclass 143 visa take to process?
See the official global visa processing times .
How do you apply for the Subclass 143 visa?
- Choose contributory vs non-contributory. Contributory (143/173 offshore, 864/884 onshore) costs far more but is estimated at around 18 years for new applications; non-contributory (103 offshore, 804 onshore) is cheaper but estimated at around 42 years.
- Confirm the balance-of-family test. At least half your children must live permanently in Australia, or more of them in Australia than in any other single country.
- Lodge and enter the queue. Applications that meet the basic criteria are queued by date. Onshore 804/864 applicants receive a bridging visa and can stay in Australia while they wait.
- Final processing, Assurance of Support and second instalment. When your place is reached, you complete health and character checks, your sponsor lodges the Assurance of Support with Services Australia, and (for contributory visas) you pay the second instalment before grant.
How it compares
| Subclass | Where you apply | Type | Assurance of Support | Home Affairs estimate for new applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 143 Contributory Parent | Offshore (onshore grant possible) | Permanent | 10-year bond | About 18 years |
| 173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) | Offshore | 2-year step to the 143, splitting the charge | At 143 stage | About 18 years |
| 864 Contributory Aged Parent | Onshore, age-pension age | Permanent; bridging visa while waiting | 10-year bond | About 18 years |
| 884 Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) | Onshore, age-pension age | 2-year step to the 864 | At 864 stage | About 18 years |
| 103 Parent | Offshore | Permanent | 2-year bond | About 42 years |
| 804 Aged Parent | Onshore, age-pension age | Permanent; bridging visa while waiting | 2-year bond | About 42 years |
Frequently asked questions
Why are contributory parent visas so much more expensive?
Contributory Parent visas carry a much larger second-instalment charge per parent, paid before grant, that contributes to future health and welfare costs. In exchange, Home Affairs processes them from a far shorter queue — around 18 years for new applications versus around 42 years for non-contributory visas, on the Department's published estimates. The current first-instalment charge is shown above; the second instalment is set separately by Home Affairs.
What is the balance-of-family test?
At least half of your children must live lawfully and permanently in Australia, or more of them must live in Australia than in any other single country. Step-children and adopted children count; children who have died, or whose whereabouts are unknown, are treated under specific rules.
How long do parent visas take?
Home Affairs publishes an estimated wait for new applications: around 18 years for Contributory Parent and Contributory Aged Parent visas and around 42 years for Parent and Aged Parent visas. Grants are capped each program year — 6,800 contributory and 1,700 non-contributory places in 2025-26 — and the 2026-27 Migration Program allocates 7,060 Parent places in total. Applications are released for final processing in queue-date order; as at 31 August 2026 the Department had released Contributory Parent applications queued up to November 2018, Contributory Aged Parent up to November 2020, Parent up to March 2014 and Aged Parent up to October 2014.
Can my parents stay in Australia while the application is in the queue?
Only onshore applicants for the Aged Parent (804) and Contributory Aged Parent (864/884) visas, who must be age-pension age (67), receive a bridging visa and can remain in Australia — with Medicare access — while they wait. Offshore 103 and 143 applicants wait overseas, but can visit on a longer-validity Visitor visa (600) or spend 3 to 5 years at a time on the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (870).
What is the Assurance of Support?
A legally binding commitment, lodged with Services Australia by the sponsor or another assurer, to repay any social security payments the parent receives. For contributory visas it lasts 10 years with a bank guarantee of A$10,000 for the main applicant (plus A$4,000 for a second adult); for non-contributory visas it lasts 2 years with A$5,000 (plus A$2,000). The assurer must meet an income test.
Related visas
- Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870)
- Visitor visa (Subclass 600)
- Partner visa (Subclasses 820/801 & 309/100)
- Child visa (Subclasses 101, 802 & 445)
- Prospective Marriage visa (Subclass 300)
- New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (Subclass 461)
Related guides
- Visitor Visa 600 for Parents: Long Stays, Multi-Year Validity and the Alternatives
- The medical examination for your Australian visa
- Complete guide to Australian immigration in 2026
- Visa Refused? Your Appeal Options and the ART Review
Sources
- Department of Home Affairs — Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143)
- Department of Home Affairs — Parent visa (subclass 103)
- Home Affairs — Parent visa processing priorities and queue estimates
- Federal Register of Legislation — Granting of Contributory Parent, Parent and other Family visas in 2025-26 (caps instrument)
- Services Australia — Assurance of Support