Family Visas
Parent Visas for Australia (subclass 103, 143, 804, 864, 870)
Parent visas are the hardest conversation we have in this office, not because the rules are complex but because the honest answer involves queues measured in years and real money. We would rather give you that answer at the start and plan around it.
Australian permanent residents and citizens can sponsor a parent for an Australian visa. The pathways divide into two broad categories: non-contributory (slower, lower government charge) and contributory (faster, higher government charge). The word "faster" is relative: even contributory parent visas have multi-year wait times for offshore applications.
Honest advice on parent visas begins with queue times. The Department publishes an estimated processing time for a new application and updates it about once a year. When we checked on 10 October 2026 it was 42 years for the Parent (103) and Aged Parent (804) visas, and 18 years for the Contributory Parent visas. Check the Department’s parent visa queue page for the current figure. The temporary contributory parent visa (subclass 870) gives parents a bridge while waiting for the permanent visa queue.
This page maps the main parent visa subclasses and the realistic options for Australian families.
PARENT VISA SUBCLASSES: WHICH IS WHICH
Subclass 103 (Non-contributory, offshore): the cheapest option. Queue: the Department’s current estimate for a new application (42 years when checked on 10 October 2026). Only suitable for parents with a very long planning horizon.
Subclass 143 (Contributory Parent, offshore): significantly higher government charge but dramatically shorter queue than the 103. Queue: the Department’s current estimate for a new application (18 years when checked on 10 October 2026). The most common permanent parent visa for offshore parents.
Subclass 173 (Temporary Contributory Parent, offshore): a two-year temporary visa that allows the parent to come to Australia while waiting in the 143 queue. Can transition to the 143 on grant.
Subclass 804 (Non-contributory, onshore): the onshore equivalent of the 103 for parents already in Australia. Same long queue.
Subclass 864 (Contributory Aged Parent, onshore): for parents already in Australia who are of retirement age. Shorter queue than the 804. Higher government charge.
Subclass 870 (Sponsored Parent, temporary): a three or five-year temporary visa with two possible grants (ten years maximum). Not a pathway to permanent residence on its own. Allows parents to spend extended time in Australia while not committing to the permanent visa queue.
HOW TO APPROACH A PARENT VISA APPLICATION
Step 1 Consultation
We map the realistic options for your family situation: where the parent is, age, health, how long they can realistically wait, and whether the temporary 870 serves the short-term need.
Step 2 Balance of family test
Most parent visas require the parent to pass the balance of family test: at least half of the parent children must be settled in Australia, or more children settled in Australia than in any other single country.
Step 3 Lodge the application
For contributory visas (143, 864): lodge the visa application and pay the first instalment of the visa application charge. For the 870: lodge the temporary application for shorter-term stay.
Step 4 Wait in queue
Processing times are published by the Department. MigrationBuro monitors queue position and manages any correspondence during the wait.
Step 5 Second instalment and grant
For the 143 and 864, a second instalment of the government charge is payable before the permanent visa is granted. The second instalment is due on invitation to apply for the permanent stage.
Speak to a Migration agent
Call 1300 VISA OZ (1300 8472 69) to discuss your visa options. Available Monday to Friday. Zoom consultations take 45-60 minutes and give you a clear answer on what is achievable.
Prefer to start in writing? Email info@migrationburo.com.au with the role title, the occupation, and the candidate’s nationality and qualifications.
Your Australian Visa application
Some frequently asked questions
Answers to some questions we often hear from people in your situation.
How long does a parent visa take?
Parent and Aged Parent (103, 804): the Department’s estimate for a new application was 42 years when we checked on 10 October 2026. Contributory Parent and Contributory Aged Parent (143, 173, 864, 884): 18 years on the same date. As at 31 August 2026 the Department was releasing Contributory Aged Parent applications queued up to November 2020; that describes people who lodged years ago, not the wait for a new applicant. Temporary Sponsored Parent (870): not queued. Confirm the current figures on the Department’s parent visa queue page. Queue estimates checked against the Department of Home Affairs on 10 October 2026.
What is the balance of family test?
To meet the balance of family test, at least half of the parent children must be settled permanently in Australia, or more of the parent children must be settled in Australia than in any other single country. For the balance of family test, a child counts on the Australian side if the child is an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident usually resident in Australia, or an eligible New Zealand citizen usually resident in Australia. The Department calls these eligible children. Every other child of the parent counts as being overseas, and children who have died are not counted at all. (Balance of family test checked against the Migration Regulations 1994 (Compilation No. 289) and the Department of Home Affairs on 20 October 2026.)
What is the subclass 870 Sponsored Parent visa?
A temporary visa of three or five years, with a possible second grant (ten years maximum). Not a permanent visa. Allows parents to live in Australia for extended periods without committing to the permanent visa queue. Requires an approved sponsor and a health insurance requirement.
Can a parent work in Australia on a parent visa?
Contributory parent visas (143, 864) include work rights. The temporary sponsored parent visa (870) does not include automatic work rights.
What is the second instalment for contributory parent visas?
The contributory parent visas (143, 864) have a two-stage government charge. The first instalment is paid at lodgement. The second instalment is paid when invited to apply for the permanent stage. The second instalment is substantial, confirm the current charge with MigrationBuro at consultation.
Migration experience you can trust
MigrationBuro are your trusted migration agents in Brisbane. Founded and led by Andrew Heathcote, we specialise in Australian immigration services. Registered since 2008, Andrew is a registered migration agent (MARN 0850840) and a member of the Migration Institute of Australia, ensuring expert guidance through every step of the immigration process.
