We know that bringing your parents to Australia is one of the most emotionally significant migration decisions a family makes, and it is also one of the most misunderstood, largely because of how differently each parent visa subclass actually works. This guide gives you the honest picture, covering every pathway, real costs, and genuine processing times.
Why Parent Visas Work Differently From Most Other Visas
Unlike most Australian visas, parent visas operate under an annual cap. The government currently allocates around 8,500 parent visa places each year across the entire program, split between roughly 6,800 contributory places and 1,700 non contributory places.
Because demand from families around the world consistently exceeds this cap, processing times for permanent parent visas are genuinely long, in some cases spanning decades. Understanding this reality upfront is essential to choosing the right pathway for your family.
The Balance of Family Test
Every permanent parent visa, with the exception of the Subclass 870, requires passing the Balance of Family Test. This is not a flexible or negotiable requirement, and it cannot be waived on compassionate grounds, regardless of individual circumstances.
A parent passes this test if at least half of their children live permanently in Australia, or if more of their children live in Australia than in any other single country. Stepchildren generally count toward this calculation. As an example, a parent with four children, two living in Australia, one in India and one in Canada, passes the test, since Australia holds more children than any other single country.
If your family cannot meet this test, your permanent visa options narrow considerably, and the Subclass 870 becomes a particularly important pathway to understand.
Contributory Versus Non Contributory: The Fundamental Choice
Every permanent parent visa pathway splits into two categories, and understanding this split is the single most important decision your family will make.
Contributory parent visas, covering the Subclass 143, 173, 864 and 884, require a significantly higher government charge, often referred to as the contribution, in exchange for meaningfully faster processing. Non contributory parent visas, covering the Subclass 103 and 804, involve a much lower government charge but sit in an extremely long queue.
The trade off is stark. Pay considerably more now, or wait considerably longer, sometimes beyond a realistic lifetime for older parents.
Current Processing Times
Based on the most recent official Department of Home Affairs queue data, the reality of current wait times looks like this.
- Non contributory Parent visa (Subclass 103) and Aged Parent visa (Subclass 804): official queue release currently sits at applications lodged around February 2014, reflecting an estimated total wait of approximately 30 years or more.
- Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 143, including the Subclass 173 pathway) and Contributory Aged Parent visa (Subclass 864, including the Subclass 884 pathway): official queue release currently sits at applications lodged around November 2018, reflecting an estimated wait of approximately 12 to 15 years.
These figures are published and updated periodically by the Department of Home Affairs on its official parent visa queue release page, and we always recommend checking the current queue release dates directly before making a final decision.
Overview of Every Parent Visa Subclass
The table below summarises each pathway at a glance.
| Visa | Type | Where You Apply | Estimated Processing | Leads to PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subclass 103 | Non contributory, permanent | Offshore | Approximately 30 years | Yes, immediately on grant |
| Subclass 143 | Contributory, permanent | Offshore | Approximately 12 to 15 years | Yes, immediately on grant |
| Subclass 173 | Contributory, temporary | Offshore | Approximately 12 to 15 years | Transitions to Subclass 143 |
| Subclass 804 | Non contributory, permanent, aged | Onshore | Approximately 30 years or more | Yes, immediately on grant |
| Subclass 864 | Contributory, permanent, aged | Onshore | Approximately 12 to 15 years | Yes, immediately on grant |
| Subclass 884 | Contributory, temporary, aged | Onshore | Approximately 12 to 15 years | Transitions to Subclass 864 |
| Subclass 870 | Temporary, sponsored | Offshore | Typically several months | No, temporary only |
The Non Contributory Pathway: Subclass 103 and 804
The Subclass 103 Parent visa is applied for from outside Australia and leads to permanent residency once granted, while the Subclass 804 Aged Parent visa serves the same purpose for parents already in Australia who have reached Age Pension age, currently 67.
Both pathways involve a considerably lower government charge than the contributory equivalents, generally in the range of five to seven thousand dollars depending on family composition. The trade off is the queue itself, which currently sits at around three decades, meaning many applicants will not realistically benefit from this pathway within their remaining years.
The Contributory Pathway: Subclass 143, 173, 864 and 884
The Subclass 143 Contributory Parent visa offers the same permanent outcome as the Subclass 103, but with a dramatically shorter wait, currently estimated at 12 to 15 years rather than 30. This comes at a significant cost, with the combined first and second instalment typically totalling somewhere in the order of 47,000 to 51,000 Australian dollars per applicant, depending on current settings and whether a partner is included.
Families who cannot pay this full amount upfront often use the Subclass 173 Contributory Parent Temporary visa as a stepping stone, splitting the total cost across two stages. The 173 visa is granted for two years, during which the family pays a further instalment and applies for the permanent Subclass 143 before the temporary visa expires.
The Subclass 864 and Subclass 884 operate the same way for parents who are already onshore and have reached Age Pension age, offering the contributory pathway’s faster processing without needing to leave Australia during the process.
The Assurance of Support Requirement
Every permanent parent visa also requires an Assurance of Support, a formal financial undertaking backed by a bond, paid separately to Services Australia rather than the Department of Home Affairs.
For non contributory visas, the bond is currently 5,000 dollars for a single applicant or 7,000 dollars for a couple, held for two years. For contributory visas, the bond rises to 10,000 dollars for a single applicant or 14,000 dollars for a couple, held for ten years. This bond is generally refundable at the end of the relevant period, provided the parent has not claimed recoverable social security benefits exceeding the bond amount during that time, and liability for any amount beyond the bond itself remains uncapped.
The person providing the Assurance of Support must also pass an income test administered by Services Australia, confirming the sponsoring family has the financial capacity to genuinely support the parent.
The Sponsored Parent Temporary Visa: Subclass 870
The Subclass 870 operates on a completely different basis from every other parent visa, and it deserves particular attention given how differently it is structured.
This visa does not require the Balance of Family Test at all, making it the only genuine option for families who cannot meet that requirement through any other pathway. It allows a parent to live in Australia for three or five years at a time, renewable up to a cumulative maximum of ten years, though it does not lead to permanent residency on its own.
The sponsoring child must be separately approved as a sponsor before the parent applies, generally needing to have held Australian citizenship, permanent residency or eligible New Zealand citizenship for at least four years, and meeting a specific income threshold, currently around 83,455 Australian dollars, which can include a partner’s income. The parent must also hold private health insurance covering the entire stay, since Medicare access depends on Australia’s specific health arrangements with the parent’s home country.
Processing for the visa application stage itself is typically much faster than any permanent pathway, often finalised within several months once sponsorship is approved.
Who Can Sponsor a Parent Visa
Every parent visa pathway requires a sponsor, generally the child living in Australia, and this sponsor needs to meet specific eligibility requirements of their own before the application can proceed.
For most permanent parent visa pathways, the sponsoring child needs to be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, and generally needs to have been settled in Australia for a reasonable period, commonly at least two years. For the Subclass 870 specifically, the requirement is more demanding, with the sponsoring child generally needing to have held their citizenship, permanent residency or eligible New Zealand citizenship status for at least four years, alongside meeting a specific income threshold that can be combined with a partner’s income if relevant.
Sponsorship approval for the Subclass 870 is assessed separately and before the parent’s own visa application can be lodged, which is an important sequencing detail many families overlook when planning their timeline.
Health Insurance and Medicare Access
Health cover works quite differently depending on which pathway your family chooses, and this is worth understanding clearly before committing to a particular visa.
Parents granted a permanent parent visa, through the Subclass 103, 143, 804 or 864, generally become eligible to enrol in Medicare once their visa is granted, giving them access to Australia’s public health system in the same way as other permanent residents. Parents on the Subclass 870, by contrast, are required to hold private health insurance covering their entire stay, since Medicare access for temporary visa holders depends on the specific bilateral health arrangements Australia holds with the parent’s home country, and these arrangements vary considerably and do not apply to every nationality.
Families should budget for this private health insurance cost separately, alongside the visa charges themselves, since it represents a genuine ongoing expense for the duration of a Subclass 870 stay.
A Practical Strategy Many Families Use
Given the extreme wait times for permanent options, many families pursue a combined approach, lodging a permanent contributory application, such as the Subclass 143, while separately applying for the Subclass 870 to bring parents to Australia much sooner on a temporary basis.
This means parents can genuinely be present with their family, meeting grandchildren and settling into Australian life, while the permanent application quietly progresses through the queue in the background over many years.
Comparing the Pathways by What Matters Most to Your Family
If permanent residency and cost are not major concerns, and you can afford the higher contribution, the Subclass 143 or Subclass 864 offers the most realistic route to permanent residency within a meaningful timeframe.
If you want permanent residency but need to spread the cost, the Subclass 173 or Subclass 884 allows the total contribution to be paid across two stages.
If keeping upfront cost as low as possible matters most, and your family can genuinely accept a multi decade wait, the Subclass 103 or Subclass 804 remains an option, though we always encourage families to go into this pathway with realistic expectations.
If your family cannot pass the Balance of Family Test, or you want your parents in Australia now while a permanent application progresses, the Subclass 870 is genuinely worth serious consideration.
Common Mistakes Families Make
We see a small number of recurring mistakes when families begin exploring parent visa options.
- Assuming the cheaper non contributory pathway is automatically the better choice, without weighing the realistic impact of a 30 year wait against the parent’s age.
- Not checking the Balance of Family Test carefully before committing significant funds to a permanent pathway.
- Overlooking the Subclass 870 as a genuine bridge option while a permanent application is in progress.
- Underestimating the total cost of a contributory visa, including both instalments and the Assurance of Support bond together.
- Assuming Medicare access is automatic, when eligibility for temporary visa holders in particular depends on specific bilateral health arrangements.
Expert Tips From Migration Republic
Based on years of experience guiding families through this exact decision, a few practical tips consistently make a difference.
Have an honest conversation about your parent’s age and health before choosing between the contributory and non contributory pathway, since the realistic timeframe matters enormously here.
Confirm the Balance of Family Test outcome clearly before committing to any permanent pathway, since this cannot be waived under any circumstances.
Consider the combined strategy of a temporary Subclass 870 alongside a permanent application in the background, particularly where a parent’s age makes a multi decade wait impractical on its own.
Budget for the full picture, including both visa instalments and the separate Assurance of Support bond, rather than focusing on the headline visa charge alone.
How Migration Republic Can Help
We are MARA registered migration agents who regularly guide Australian families through every parent visa pathway, from the very first eligibility assessment through to a final grant, however many years that takes.
We can help you confirm your Balance of Family Test outcome, compare the contributory and non contributory pathways honestly against your family’s circumstances, and structure a combined strategy using the Subclass 870 alongside a permanent application if that suits your situation.
You can find more detail on each specific pathway through our dedicated visa pages, or reach out through our Contact Us page with questions about your family’s particular circumstances.
Key Takeaways
- Parent visas operate under an annual cap of around 8,500 places, split between contributory and non contributory streams.
- The Balance of Family Test applies to every permanent parent visa except the Subclass 870, and cannot be waived.
- Non contributory visas currently carry an estimated wait of around 30 years, while contributory visas carry an estimated wait of 12 to 15 years.
- The Assurance of Support bond is a separate requirement from the visa charge itself, ranging from 5,000 to 14,000 dollars depending on the pathway and family size.
- The Subclass 870 offers a genuine, faster way to bring parents to Australia on a temporary basis, without the Balance of Family Test.
FAQs
What is the fastest parent visa for Australia? Among permanent options, the contributory pathway, through the Subclass 143 or 864, is currently the fastest, at an estimated 12 to 15 years. The Subclass 870 temporary visa processes much faster but does not lead to permanent residency.
How much does a parent visa to Australia cost? Non contributory visas typically cost around five to seven thousand dollars in government charges, while contributory visas typically total around 47,000 to 51,000 dollars per applicant across both instalments, plus a separate Assurance of Support bond.
What is the Balance of Family Test? A requirement that at least half of a parent’s children live permanently in Australia, or that more of their children live in Australia than in any other single country. It applies to every permanent parent visa except the Subclass 870.
How long does a parent visa take to process in Australia? Non contributory visas currently carry an estimated wait of around 30 years, while contributory visas currently carry an estimated wait of around 12 to 15 years, based on official Department of Home Affairs queue data.
What is the difference between the Subclass 103 and Subclass 143? Both lead to permanent residency, but the Subclass 143 costs considerably more in exchange for a much shorter processing time compared with the Subclass 103.
Can my parents come to Australia without meeting the Balance of Family Test? Yes, through the Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Temporary visa, which does not require the Balance of Family Test, though it does not lead to permanent residency.
What is an Assurance of Support? A financial undertaking backed by a bond, paid to Services Australia, guaranteeing the sponsoring family can support the parent and reducing reliance on social security payments.
Can I bring my parents to Australia while waiting for a permanent visa? Yes, many families lodge a permanent contributory application while separately using the Subclass 870 to bring parents to Australia much sooner on a temporary basis.
What age do my parents need to be for the aged parent visa subclasses? Generally 67 years old, which is the current Age Pension age, for the Subclass 804, 864 and 884.
Do parents get Medicare access on a parent visa? Permanent parent visa holders can generally access Medicare once granted. Subclass 870 holders need private health insurance instead, since Medicare access depends on Australia’s specific bilateral health arrangements with the parent’s home country.
Conclusion
Bringing your parents to Australia is rarely a simple, single decision, and the right pathway depends heavily on your family’s specific circumstances, your parent’s age, and how much you are able to invest upfront.
Understanding the real trade off between cost and time, confirming your Balance of Family Test outcome early, and considering whether a combined strategy using the Subclass 870 makes sense for your family are the decisions that genuinely shape this journey.
If your family is ready to explore your parent visa options, our team can help.
We are MARA registered migration agents providing employer sponsored visas, skilled migration visas, partner visas, parent visas, student visas and visa appeal services across Australia.
Book a Consultation with Migration Republic today, and let us help you find the right pathway to bring your parents home.
