Parent Visa Subclass 103 & Parent Category Options in Australia

Parent category visas allow eligible parents of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to migrate to Australia. These visas provide a pathway for families to reunite in Australia, provided they meet specific migration criteria set by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).

Choosing the right parent visa depends on key factors: whether you intend to apply via the non-contributory or contributory stream, whether the applicant meets the Australian Age Pension threshold, and how the visa choice aligns with where the applicant must be when the visa is granted.

General Eligibility Criteria for Subclass 103 Visa

To apply for any Permanent Parent category visa, the applicant must meet all of the following:

• Sponsorship: The applicant must be sponsored by an eligible child who is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen settled in Australia.
• Settlement Requirement: The sponsoring child must be settled in Australia (lawfully resident for a minimum of 2 years before application lodgement).
• Balance of Family Test: The applicant must satisfy the Balance of Family Test.
• Health and Character: The applicant (and any included family members) must pass standard Australian health and character checks.
• Assurance of Support (AoS): Before a visa grant, a legal commitment and financial bond must be provided via Services Australia (Centrelink) to ensure the applicant will not rely on government social security.
• No Outstanding Government Debt: Any debts owed to the Australian Government by the applicant or family members must be paid back or have an approved repayment arrangement.

Balance of Family Test for Subclass 103 Visa

All permanent Parent category visa applications require the applicant to meet the Balance of Family Test. A parent meets the test if:

• At least half (50%) of their children and stepchildren are 'eligible children' living permanently in Australia, OR
• More of their eligible children live permanently in Australia than in any single other country.

Note: All children, including biological, adopted, and stepchildren, are counted unless specific legal exclusions apply (e.g., deceased, adopted away by law, or registered UNHCR refugees).

Understanding Parent Visa Categories & Place of Grant

Applicants can only have one Parent category visa application in process at a time. Switching streams requires withdrawing any active parent application prior to or upon lodging a new one. Parent visas are structured around the Age Pension qualification, currently 67 years or older, and where the visa must be granted:

A. Standard (Non-Aged) Parent Visas — Offshore Grant

These visas are intended for primary applicants under the Age Pension age threshold (under 67 years). While applications for visas like the Subclass 103 can technically be lodged onshore, if the applicant holds a visa that permits lodging another application, these visas must be granted while the applicant is outside Australia. Non-aged applicants lodging onshore are not granted a Bridging Visa to remain in Australia during processing.

Parent Visa (Subclass 103)

• Type: Permanent Residence.
• Location: Must be granted offshore.
• Details: Lower government application fees, but subject to extensive queue wait times (currently ~33 years). Does not provide bridging rights to stay onshore.

Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 173)

• Type: Temporary Residence (valid up to 2 years).
• Details: Higher application charges split into two stages (AU $4,245 base + AU $29,130 second instalment), with a processing wait of ~15 years. Cannot be extended.

Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143)

• Type: Permanent Residence.
• Details: Applied directly or as a 2-stage transition from Subclass 173. Features higher total fees with a processing estimate of ~15 years. Must be granted offshore (unless transitioning from Subclass 173).

B. Aged Parent Visas — Onshore Grant

To qualify for an Aged Parent Visa stream, the main applicant must meet the Australian Age Pension qualifying age (67 years or older). If lodged onshore while holding a valid substantive visa without a ‘No Further Stay’ condition (Condition 8503), applicants receive a Bridging Visa (BVA), allowing them to remain lawfully in Australia while awaiting processing.

• Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 804): Permanent residence with lower initial charges, but subject to the ~33-year non-contributory queue.
• Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 884): 2-year temporary residence with higher charges.
• Contributory Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 864): Permanent residence option applied for directly onshore or via Subclass 884.

C. Temporary Long-Stay Alternative: Subclass 870 Visa

The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 870) allows parents to reside in Australia for 3 or 5 years per visa (up to a maximum cumulative stay of 10 years). It does not require passing the Balance of Family Test and does not lead to permanent residency.

Important Clarification on Subclass 870 Rules: A parent cannot lodge a new permanent parent visa application while they hold or have an active application for a Subclass 870 visa. However, the reverse strategy is allowed.

Reverse Strategy: If a parent first lodges a permanent parent visa application (such as Subclass 103 or 143) to secure their place in the processing queue, they can subsequently apply for a Subclass 870 visa. Holding the 870 visa allows the parent to live lawfully in Australia for extended multi-year periods while their permanent parent application moves through the long queue.

Ready to find the right migration pathway for your parents? Navigating complex requirements, long queues, and financial commitments can be challenging. Register with us today to get expert support tailored to your family's needs.

Subclass 103 Visa Fees & Government Charges

Government visa application charges are indexed regularly by the Department of Home Affairs. Standard published figures for primary applicants include:

• Non-Contributory Permanent Visas (Subclasses 103 / 804): Total government fees start at approximately AU $8,665 per primary applicant (paid across two instalments: ~AU $6,600 base + ~AU $2,065 second instalment).
• Contributory Permanent Visas (Subclasses 143 / 864):
  • First Instalment (at lodgement): AU ~$6,300 for the main applicant.
  • Second Instalment (before visa grant): AU $43,600 per applicant.
  • Total Charge: ~AU $49,900 for a direct single applicant.
• Sponsored Parent Temporary Visa (Subclass 870): AU $6,370 for up to 3 years, or AU $12,440 for up to 5 years.

Note: Additional charges apply for dependent family members, health examinations, police clearances, and mandatory Assurance of Support bank bonds.

Assurance of Support (AoS) & Financial Bonds

All permanent parent visa applicants must obtain an Assurance of Support (AoS) verified by Services Australia (Centrelink) before a visa grant. This acts as a legal commitment from a sponsor or third-party assurer to reimburse the government for any welfare payments accessed by the parent.

• Bank Guarantee Bond Amounts: The mandatory bank bond is currently AU $10,000 for a single main applicant or AU $14,000 for an adult couple.
• Holding Periods:
  • Non-Contributory Streams (103 / 804): The bond is held for 2 years.
  • Contributory Streams (143 / 864): The bond is held for 10 years.

Capping, Queuing & Processing Status

Because annual demand for parent visas exceeds government planning allocations, applications are placed in a queue based on their queue date.

Current Published Processing Queue Estimates

• Contributory Parent Visas (143 / 173 / 864 / 884): ~15 years
• Non-Contributory Parent & Aged Parent Visas (103 / 804): ~33 years

Historical Queue Progress Benchmark (as of 28 February 2026)

• Contributory Parent Queue: Final processing had reached applications queued up to November 2018
• Parent Subclass 103 Queue: Queue date processing had reached applications queued up to July 2013

Note: Since 22 April 2026, all permanent Parent visa applications (including Subclasses 103, 143, 804, and 864) must be lodged online directly through ImmiAccount, replacing the historical paper-based mail lodgement process.

Permanent Visa Entitlements & Social Security Caveats

Upon grant of a permanent Parent visa (Subclasses 143, 103, 804, or 864), holders are entitled to:

• Live in Australia indefinitely as a Permanent Resident.
• Work and study in Australia.
• Enrol in Medicare (Australia's public healthcare scheme).
• Travel to and from Australia for 5 years from the grant (a Resident Return Visa Subclass 155/157 is required thereafter).
• Apply for Australian Citizenship once residence requirements are met.

Social Security Waiting Period Warning: Permanent parent visa holders are subject to the Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period (NARWP) for social security payments. Parent visa holders must reside in Australia for 2 to 4 years before accessing most Centrelink benefit payments, and up to 10 years before becoming eligible for the Australian Age Pension.

Determining the ideal parent visa option depends on balancing long-term permanent residency goals against immediate family presence in Australia. While non-contributory visas like Subclass 103 offer lower upfront costs, their 33-year processing wait makes alternative strategies, such as combining a queued permanent application with a Subclass 870 long-stay visa, an essential pathway for many families.

Ready to explore your options with the Parent Visas (Onshore and Offshore) in Australia? Contact AECC today for expert guidance and support throughout your visa application process.