Last updated: 30 March 2026

Parent Visa Australia: Subclass 143, 103 and 804 Guide

Bringing a parent to Australia permanently is one of the most meaningful applications in the migration system — and one of the most financially and administratively demanding. The Australian parent visa program offers several pathways, but the choice between them is shaped almost entirely by two factors: how much you can spend, and how long you are prepared to wait.

This guide covers all three main permanent parent visa subclasses: the contributory parent visa (143), the standard parent visa (103), and the aged parent visa (804). It explains how they differ, what it takes to qualify, and what the Assurance of Support commitment means for the sponsoring child.

Overview: Types of Parent Visas

Australia offers both permanent and temporary parent visa options. The permanent options are the ones most families are focused on.

This page focuses on subclasses 143, 103, and 804 — the three pathways most families pursue for permanent parent migration. The temporary subclass 870 is a useful holding option for parents who want to be in Australia while waiting for a permanent visa decision.

Subclass 103: Standard Parent Visa

The subclass 103 is the standard (non-contributory) permanent parent visa. It is lodged offshore and leads directly to permanent residency — but the queue is so long that it is functionally unreachable for most applicants at current processing rates.

What it costs:

• First instalment: $4,640 (primary applicant), paid at lodgement
• Second instalment: $4,890 (primary applicant), paid before the visa is granted
• Assurance of Support bond: $10,000 for primary applicant (refundable after two years if no welfare is claimed)
• Health examinations and police clearances apply

The processing queue:

The subclass 103 queue currently extends beyond 30 years. The Department allocates only a limited number of places to non-contributory parent visas in each migration program year, and demand far exceeds supply. A family lodging a 103 today should not expect a decision in their parent’s lifetime under current program settings.

The subclass 103 is rarely recommended as the primary strategy for families who genuinely want to live together. It is sometimes lodged as a secondary application alongside a 143, in case the 103 eventually processes — though this depends on whether the Assurance of Support requirements can be met for both.

Subclass 143: Contributory Parent Visa

The contributory parent visa subclass 143 is the most commonly pursued permanent parent visa pathway. It costs substantially more than the 103, but the processing time is measured in years rather than decades.

What it costs:

The contributory charge is the key difference between the 143 and the 103. It is paid as a second instalment before the permanent visa is granted.

These figures are approximate and change with annual fee reviews. The Assurance of Support bond is paid to the Department of Social Services (not to the Department of Home Affairs) and is refundable at the end of the AoS period if no welfare payments were made.

Processing time:

Current processing times for the subclass 143 are approximately 3–7 years at the 75th percentile. This is a genuine queue, not just administrative time — the Department allocates a fixed annual number of places to the contributory parent visa category.

The two-stage process:

Some applicants choose to first obtain the subclass 173 (contributory temporary parent visa), which provides a two-year temporary visa allowing the parent to be in Australia while the permanent 143 is assessed. The 173 covers the first instalment but not the contributory second instalment — the full charge is paid when transitioning to the 143. This approach is useful when parents want to be in Australia sooner and can afford to manage the two-application process.

Subclass 804: Aged Parent Visa

The aged parent visa 804 is an onshore permanent visa available to parents who are of pension age (as defined by Australian law) and who are already in Australia on a valid visa at the time of application.

Who it is for:

The 804 is designed for older parents who are already in Australia — often on extended visitor visas — and who want to remain permanently. The pension age threshold in Australia is currently 67.

What it costs:

The 804 is non-contributory, so the costs are similar to the 103 — but the queue is similarly long.

Processing time:

The subclass 804 queue is also very long — currently estimated at over 30 years. However, for an older parent who is already in Australia, the 804 may still be worth lodging as a formal application, particularly if the parent plans to remain in Australia on bridging or temporary visas in the interim.

A bridging visa is typically granted upon lodgement of a 804, allowing the parent to remain in Australia lawfully while the application is assessed. Work rights on the bridging visa are limited by default.

Core Eligibility Requirements (All Parent Visas)

All permanent parent visas share the same core eligibility requirements:

The Balance of Family Test

This is the central eligibility criterion for all parent visas. To pass the test, the applicant parent must demonstrate that:

• At least half of their children who are lawfully settled in a country are settled in Australia, or
• More of their children are lawfully settled in Australia than in any other single country

“Children” for this purpose includes biological children, stepchildren, and legally adopted children. Where children are in multiple countries, the numbers are compared. A parent with two children in Australia and one in India passes; a parent with one in Australia and two in India does not, unless the two children together make up the majority of settled children across all countries.

Sponsor Requirements

The parent’s child must be:

• An Australian citizen, or
• An Australian permanent resident, or
• An eligible New Zealand citizen

The sponsoring child must be at least 18 years of age and settled in Australia. They must also be willing and able to provide an Assurance of Support.

Assurance of Support

The Assurance of Support (AoS) is a formal commitment by the sponsor (and sometimes a secondary supporter) to repay any welfare payments made to the parent from the Australian government during the AoS period. It is not a commitment that the sponsor will personally pay for everything — it is a legal undertaking to repay the government if the parent uses income support payments.

• For subclass 143: AoS period is 10 years
• For subclass 103 and 804: AoS period is 2 years

A bond is lodged with the Department of Social Services as security for this commitment. The bond is refunded at the end of the AoS period if no recoverable payments were made. The AoS process is separate from the visa application itself and must be progressed through Services Australia.

Health Requirements

All parent visa applicants must complete an immigration health examination with a Panel Physician approved by the Department of Home Affairs. Given the parent’s age, additional health findings are more common in parent visa applications than in younger cohort applications. The health requirement assesses whether the applicant’s health condition would result in significant costs to Australian healthcare — a concept known as the “significant cost” threshold. Waivers are available in some circumstances, but they are discretionary.

Character Requirements

Police clearances are required from all countries the parent has lived in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. For older parents, this may cover significant life history.

Choosing Between Subclasses

For most families with parents outside Australia, the subclass 143 is the realistic permanent visa pathway. The 103 is almost never a practical primary strategy given the current queue length.

For parents already in Australia who are of pension age, the subclass 804 is the onshore option — though the long queue means a temporary parent visa (subclass 870) may be needed as an interim measure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the contributory and non-contributory parent visa?

The contributory parent visa (subclass 143) costs significantly more — around $47,755 for the primary applicant across both instalments — but is processed within a few years. The non-contributory parent visa (subclass 103) is far cheaper at around $4,640, but has a queue of over 30 years. For most families, the practical choice is between the contributory visa and waiting indefinitely. The subclass 804 (aged parent) is the onshore equivalent of the 103, with a similarly long queue.

What is the balance of family test for parent visas?

The balance of family test requires that at least half of the parent’s children are lawfully settled in Australia, or that more children are settled in Australia than in any other single country. This test must be met at the time of application. If the parent has children living in multiple countries, the distribution matters — a parent with two children in Australia and one in the UK would generally pass; a parent with one in Australia and two in the UK would not.

What is Assurance of Support for a parent visa?

Assurance of Support (AoS) is a formal commitment by a person or organisation (usually the sponsoring child) to repay the Australian government any welfare payments made to the parent during a set period — typically 10 years for contributory parent visas and two years for non-contributory parent visas. A bond is paid to the Department of Social Services to secure this commitment. The bond amount varies by visa subclass and number of applicants.

Next Steps

If you are planning a parent visa application, these are the steps that matter:

1. Check the balance of family test — confirm that the parent’s children distribution allows the test to be passed
2. Choose the right subclass — 143 for offshore parents needing a realistic timeline; 804 for older parents already in Australia
3. Plan the budget — the subclass 143 total cost (including AoS bond and all disbursements) can reach $60,000 or more for a couple
4. Understand the AoS process — the sponsoring child must have sufficient income and assets; an AoS assessment is conducted by Services Australia
5. Start health planning early — older parents may face health issues that need to be understood before lodging

For detailed information on the most common permanent pathway, see the contributory parent visa subclass 143 page. For current processing timelines, see parent visa processing time. For older parents in Australia, see the aged parent visa 804 guide.

Parent visas lead directly to permanent residency in Australia — and for parents who qualify for citizenship after the residency period, a full Australian life together with their family.