Family · Parent visas
Parent Visa Processing Time (2026)
Parent visas do not have a normal processing time. They are capped and queued: the Department assesses an application, gives it a place in a queue, and releases it for a final decision only when a place becomes available in a later program year. The queue release dates show how far behind it is.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed October 2026
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - Contributory Parent (143) released
- Queued up to Nov 2018
- Parent (103) released
- Queued up to Mar 2014
- Figures as at
- 31 August 2026
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Weighing up a parent visa? Choose the route with the wait in mind.
In the consultation I compare the contributory and non-contributory routes, the temporary sponsored parent visa and any other options for your parents, with the cost, the queue and the balance-of-family test. Bring your parents’ details and where their other children live.
What it costs. $330 inc. GST for 30 minutes by video with Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536), credited in full against our professional fee if you engage WIDEN. Advice confirmed in writing after the call. There is no free consultation or free assessment.
How parent visa processing works
All parent visas are capped: only a set number can be granted in each migration program year. The Department first assesses whether an application meets the core criteria and, if it does, gives it a queue date. Applications are then released from the queue in order, for final assessment, as places become available. The Department does not give exact processing times for these visas.
Queue release dates
Key processing milestones published by the Department of Home Affairs, as at 31 August 2026:
| Visa | Being assessed for the queue | Released for final processing |
|---|---|---|
| Contributory Parent (143) | Lodged April 2024 | Queued up to November 2018 |
| Contributory Parent (temporary) (173) | Lodged April 2024 | Queued up to November 2018 |
| Contributory Aged Parent (864) | Lodged April 2023 | Queued up to November 2020 |
| Contributory Aged Parent (temporary) (884) | Lodged April 2023 | Queued up to November 2020 |
| Parent (103) | Lodged February 2023 | Queued up to March 2014 |
| Aged Parent (804) | Lodged January 2023 | Queued up to October 2014 |
Source: Home Affairs, Parent visas queue release dates, page updated 6 October 2026. New applications are acknowledged in about four weeks.
What this means for a new application
- Contributory parent visas (143, 173, 864, 884) cost much more but move far faster than the non-contributory ones. Even so, the queue currently being released dates from 2018 to 2020.
- Non-contributory parent visas (103, 804) are the cheapest but the slowest: applications queued in 2014 are only now being released.
- The queue date depends on when the application is assessed as meeting the core criteria, not only on when it was lodged.
173 to 143
A Contributory Parent (temporary) 173 visa holder who applies for the permanent 143 is processed separately; those applications were being assessed for lodgements up to May 2026. The two-step route spreads the cost, but the 173 is processed in the same queue as the 143. See the 143 guide.
Alternatives
If the wait is the problem, the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) 870 visa allows parents to stay for up to three or five years at a time, without the balance-of-family test. It does not lead to permanent residence. See parent visa options.
General information only, current at October 2026; not advice on your own case. Outcomes depend on the Department’s assessment of each application; no registered migration agent can guarantee a result (Code of Conduct, Migration Agents Regulations). Keshab Chapagain, MARN 1576536.
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How long does a 143 parent visa take?
There is no fixed time. As at 31 August 2026, Contributory Parent applications queued up to November 2018 had been released for final processing.
How long does a 103 parent visa take?
Many years. As at 31 August 2026, Parent visa applications queued up to March 2014 had been released.
Why are parent visas so slow?
They are capped: demand is far greater than the number of places each program year, so applications wait in a queue.
Is there a faster option for parents?
Contributory parent visas are faster than non-contributory ones. The temporary Sponsored Parent 870 visa lets parents stay for longer periods but is not permanent.
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