Family & parent visas
Parent Visas Australia
Seven subclasses, two fundamentally different trades: pay a ~$48,000 contribution and wait roughly 12–14 years, or pay little and join a ~30-year queue — with the temporary 870 as the pragmatic alternative for time together now. This hub maps every guide we publish on the parent pathway, the Balance of Family test that gates all of it, and the sponsor obligations that come with each route.
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 Not sure which applies?
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Choose your pathway
The queues are real and no one can jump them. Parent visa processing times are a structural feature of a capped programme — roughly 12–14 years contributory, roughly 30 years non-contributory at current settings. Outcomes cannot be guaranteed by any registered migration agent (s 15, Migration (Migration Agents Code of Conduct) Regulations 2021), and any agent claiming faster timing should be treated with caution. WIDEN's role is migration advice — subclass selection, the Balance of Family assessment, Assurance of Support structuring, and lodgement.
Which pathway fits your family?
- Family can fund the contribution, parent under 67 — the Contributory Parent 143, optionally staged through the 173 to split the cost.
- Family can fund the contribution, parent 67+ — the onshore Contributory Aged Parent 864, with a bridging visa in Australia through the wait.
- Contribution out of reach — be honest about the 103/804 queue (~30 years), and look hard at the 870 for actual time together.
- Parent fails the Balance of Family test — the permanent pathways are closed, but the 870 has no Balance of Family test at all. Start with the test guide to know where you stand.
Not sure which parent pathway is realistic?
Tell us the parent's age, where the children live, and roughly what the family can fund — a registered migration agent will come back with the subclass that fits and what it honestly involves. Free, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Which parent visa is actually realistic for my family?
It comes down to two questions. Can the family fund the contributory second instalment (around AUD $48,000 per parent for the 143/864 — verify current rates)? And does the parent satisfy the Balance of Family test? If yes to both, the contributory pathway is the standard choice — roughly 12–14 years to grant. If the contribution is out of reach, the non-contributory 103/804 queue runs around 30 years, which exceeds many applicants' practical lifetimes — the temporary 870 (3–5 years per grant, up to 10 total) is usually the more honest alternative for actually spending time together.
What is the Balance of Family test in one sentence?
At least half of the parent's children must be Australian permanent residents or citizens, or more of the parent's children must live in Australia than in any other single country — counting all biological, adopted and step-children of any age. Every parent visa requires it except the temporary 870.
Why do people pay ~$48,000 for the contributory visa?
The second visa application charge buys queue position, not certainty: contributory applications (143/864) currently process in roughly 12–14 years, against roughly 30 years for the non-contributory 103/804. It is the largest single government charge for any Australian visa, payable before grant, and it is the fundamental trade the parent programme offers — money against time.
Can my parents stay in Australia while the permanent application is in the queue?
Often, yes — through separate visas. Visitor visas (including longer-stay multiple-entry options) and the 870 Sponsored Parent Temporary visa can cover extended periods in Australia without affecting the queued permanent application. Aged parents (67+) lodging the onshore 804/864 typically hold a bridging visa through the wait. Many families run a combination deliberately.
What does the sponsoring child have to commit to?
Two separate obligations. The Assurance of Support: a 10-year undertaking with a refundable bond (AUD $10,000 single / $14,000 couple at last review) plus an income test the assurer must meet. And for the 870 specifically: prior approval as a Sponsored Parent Sponsor with a household income threshold around AUD $115,000 at last review. Verify current figures — both change.
Can any agent speed up the parent visa queue?
No. The queues are a structural feature of the capped parent programme, and outcomes cannot be guaranteed by any registered migration agent (s 15, Migration (Migration Agents Code of Conduct) Regulations 2021). Any agent claiming faster processing should be treated with caution. What professional help changes is choosing the right subclass the first time, passing the Balance of Family assessment, and structuring the Assurance of Support correctly.
General information only. Government charges, AoS bond amounts, income thresholds and processing times change — verify current figures at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before relying on the figures on this page.
This page does not constitute migration advice (s 23, Migration (Migration Agents Code of Conduct) Regulations 2021). Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) only after a paid initial consultation under section 43 of the Code, with a written service agreement issued before further work commences (section 42). The OMARA Consumer Guide is provided to all clients before the consultation begins. Outcomes cannot be guaranteed by any registered migration agent (s 15). PI insurance held under the Migration Agents Regulations 2026. Complaints via our Complaints Policy or directly to OMARA.