Family & parent visas
Parent Visas Australia
Seven subclasses, two fundamentally different trades: pay a $43,600 contribution and wait roughly 18 years, or pay little and join a ~42-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?
Book 30 minutes with Keshab and find out which pathway is realistic for you. A$330 inc. GST, credited if you go ahead.
Book a consultation — A$330 inc. GST, credited or in writing, no call — A$550Start here
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 18 years contributory, roughly 42 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 (~42 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.
Book 30 minutes with Keshab.
Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536), reads your situation with you and tells you which route fits, what it costs and what happens next.
Video consultation. A$330 inc. GST for 30 minutes, credited in full if you go ahead. Advice on your own case is given in the consultation, and you leave it with a clear plan in writing.
What you get
- 30 minutes (A$330) or 60 minutes (A$550) by video with a registered migration agent, Keshab Chapagain, MARN 1576536.
- A written summary of your options and next steps after the session.
- What to bring: Passport bio page, current visa grant or VEVO check, and whatever papers exist.
- Prefer no call? The written pathway check is done in writing, A$550.
We had a very positive experience working with Keshab. He provided a detailed and well-structured migration strategy report, answered all our questions thoroughly, and clarified our options and next steps. We really appreciated his professionalism, responsiveness, and practical advice. Highly recommended!
I contacted Keshab Chapagain during an extremely stressful and time-sensitive Australian visa situation. He was patient, kind and very thorough in reviewing my circumstances and explaining what could realistically be done.
Read more
Keshab was also very honest that, given the timing, retaining him could not make the Australian government process my application any faster. Even so, the advice he provided was extremely valuable. After our consultation, he provided me with a detailed written guide outlining the steps I could take myself, how to respond to the issues in my application, what supporting documentation to obtain, and how to present the additional information clearly to Home Affairs. I followed that guidance and felt confident that I had done everything available to me. He was understanding and empathetic throughout the consultation without giving me unrealistic expectations. Although my visa ultimately was not processed in time for my trip, that was entirely a matter of government processing time and not a reflection of the assistance I received from Keshab. I greatly appreciated his professionalism, patience, thoroughness and straightforward advice, and I would recommend him to anyone needing guidance with an Australian immigration or visa matter.
I had a positive experience with him. He was professional, knowledgeable, and explained everything clearly in a way that was easy to understand. He took the time to answer my questions and provided practical advice based on my situation. I felt well informed and supported throughout the consultation.
Book a parent visa consultation — A$330 inc. GST, credited In writing, no call — A$550
Need 60 minutes, or bringing a partner, employer or documents to go through? Extended consultation, A$550 inc. GST.
MARN 1576536 · practising since 2015 · contact details
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 (AUD $43,600 per parent for the 143/864 — Home Affairs amount, checked August 2026)? And does the parent satisfy the Balance of Family test? If yes to both, the contributory pathway is the standard choice — roughly 18 years to grant. If the contribution is out of reach, the non-contributory 103/804 queue runs around 42 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 $43,600 for the contributory visa?
The second visa application charge buys queue position, not certainty: contributory applications (143/864) currently process in roughly 18 years, against roughly 42 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.
