Reuniting with your parents in Australia can be one of life’s most rewarding decisions. However, understanding Australia’s parent visa options can be complex due to the different visa subclasses, eligibility requirements, costs, and lengthy processing times.
Australia offers both temporary and permanent parent visa pathways, allowing eligible parents to spend extended periods with their children or settle permanently in Australia.
This guide explains how Australian parent visas work in 2026 and helps you determine which option may best suit your family’s circumstances.
Types of Parent Visas in Australia
Australia currently offers several parent visa options:
Permanent Parent Visas
The Visa 103 visa allows parents of settled Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to live permanently in Australia.
Features:
- Ability to work and study in Australia
- Potential pathway to Australian citizenship
- Ability to sponsor eligible family members
Important: Processing times for the Subclass 103 visa are extremely long due to annual visa caps and backlogs, with waiting periods often exceeding 20 years.
Contributory Parent Visa (Visa 143)
The Visa 143 visa provides permanent residency and significantly faster processing than the Subclass 103 visa, although it comes with substantially higher government charges.
Features:
- Potential pathway to Australian citizenship
- Ability to sponsor eligible family members
Important: Despite being faster than the Subclass 103 visa, the Subclass 143 visa still has lengthy processing times due to high demand and annual planning levels.
Temporary Parent Visas
Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 870)
The Subclass 870 visa allows parents to remain in Australia for extended periods without obtaining permanent residency.
Features:
- Stay for up to 3 or 5 years per visa grant
- Multiple-entry travel rights
- Potential total stay of up to 10 years
- Faster processing compared with permanent parent visas
- No Balance of Family Test requirement
Limitations:
- No pathway to permanent residency
- No access to Medicare unless otherwise eligible
- Visa holders cannot work in Australia
- Sponsors must meet income requirements
Eligibility Requirements for Parent Visas
While requirements differ between visa subclasses, most parent visas require:
Sponsorship
Applicants must be sponsored by a child who is:
- An Australian citizen; or
- An Australian permanent resident; or
- An eligible New Zealand citizen.
The sponsor generally needs to be settled in Australia.
Balance of Family Test
Most permanent parent visas require applicants to pass the Balance of Family Test.
This means either:
- At least half of the applicant’s children permanently reside in Australia; or
- More children live permanently in Australia than in any other country.
Note: The Subclass 870 visa does not require applicants to satisfy the Balance of Family Test.
Health Requirements
Applicants and accompanying family members must satisfy Australia’s health requirements, which may include:
- Additional health assessments where required
Character Requirements
Applicants generally need to:
- Provide police clearance certificates
- Meet Australia’s character requirements
Financial Requirements
Depending on the visa subclass, applicants may need:
- Evidence of financial capacity
- An Assurance of Support (AoS)
- Payment of substantial visa application charges
Understanding the Assurance of Support (AoS)
The Assurance of Support is a legal commitment that helps ensure parent visa holders do not rely on certain Australian social security payments.
The assurer must:
- Meet income requirements;
- Agree to support the visa applicant if required financially; and
- Lodge an Assurance of Support bond where applicable.
The AoS is commonly required for permanent parent visas, including Subclass 103 and Subclass 143.
Processing Times
Parent visas are subject to annual planning levels and capping arrangements.
Generally:
Because processing times change regularly, applicants should always check the Department of Home Affairs website for current estimates.
Benefits of Parent Visas
Depending on the visa subclass, parents may be able to:
- Live in Australia temporarily or permanently
- Spend more time with their children and grandchildren
- Access Medicare (for eligible permanent visas)
- Work and study in Australia (for eligible visas)
- Travel freely in and out of Australia
- Apply for Australian citizenship if eligible
Choosing the Right Parent Visa
The most suitable parent visa depends on several factors:
Choose the Subclass 103 if:
- Cost is a major consideration
- You are prepared for very lengthy processing times
- Permanent migration is your long-term goal
Choose the Subclass 143 if:
- You want permanent residency sooner
- You can meet the substantial visa costs
- You wish to access Medicare and full residency benefits
Choose the Subclass 870 if:
- You want extended stays with family
- Permanent residency is not currently essential
- You prefer a faster temporary option
- You do not meet the Balance of Family Test
Final Thoughts
Australian parent visas offer meaningful opportunities for family reunification, but each pathway has different costs, eligibility requirements, and waiting periods.
Careful planning and understanding your family’s circumstances are essential when choosing the right visa option. Whether your goal is an extended temporary stay or permanent settlement in Australia, selecting the appropriate parent visa can help bring your family closer together and create lasting memories with your loved ones Down Under.
| Visa Type | Processing Time |
| Subclass 870 (Sponsored Parent Temporary Visa) | Usually significantly faster than permanent parent visas |
| Subclass 143 (Contributory Parent Visa) | Long processing periods due to high demand |
| Subclass 103 (Parent Visa) | Extremely long queues, often exceeding 20 years. |