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Parent Visa

A pathway for parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to join their family and settle in Australia.

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Overview

Bring your parents to Australia

Parent visas let the parent of a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen come to Australia. There are three broad routes: a standard (non-contributory) permanent pathway, which costs less but has a long queue due to limited yearly places a contributory permanent pathway, which costs significantly more upfront but is generally processed faster and a temporary sponsored visa (subclass 870), which lets a parent visit for up to 3 or 5 years at a time without needing to join the permanent residency queue at all though it doesn't lead to permanent residency and doesn't allow working in Australia.

Choosing the right pathway, meeting the balance of family test, and understanding realistic timeframes are where families most often get caught out. We help you weigh up permanent versus temporary options and prepare a complete, accurate application from the start.

Who this pathway is for

  • Parents of a settled Australian citizen or permanent resident child.
  • Families deciding between the standard, contributory, and temporary sponsored pathways.
  • Parents who want to spend extended time in Australia sooner, while a permanent application is considered.
  • Applicants who need to confirm they meet the balance of family test.
  • Sponsors who need help preparing an approved sponsorship and assurance of support.

Important updates you should know

  • Most permanent parent visa applications (103, 143, 804, 864) must now be lodged online through ImmiAccount - only the Temporary Contributory Parent visa (173) still requires paper.
  • The standard permanent pathway has far longer queues than the contributory pathway, because places are capped each year.
  • Subclass 870 is a temporary visit-only option (up to 3 or 5 years per grant, capped at 10 years total in Australia) - it doesn't lead to permanent residency and doesn't permit work, but it requires an approved Parent Sponsor before you can even apply.
  • An Assurance of Support is compulsory for the permanent pathways: someone must formally guarantee the applicant won't need to rely on certain government welfare payments.
  • A reduced visa fee is being introduced from July 2026 for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens across these visa options.

Key facts

Visa subclass103 / 143 / 173 / 804 / 864 / 870.
PathwayStandard (non-contributory), contributory, or temporary sponsored visit.
Government chargeFrom approx. AUD 8,665 (standard, permanent), AUD 49,900 (contributory, permanent), or AUD 6,370–12,440 (870, temporary, 3 or 5 years).
Key testBalance of family test (permanent pathways only).
Sponsor requiredYes for all subclasses - an approved sponsor is required before lodging.
Extra requirementAssurance of Support (permanent pathways); approved Parent Sponsor lodged in advance (subclass 870).
Check my eligibility
What's included

How we handle it for you

01

Eligibility & pathway advice

Explaining the standard, contributory, and temporary (870) options plainly, including realistic cost and wait-time trade-offs.

02

Balance of family assessment

Checking whether you meet the test for the permanent pathways.

03

Sponsorship & Assurance of Support documentation

Preparing your sponsor's approval, the Assurance of Support, or the Parent Sponsor approval needed for subclass 870.

04

Application lodgement

Filed accurately through ImmiAccount (or on paper for the Temporary Contributory stream) for your chosen visa.

Our Process

From first conversation to decision

01

Initial consultation

We assess your eligibility and help you choose the right pathway for your family and budget.

02

Sponsorship preparation

We prepare your sponsor's supporting documents and the Assurance of Support (where required).

03

Application lodgement

We file your parent visa application correctly the first time.

04

Ongoing case management

We keep you informed throughout what can be a lengthy waiting period.

Planning to bring a parent to Australia?

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