Parent Visa Queue Dates in Australia: What They Are and How They Work

If you have lodged a parent visa application, or are thinking about it, you will quickly encounter the term “queue date.” It causes more confusion than almost anything else in the parent visa process, and that confusion is understandable. The system is not intuitive. This article explains exactly how it works, where things stand in 2026, and what you can realistically expect.

What are parent visa queue dates?

A queue date is the date your parent visa application was lodged and entered the processing queue. The Department of Home Affairs does not process parent visa applications on a first-come, first-served basis across all visa types. Instead, each visa subclass has its own queue, and the department works through that queue chronologically, granting a limited number of visas each year based on the annual migration programme allocation.

Think of it as a numbered ticket system. When your application is lodged, you get your spot in the queue. The department then calls numbers in order, but it only calls a fixed number each year. If the annual allocation runs out before your number is called, you wait until the next programme year.

This is why you will hear people talk about “what queue date is being processed now.” That figure tells you roughly where the department is up to, not when your specific application will be finalised.

How the queue date system works

When is your queue date set?

Your queue date is set on the day your application is validly lodged and the application charge is paid. For contributory parent visas like the Subclass 143, the first instalment must be paid at lodgement. For the Subclass 103, the full application fee is paid upfront.

From 22 April 2026, all permanent parent visa applications must be lodged online through ImmiAccount. See the April 2026 online lodgement changes for details on what shifted and how the process now works.

How queue dates move forward

The queue moves forward as the department finalises applications. Each financial year, the government sets the migration programme, which includes a fixed number of places for parent visas. In recent years that allocation has been approximately 8,500 places per year across all parent visa subclasses: around 7,250 for contributory visas and 1,250 for non-contributory visas. This has recently been reduced to 7060 and parent visas now as a result will expereince loanger waits.

The speed at which queue dates advance depends entirely on how many applications from a given lodgement period are finalised within the available places. If there are a large number of applications sitting at a particular queue date, progress can slow. If applicants withdraw or become ineligible, those spots pass to the next group.

The department publishes approximate processing information, but it does not give individual queue date estimates. You will not receive a notification telling you that your queue date is approaching. You have to monitor it yourself or work with an agent who tracks it regularly.

Current queue dates by visa subclass (2026)

As of March 2026, here is where each parent visa queue stands:

Those 103 and 804 figures are not a typo. The department is currently processing applications lodged in July 2013. A new applicant lodging today would be waiting well into the 2050s under the current programme settings. The 143 queue is significantly better, but still measured in years, not months.

What happens when your queue date is reached?

When the department reaches your queue date, it does not automatically grant your visa. It means your application is now eligible to be assessed and finalised. The department will contact you, or your registered agent, to request any outstanding documents, updated health examinations, police clearances, and to confirm your current circumstances.

This is also when the bulk of the substantive casework happens. Health assessments, character checks, and the Assurance of Support process all need to be completed before a decision can be made. How long this takes after your queue date is reached depends on how complete your file is and how quickly you respond to requests.

Stage 2 of the contributory parent visa

For the Subclass 143, reaching your queue date triggers what is commonly called Stage 2. This is when the second visa application charge becomes payable: approximately $43,600 per person. This is on top of the first instalment of approximately $5,040 paid at lodgement, bringing the total to around $48,640 per person.

You are not required to pay the second instalment until the department invites you to do so. The department will issue an invitation and set a deadline. If you do not pay in time, your application can lapse. Keep your contact details in ImmiAccount current so you do not miss this notification.

Can you speed up your queue date?

No. There is no mechanism to pay extra, apply for priority processing, or otherwise move your queue date forward for standard parent visas. Your position in the queue is fixed from the day you lodge.

What some families do is lodge a Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa while waiting for the permanent visa to be processed. The 870 does not have a queue system. It processes on a rolling basis, currently running at around seven months, and it allows parents to live in Australia temporarily while the longer-term permanent application works its way through the queue. Holding an 870 does not affect your position in the permanent visa queue.

The annual programme allocation is set by the government and can change with policy decisions. Individual applicants have no control over that number, but it is worth knowing that advocacy and budget decisions can influence how many places are available each year.

Frequently asked questions

Does my queue date change if I update my application?

No. Updating documents, changing sponsors, or responding to department requests does not change your original queue date. Your position in the queue is locked in at the time of lodgement. The only way to reset your queue date would be to withdraw and re-lodge, which would place you at the back of the queue.

Can I check my queue date status online?

You can log into ImmiAccount to check the status of your application, but ImmiAccount does not show you where your queue date sits relative to current processing. The department publishes global processing information on its website periodically. A registered migration agent can track this for you and flag when your application is likely to become active.

What happens if my circumstances change while I am in the queue?

The department assesses your circumstances at the time of finalisation, not at the time of lodgement. Changes to your sponsor’s circumstances, your health, or your family composition can all affect the outcome. Keep the department informed of any significant changes and maintain valid health insurance if you are living in Australia on a bridging or temporary visa during the wait.

If my parent passes away before their queue date is reached, are fees refunded?

In most cases the application fees are not refunded. This is one of the harder practical realities of a very long queue. For 103 and 804 applicants, given the 30-plus year wait, this is a serious consideration. For 143 applicants, a parent who lodges today is looking at a wait of potentially a decade. These are real risks that should factor into which visa pathway you choose.