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Passport and travel bag representing what to do during the long waiting period after lodging an Australian parent visa application

What to Do After Lodging Your Australian Parent Visa Application

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News.

You have lodged a parent visa application. The queue date is set. Now what? For most families, “now what” is the next 12 to 15 years for a Subclass 143 or considerably longer for a Subclass 103. This guide explains what that waiting period actually involves, how to keep your parent in Australia during it, and what you need to do to make sure the application does not fall apart before it is granted.

What happens after you lodge a parent visa application?

After lodgement, the application enters the queue. The Department of Home Affairs allocates it a queue date based on when it was received. The application then sits in the queue until the Department has the resources and program places available to process it.

You will not hear much from the Department during this period. There is no annual progress update, no case officer assigned, and no portal showing real-time movement. The application waits.

The lodgement itself is done online via ImmiAccount. Since 22 April 2026, all permanent parent visa applications are lodged online, and the application record is maintained in the applicant’s ImmiAccount. You should retain access to this account and keep it secure throughout the waiting period.

Your queue date: what it means and how to track it

The queue date is the date your application entered the queue, which in most cases corresponds to the lodgement date. The Department processes applications roughly in queue date order within each visa subclass.

The Department of Home Affairs publishes a “current processing date” for each parent visa subclass on its website. This figure tells you which queue dates are being processed right now. As of March 2026, the Department is processing Subclass 143 applications lodged in November 2018. For the Subclass 103, applications from July 2013 are being processed. This gives you a rough indication of where the queue is sitting, though movement is not linear.

When your application’s queue date is approaching the published current processing date, that is when you should be actively monitoring the application. But for most families with newly lodged applications, the realistic waiting period is 12 to 15 years for the 143 and over 30 years for the 103.

Keeping your parent in Australia while waiting

A lodged parent visa application does not give the parent any right to be in or remain in Australia. The parent still needs a valid visa to be here. This is one of the most common sources of confusion I encounter, so it is worth being direct: the application and the right to be in Australia are entirely separate things.

Visitor visas as a short-term option

A Subclass 600 Tourist (Visitor) visa allows parents to visit Australia for stays of up to 12 months at a time, depending on the grant. Visitor visas can be a reasonable short-term solution for parents who want to visit for several months each year.

However, visitor visas have real limitations for parents who want to live in Australia. The Department expects visitor visa holders to be genuine temporary visitors, not quasi-permanent residents who are effectively living in Australia on a rolling series of visitor visas. If the parent spends most of their time in Australia on consecutive visitor visas, they may face refusals or conditions restricting their stay. The Department scrutinises the travel histories of parents applying for visitor visas, particularly when a permanent visa application is also pending.

The Subclass 870 as a long-term waiting solution

The Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa is the purpose-built solution for parents who want to live in Australia while waiting for a permanent parent visa. It is temporary, with no pathway to permanent residence, but it allows the parent to be in Australia for up to 10 years across its grant increments.

Processing time for the 870 is around seven months, and it does not require the parent to pass the balance of family test. The mandatory conditions include no work rights and no Medicare, with private health insurance required throughout the stay.

For families with a Subclass 143 already in the queue, the 870-as-bridge strategy is often the right approach. It gives the parent a stable, lawful basis to be in Australia for an extended period while the 143 progresses. The 10-year 870 cap means it cannot bridge the entire queue for recently lodged applications, but it can cover a substantial portion of the wait.

Documents and information to keep updated

Over a 12-to-15-year waiting period, circumstances change. Here is what needs to stay current:

  • Passport details. As the parent’s passport expires and is renewed, the new passport details should be updated in ImmiAccount. A lapsed passport linked to the application can cause administrative complications when the application reaches the processing stage.
  • Contact details. The Department communicates primarily by email. If the email address associated with the application changes, update it in ImmiAccount. Missed correspondence at the second stage can cause serious problems.
  • Address details. Keep the applicant’s address current in the application record.
  • Changes in family composition. If the parent’s children have children, move countries, or die, these changes can affect the balance of family test assessment. Changes that affect the test should be reported to the Department.
  • Death of an applicant. If the parent dies while the application is pending, the application ceases. If there are two parents on the one application, the surviving parent may be able to continue. This needs specific advice.

What triggers your visa to move to Stage 2?

For the Subclass 143, there are two stages. Stage 1 is the lodgement and queue entry. Stage 2 is when the Department is ready to process the application. When the Department reaches the application in the queue, they send an invitation to pay the second visa application charge instalment, which is approximately $43,600 per applicant.

The Stage 2 invitation is not issued until the Department is ready to finalise the application. Once the invitation is received, the family must respond within a set timeframe (typically 28 days) by paying the second instalment. Missing this deadline can cause the application to lapse.

After the second instalment is paid, the Department will request health examinations, police clearances, and any updated documents. This is when the bulk of the active work happens. The period from Stage 2 invitation to grant can take anywhere from several months to over a year.

Families should be financially preparing for the second instalment throughout the waiting period. When the invitation comes, it comes with a short deadline. Having the funds ready is not optional.

Frequently asked questions

Can I withdraw the application and get a refund if we change our mind?

The visa application charge is generally non-refundable once lodged. In some limited circumstances, the Department may refund a portion if the application is withdrawn very early and no assessment work has been done, but this is not guaranteed. The first instalment of approximately $5,040 for the 143 should be considered spent at the time of lodgement.

What if the parent’s health changes significantly during the wait?

The health examination is not done at lodgement for the permanent parent visas. It is done at Stage 2, when the Department invites it. So the relevant health at the time of assessment is the parent’s health at Stage 2, not at lodgement. This means a health change during the wait, while concerning, does not automatically affect the application until the Stage 2 assessment. If the parent develops a serious condition during the wait, get advice before Stage 2 is triggered so the family can prepare.

Should I keep my parent updated on the queue progress?

Yes, but manage expectations realistically. The queue moves slowly and unevenly. The published processing dates on the Department’s website are a guide, not a guarantee. I recommend checking the queue dates once or twice a year rather than obsessively monitoring. Significant movements will be visible on the Department’s website.

What happens if the sponsoring child emigrates from Australia during the waiting period?

For the Subclass 143, the sponsor only needs to be eligible at the time of the application. However, at Stage 2, the Department reassesses whether the requirements are still met. If the sponsoring child has left Australia permanently, this may affect the balance of family test calculation and potentially other aspects of the application. If the sponsor’s circumstances are changing significantly, get advice before Stage 2 rather than discovering a problem after the second instalment has been paid.

Want to make sure your application stays on track?

A long waiting period is not a passive one. Keeping the application in good order, managing your parent’s visa status in Australia, and preparing for Stage 2 all require attention. I am Andrew Heathcote, registered migration agent MARN 0850840, based in Brisbane. I can review your application’s current status, advise on keeping your parent in Australia during the wait, and manage Stage 2 when the time comes.

Talk to me about your pending application

Passport and travel documents on a table representing the renewal process for the subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa

Renewing or Extending Your Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News.

The Subclass 870 is a temporary visa, but it can be renewed. Your parent is not limited to a single three-year or five-year stay. Understanding how the renewal process works, what the 10-year cap means in practice, and what you need to qualify are essential before you commit to this visa as part of a long-term plan.

Can you renew or extend an 870 visa?

Yes. The 870 can be renewed, provided the parent has not yet reached the 10-year total stay cap and both the parent and sponsor continue to meet the eligibility requirements. There is no automatic renewal, and there is no mechanism to simply extend the existing grant. Each renewal is a new two-step application: the sponsor applies again and the parent applies again.

This is an important distinction. “Renewal” in the context of the 870 means starting the process largely from scratch, including fresh health examinations, updated financial evidence, and new application fees. Plan for this in advance, not at the last minute.

How 870 renewals work

The 3-year and 5-year grant options

Each time a parent applies for the 870, they can be granted either a three-year or five-year visa. The choice of grant length affects the application fee and the timing of the next renewal. A five-year grant costs more in government fees (approximately $5,175) but delays the next renewal cycle. A three-year grant has a lower upfront cost (approximately $1,045) but requires renewal sooner.

Most families prefer the five-year grant where possible. It reduces the administrative burden and means fewer renewal cycles within the 10-year maximum. Unless the parent’s circumstances suggest a shorter stay is more appropriate, the five-year grant is generally the better option.

The 10-year total cap

The 870 has an absolute maximum of 10 years total stay in Australia across all grants. This cap applies to the individual parent, not the sponsor. The Department tracks how much of the 10-year cap has been used.

Combinations that stay within the cap include: two five-year grants; one five-year grant followed by one three-year grant followed by one two-year grant; or other combinations that total no more than 10 years. Once 10 years is reached, the parent is permanently ineligible for further 870 grants, regardless of their age, health, or family circumstances.

Time spent outside Australia does not count toward the 10-year total. The cap is calculated based on actual time in Australia on the 870.

What you need to renew

Updated sponsor requirements

The sponsor must re-apply and demonstrate they still meet the eligibility requirements at the time of each renewal. This means providing updated evidence of income. The current sponsor income threshold is $83,454.80 per year. If the sponsor has a partner, their combined income can be used.

If the sponsoring child’s circumstances have changed (changed jobs, reduced hours, partnership ended), the income evidence will need to reflect the current situation. A sponsor who met the threshold at the original application but no longer does at renewal will cause the renewal to fail.

If the original sponsor is no longer available or willing to act as sponsor (for example, due to a family breakdown or the sponsor having moved overseas), a different eligible child of the parent may be able to act as the new sponsor, provided they meet the requirements.

Continued health insurance coverage

Private health insurance covering hospital treatment in Australia remains a mandatory condition of the 870 at renewal. The parent must hold a compliant policy at the time of grant and must maintain it throughout the new visa period.

Critically, health insurance arrangements that worked at the first application may not be available at renewal. Insurers may impose new exclusions as the parent ages or as pre-existing conditions are identified. Some insurers limit their parent visa policies to specific age bands. Families should confirm health insurance availability and cost as part of renewal planning, well before the current visa expires.

A health examination is also required at each renewal. The same medical criteria apply. If the parent’s health has changed significantly since the last examination, this is worth discussing with a registered migration agent before lodging the renewal.

What happens when you reach the 10-year limit?

When the parent has exhausted their 10-year total stay on the 870, there are no further 870 options available. The parent will need to leave Australia when their final 870 grant expires, unless they have another visa to remain on.

The most common scenario where the 10-year limit becomes critical is when the parent is using the 870 as a bridge while waiting for a Subclass 143 to be processed. If the 143 has not yet been granted when the 870’s 10-year cap is reached, the parent faces a gap period. During that gap, options are limited. The parent could use visitor visas, but visitor visas are short-term and subject to the Department’s assessment of genuine temporary entrant intentions. This is not a comfortable position to be in.

Families using the 870-as-bridge strategy should plan for this gap from the start, particularly if the 143 was lodged recently and the queue wait is 12 to 15 years. The arithmetic does not always work out.

Timing your renewal application

Do not wait until the current 870 visa is about to expire before starting the renewal process. The two-step sequence takes time: the sponsor application must be lodged and approved before the parent can lodge their application, and the parent application itself typically takes around seven months to process.

A practical timeline: begin the sponsor’s renewal application at least 12 months before the current visa expires. This gives enough buffer for the sponsor approval, the parent application, and the processing time, while leaving margin for unexpected delays.

If the parent’s visa expires before the renewal grant is issued, they may need to leave Australia or hold another visa while the new application is processed. Getting the timing right avoids this disruption entirely.

Frequently asked questions

Can a different child sponsor the renewal compared to the original application?

Yes. The sponsor does not need to be the same person for each 870 application. Any eligible child of the parent who meets the sponsorship requirements can act as sponsor, including for renewals. This can be useful if the original sponsor’s circumstances have changed. Each sponsoring child is subject to the same eligibility and income requirements.

Does the parent need to be in Australia when they apply for the renewal?

No. The parent can apply for a renewal of the 870 from outside Australia, provided they meet the eligibility requirements. The process is online through ImmiAccount. Being offshore at the time of lodgement does not disqualify the application.

What if the parent’s health deteriorates and they fail the health examination at renewal?

If the parent cannot meet the health requirement at renewal, the renewal application will likely be refused. There is no automatic waiver of the health requirement for 870 renewals. In some circumstances, a health waiver may be available, but these are not granted routinely. This is one of the real risks of relying on the 870 as a long-term strategy for parents with declining health.

Is there a grace period after the current 870 expires if the renewal is pending?

If the parent lodges a renewal application before the current visa expires, a bridging visa may apply while the new application is processed. However, bridging visa conditions can differ from the 870 conditions, and this is not a straightforward situation. It is much better to time the renewal so the new visa is granted before the old one expires. If you are approaching this situation, get specific advice from a registered migration agent promptly.

Need help with your parent’s 870 renewal?

Renewals look simple on paper but have real traps, particularly around health insurance, health examinations, and the 10-year cap timeline. I am Andrew Heathcote, registered migration agent MARN 0850840, based in Brisbane. I can review your situation and manage the renewal from start to finish.

Contact me about an 870 renewal

Elderly grandparents at a family celebration in Australia on an Aged Parent Visa subclass 804 or 864

Aged Parent Visa 804 vs Contributory Aged Parent Visa 864: Which Is Right?

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News.

804 vs 864: the aged parent visa choice explained

If your parent has reached retirement age and you want them in Australia permanently, you’re looking at two visa options: the Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 804) and the Contributory Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 864). They share the same eligibility rules but differ dramatically on cost and wait time. Understanding that trade-off clearly is what this article is for.

Both visas are permanent. Both lead to Australian permanent residency. The core question is how much you’re willing to pay to get there faster, or how long you’re prepared to wait to pay less.

Who qualifies as an “aged parent”?

An “aged parent” under Australian migration law is a parent who has reached Australian pension age. That threshold is currently 67 years old. If your parent is under 67, they don’t qualify for either the 804 or 864. They would instead look at the non-contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 103) or the Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143).

Age is assessed at the time of application. If your parent turns 67 after lodging a 103 or 143 application, they cannot simply switch to the aged parent stream mid-queue. They would need to make a fresh application under the 804 or 864.

Both aged parent visas also require the parent to be physically in Australia when the visa is granted. This is a key difference from the 103 and 143, which can be granted while the applicant is offshore.

Cost comparison: 804 vs 864

Fee Subclass 804 Subclass 864
First instalment (at lodgement) ~$7,345 per person ~$5,040 per person
Second instalment (before grant) None ~$43,600 per person
Total per person ~$7,345 ~$48,640

The Assurance of Support bond applies to both visas: $10,000 for one adult, $14,000 for two adults. This is a separate financial requirement lodged with a bank, not a visa fee. It is released after 10 years if no social security payments have been claimed against it.

Processing time comparison

This is where the two visas diverge most sharply. As of March 2026, the Department of Home Affairs is processing 103 and 804 applications lodged in July 2013. That is a wait of over 30 years from today’s lodgement date. The 804 sits in the same queue as the 103.

The 864 shares its queue with the 143. As of March 2026, 143 applications from November 2018 are being processed. That is a wait of roughly seven to eight years from today. Still long, but meaningfully shorter than three decades.

For a parent who is already 67, a 30-year wait is not realistic. Most families who ask me about the 804 are doing so because of the lower cost, without fully appreciating what that wait means in practice. A parent lodging a 804 today would likely be in their late 90s before it is granted. That is the honest reality of the current queue.

What you get with each visa

Once granted, both the 804 and 864 provide:

  • Permanent residency in Australia
  • The right to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely
  • Access to Medicare (Australia’s public health system)
  • A pathway to Australian citizenship after meeting residency requirements
  • The ability to sponsor eligible family members

Medicare and health coverage

Both the 804 and 864 include Medicare access from the date of grant. This is a significant benefit, particularly for parents who may have ongoing health needs. Neither visa provides Medicare access during the waiting period, which is why many families combine a lodged permanent application with a Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa to cover the gap years.

Work rights

Both visas grant full work rights in Australia from the date of visa grant. During the waiting period, no work rights are available under the 804 or 864 unless the parent holds a separate visa permitting work.

Which is right for your parent?

Here is the practical breakdown as I give it to families:

If your parent is 67 or older and in reasonable health, the 864 is almost always the right call. The cost is substantial but the wait is manageable. A parent lodging a 864 today could realistically be granted permanent residency in their early to mid 70s.

The 804 only makes sense if cost is genuinely prohibitive and your family has genuinely accepted a 30-year queue. In most cases, families who lodge a 804 end up lodging a 864 a few years later anyway, having lost the lodge fee on the 804. If that’s a possibility, it is often better to lodge the 864 from the start.

I also strongly recommend considering the 870 temporary visa alongside either permanent application. It allows your parent to live in Australia for up to 10 years while the permanent queue moves. Read more about how the 870 works as a bridging strategy on the 870 visa page.

Frequently asked questions

Can my parent lodge a 804 and later switch to a 864?

No. These are separate applications with separate queue positions. If your parent has lodged a 804 and you want faster processing, you would need to lodge a fresh 864 application and pay the 864 fees. The 804 application and its fee are not transferable.

Can both parents apply together on one application?

Yes. Secondary applicants (typically the other parent) can be included in the same application. The visa fees apply per person, so costs roughly double for a couple.

Does the balance of family test apply to aged parent visas?

Yes. The balance of family test applies to both the 804 and 864. At least half of your parent’s eligible children must usually reside in Australia. This cannot be waived.

What happens if my parent’s health deteriorates while waiting in the queue?

Health is assessed at the time the Department is ready to finalise the application, not at lodgement. A decline in health between lodgement and finalisation can affect the outcome. This is another reason the lengthy 804 wait creates practical risk for older applicants.

Ready to work out the right visa for your parent?

I’m Andrew Heathcote, a registered migration agent (MARN 0850840) based in Brisbane with 15+ years working on parent visas. I can assess your parent’s eligibility, walk you through the real costs, and help you build a strategy that actually works for your family’s situation.

Book a consultation

Older parents with their adult daughter in Australia, weighing the subclass 870 and 143 parent visa options

Parent Visa 870 vs 143: Choosing the Right Path for Your Parents

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News.

Two visa options come up in almost every parent visa conversation: the Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa and the Subclass 143 Contributory Parent Visa. They serve different purposes, operate on completely different timelines, and suit different family situations. Understanding the distinction is the foundation of any sensible parent visa strategy.

870 vs 143: two very different solutions

The 870 is a temporary visa. It gets your parent to Australia quickly, on a renewable basis, for up to 10 years total. It does not lead to permanent residence. The 143 is a permanent visa. It takes years to process but results in permanent residency with full rights, including Medicare.

Many families treat these as an either/or choice, when in reality they work best together. Lodge the 143 to lock in your queue position, and use the 870 as a bridge while you wait. That combined approach is the most effective parent visa strategy for most families in 2026.

Key differences at a glance

Feature Subclass 870 Subclass 143
Permanency Temporary (up to 10 years total) Permanent residence
Processing time ~7 months 6 to 8 years (queue-based)
Cost (per person) ~$5,000 to $10,000 (across multiple grants) ~$48,640 total (two instalments)
Medicare No Yes (on arrival after grant)
Work rights No Yes (full work rights after grant)
Balance of family test Not required Required (cannot be waived)
Annual cap 15,000 per year ~7,250 per year (contributory)
Pathway to PR No direct pathway Is the permanent residence

Permanency: the biggest difference

143 leads to permanent residency

The Subclass 143 is a permanent visa. Once granted, your parent is a permanent resident of Australia. They can live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely. They can enrol in Medicare on arrival. They can access Australian government benefits after a waiting period. After four years as a permanent resident, they can apply for Australian citizenship.

Permanent residency also provides a stable, long-term foundation for family life. Your parent is not on a countdown clock. They are not subject to renewal processes, annual caps, or income thresholds once the visa is granted. It is, simply put, the goal for most families.

870 is temporary with no direct PR pathway

The 870 is explicitly a temporary visa. It does not lead to permanent residence. There is no provision in the 870 visa conditions to transition directly to permanent residency based on holding the 870. After 10 years of total stay, a parent who has exhausted their 870 entitlement must leave Australia unless they hold or can be granted another visa.

This is not a criticism of the 870. It was designed as a temporary solution, and it delivers on that purpose very effectively. But families who assume the 870 will “convert” to permanent residence at some point are operating on a misunderstanding. If permanent residence is the goal, the 143 (or another permanent parent visa) must be part of the strategy.

Processing time comparison

The 870 processes in approximately seven months under current conditions. The sponsor approval step takes two to four months, and the parent application itself takes around seven months from lodgement assuming the sponsor is already approved.

The 143 operates on a queue system. As of March 2026, the department is processing 143 applications with a queue date of November 2018. A new lodgement today would carry a queue date of mid-2026, putting the likely grant date in the 2031 to 2034 range at current programme settings. That is the reality, and there is no mechanism to pay your way to the front of the queue.

The processing time contrast is the reason the 870 exists. The government created it specifically to address the reality that permanent parent visas take many years, and families wanted a legal, structured way to have parents present in Australia during that wait.

Cost comparison

870 costs

The 870 is granted in tranches of three years or five years. The five-year grant costs more than the three-year grant. Across multiple grants to reach the 10-year maximum, total visa fees in the range of $5,000 to $10,000 per person are typical, depending on the combination of grant lengths chosen. There is also the sponsor application fee to factor in.

The income requirement for sponsors is $83,454.80 per year. If a sponsor’s individual income is below this threshold, they can combine with a partner’s income to meet it. This is an ongoing eligibility consideration for each renewal, not just at initial application.

The 870 does not require an Assurance of Support bond. It does require your parent to hold adequate private health insurance throughout their stay, which is a mandatory visa condition, not optional. For elderly parents, this is a significant ongoing cost that should be factored into any comparison with the 143.

143 costs

The 143 has a first instalment of approximately $5,040 per person at lodgement, and a second instalment of approximately $43,600 per person when the department invites you to finalise the application. The total is approximately $48,640 per person. For two parents, that is approximately $97,280 in visa application charges.

On top of that: health examinations, police clearances for all countries of residence, professional fees, and the Assurance of Support bond of $10,000 for one adult or $14,000 for two. The bond is held by Centrelink for 10 years and then released. It is not a fee but it is cash that is locked up.

The second instalment is also likely to be higher in dollar terms when it falls due in six to eight years, as visa fees are indexed periodically. Budget conservatively.

Health insurance and Medicare

This is one of the starkest practical differences between the two visas.

The 870 requires your parent to hold adequate private health insurance throughout their stay. This is a visa condition: breach it and your parent is in violation of their visa. For elderly parents, the cost of appropriate private health insurance can be very high, particularly as they age. Hospital cover with appropriate limits needs to reflect the likely healthcare needs of the parent involved. Budget this cost carefully.

The 143, once granted, entitles your parent to Medicare from the day they arrive in Australia as a permanent resident. Medicare covers GP visits, specialist consultations with a referral, public hospital treatment, and subsidised medications through the PBS. For most families, Medicare access is one of the most financially significant features of the permanent visa, and it is the single biggest healthcare cost advantage the 143 has over the 870.

During the 143 queue wait, if your parent is in Australia on a bridging visa or a visitor visa, they do not have Medicare access. Practically speaking, you would need to arrange private health cover during that period regardless of which visa strategy you are pursuing.

Work rights and government benefits

The 870 does not include work rights. Your parent cannot take paid employment in Australia on this visa, including part-time or casual work. They also cannot access Australian government benefits such as Centrelink payments.

The 143, once granted, carries full work rights. Your parent can work in any occupation. They also gain access to government benefits after the standard Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period, which is currently four years for most payments. After that waiting period, your parent may be eligible for the Age Pension and other income support payments, subject to the usual eligibility criteria.

The 870-while-waiting strategy

How to use the 870 as a bridge

The most effective use of the 870 for most families is as a bridging visa while the 143 works through the queue. Here is how it works in practice:

  1. Lodge the 143 application and pay the first instalment. This locks in your queue date immediately.
  2. Separately, lodge the sponsorship application for the 870 and then the parent’s 870 application.
  3. The 870 is granted in approximately seven months, allowing your parent to be in Australia within the year.
  4. Your parent lives in Australia on the 870 while the 143 processes through the queue.
  5. When the 143 queue date is reached and Stage 2 is invited, pay the second instalment and finalise.
  6. The 143 is granted. Your parent is now a permanent resident and enrolls in Medicare.

This approach means your parent is in Australia during the years-long 143 queue wait, rather than sitting overseas. It is the most common strategic combination for families who can afford the 143 fees.

Important timing considerations

A few practical points on running both applications together:

  • The 143 and 870 are completely independent applications. One does not affect the other’s processing or outcome.
  • Lodging the 870 does not reset or affect your 143 queue date.
  • The 870 has an annual cap of 15,000 grants per year. Lodge it early in the financial year if possible to reduce cap risk.
  • When the 143 Stage 2 invitation arrives, your parent can be onshore in Australia on the 870. That is a perfectly valid situation and common in practice.
  • Once the 143 is granted, the 870 ceases to have effect. Your parent moves to their permanent visa.

Which one is right for your family?

If permanent residence is your goal and your family can manage the costs and the timeline, the 143 is the right answer. Lodge it now to lock in your queue date. The longer you wait to lodge, the further back in the queue you will be.

If your parents need to be in Australia sooner, or if the 143 costs are not feasible right now, the 870 is a practical and well-structured option. Used alone, it provides up to 10 years of Australian residence. Used alongside the 143, it provides your parents with an Australian life while you work towards permanent residence.

The balance of family test is also a relevant factor. The 870 does not require your parent to pass the balance of family test, which requires at least half of their children to be usually resident in Australia. If your family structure means you cannot satisfy this test, the 870 may be your only viable pathway. The 143 requires it without exception.

Frequently asked questions

Can my parent apply for the 870 if a 143 application is already lodged?

Yes. The 870 and 143 can run simultaneously. Many families lodge both. The 143 lodgement does not prevent the 870 application, and holding an 870 does not affect the 143 queue position. Running both is the standard “bridge and permanent” strategy.

Does the 870 count towards the 143 processing time in any way?

No. The 870 is an entirely separate visa. Time spent on the 870 does not shorten the 143 queue wait. The only thing that moves your 143 queue date is the department working through applications ahead of yours under the annual programme allocation.

My parent does not meet the balance of family test. Is the 870 their only option?

For permanent visas, yes: the balance of family test applies to both the 143 and the 103, and it cannot be waived. If your parent genuinely cannot satisfy the test, a permanent parent visa is not available to them. The 870 does not have this requirement, making it the most accessible option for parents whose children are dispersed across multiple countries.

What happens to my parent’s 870 when the 143 is granted?

When the 143 is granted, it operates as the substantive visa. The 870 ceases to apply, and your parent’s rights and obligations are governed by the 143 conditions from that point. They enrol in Medicare, they have full work rights, and the 10-year clock on 870 stay is no longer relevant.

Can I sponsor my parent for the 870 if my income is below the threshold?

The income threshold for 870 sponsors is $83,454.80 per year. If your individual income is below this, you can include your partner’s income to meet the threshold as a combined household income. If you genuinely cannot meet the threshold even with combined income, you cannot sponsor a parent for the 870 unless your circumstances change. This is a firm eligibility requirement, not a guideline.

Build the right strategy for your parents

The 870 vs 143 decision is rarely straightforward. Costs, timelines, health circumstances, the balance of family test, and income eligibility all interact. Getting the combination right before you lodge anything saves considerable time, money, and stress.

Andrew Heathcote, MARN 0850840, has spent over 15 years helping Australian families bring their parents home, with a specific focus on parent visa strategy. Contact us at parentvisas.com.au/contact for practical, experience-based advice on your family’s situation.

Family group together in Australia after the subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa was processed quickly

Subclass 870 Processing Time: How Long Does the Sponsored Parent Visa Take?

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News.

The Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa is the fastest way to get a parent into Australia legally for an extended period. Unlike the permanent parent visa queues, which stretch for years and decades, the 870 runs on a rolling application basis with no queue date system. Here is what the timeline actually looks like.

How long does the 870 visa take to process?

Based on current processing data, the Subclass 870 is taking approximately seven months from lodgement to grant. This figure can shift depending on application volumes and departmental resourcing, but it has remained in the six to nine month range for well-prepared applications.

The 870 is a two-step process: the Australian child (the sponsor) must first be approved as a sponsor, and then the parent applies for the visa itself. Both steps happen through ImmiAccount, and they can be lodged sequentially or as part of a coordinated application strategy.

It is worth being clear about what “processed in seven months” means in practice. That seven months starts from the date the parent lodges the visa application, assuming the sponsor is already approved. If sponsor approval is still pending when the parent lodges, the parent application cannot proceed to grant until the sponsor is approved. Sequencing matters.

The two-step application and what it means for timing

Step 1: sponsor approval timeframe

The sponsoring child must apply for and be approved as an approved sponsor before or concurrent with the parent’s visa application. The department assesses the sponsor’s eligibility: they must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, and they must meet the income threshold, which is currently $83,454.80 per year. A sponsor can combine their income with a partner’s income to meet this threshold.

Sponsor approval currently takes approximately two to four months. There is no set processing time published by the department, and it can vary. The sponsor application is relatively straightforward if financial documents are well organised, but delays can occur if the department requests additional evidence of income or relationship details.

One important note: a single sponsor can sponsor up to two parents under the 870. If both parents are coming, both are covered under one sponsorship.

Step 2: parent visa application timeframe

Once the sponsor is approved, the parent lodges the visa application. This is where the approximately seven-month figure applies. The parent application involves health examinations, character checks (police clearances from every country of residence), and providing evidence of the relationship to the sponsor.

Health examinations must be completed through a panel physician approved by the department. Booking times vary by location, particularly overseas. In some countries the wait for a panel physician appointment is several weeks, which can affect overall timing. Build this into your planning.

The 870 is capped at 15,000 grants per year across all applicants. If the cap is reached in a given year, applications may pause until the next programme year. This has occurred in previous years and is a genuine risk for applications lodged later in the financial year.

What can delay your 870 application?

Several factors can extend the seven-month median processing time:

  • Incomplete health examinations. Health assessments must be completed by an approved panel physician. Missing or outdated results are a common reason for delays.
  • Police clearance issues. Your parent needs clearances from every country where they have lived. Getting clearances from some countries can take months. Start this process early.
  • Sponsor income documentation gaps. If the sponsor’s income is close to the threshold of $83,454.80 or relies on combined household income, the department may request additional evidence. Have payslips, tax returns, and employer letters ready.
  • Annual cap. The 870 is capped at 15,000 places per year. Applications lodged when the cap is approaching can be deferred to the following financial year.
  • Requests for further information. Any request from the department (called a section 56 request) stops the clock until you respond. Respond quickly and completely.

How the 870 compares to permanent parent visa timelines

The contrast between the 870 and the permanent parent visa queues is stark:

Visa Current Processing Time Outcome
Subclass 870 ~7 months Temporary (up to 5 years per grant, 10 years total)
Subclass 143 6 to 8 years (queue-based) Permanent residence
Subclass 103 30+ years (queue-based) Permanent residence

The 870’s processing speed is its primary advantage. It is the only realistic option if you want your parent in Australia in the near term. However, it is temporary. There is no direct pathway from the 870 to permanent residence. If permanent residency is the goal, the 870 functions best as a bridge while a permanent application, such as the 143, works through the queue.

Many families use the 870-while-waiting strategy: lodge a Subclass 143 to lock in a queue date, then lodge a 870 so the parent can actually be in Australia during the wait. The two applications run in parallel and do not interfere with each other.

Frequently asked questions

Can my parent lodge the 870 from outside Australia?

Yes. The 870 can be lodged from outside Australia. There is no requirement for the parent to be onshore at the time of lodgement or at the time of grant. The visa can be granted while the parent is overseas, and they then travel to Australia to activate it.

Does holding an 870 affect eligibility for a permanent parent visa?

Holding an 870 does not disqualify your parent from applying for or being granted a permanent parent visa. The 870 and the permanent visa applications are independent. Many families run both concurrently. The 870 also does not affect your queue date for the permanent visa.

Can my parent work in Australia on the 870?

No. The 870 does not include work rights. Your parent cannot work in paid employment in Australia while on this visa. They also do not have access to Medicare, so arranging adequate private health insurance before arrival is essential. This is a firm requirement, not optional.

What happens when the 10-year maximum on the 870 is reached?

The 870 allows a total of 10 years of stay in Australia across all grants. Once that maximum is reached, no further 870 grants are available for that parent. If a permanent visa has not been granted by then, your parent would need to leave Australia unless another visa pathway is available. This is why lodging the permanent visa early, and using the 870 as a bridge rather than a long-term solution, is important planning advice.

Ready to get your parent to Australia sooner?

The 870 is a powerful tool when used as part of a well-planned parent visa strategy. Getting the sponsor approved, the application complete, and the timing right makes a real difference to how quickly it resolves.

Andrew Heathcote, MARN 0850840, has helped many families structure the 870 as a bridge to permanent residency. Contact us at parentvisas.com.au/contact to talk through your options.

An older father in Australia during the long wait for his Contributory Parent Visa subclass 143 to be processed

Contributory Parent Visa 143 Processing Time: What to Expect in 2026

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News.

The Subclass 143 is the most commonly lodged permanent parent visa in Australia, and the question I get asked most often is: how long will it take? The honest answer is that it takes years, not months. But understanding exactly why, and what stage the queue is at right now, helps you plan rather than just wait.

How long does the subclass 143 take in 2026?

The Subclass 143 Contributory Parent Visa currently takes approximately six to eight years from lodgement to grant, based on where the queue sits as of early 2026. That estimate will vary depending on how the annual programme allocation changes over coming years and how quickly the department works through the current backlog.

This is not a processing delay in the conventional sense, such as a case stuck on someone’s desk. It is a structural queue. The government allocates a fixed number of parent visa places each year, and there are far more applicants than places. The result is a multi-year wait that is baked into the system.

New applicants lodging a 143 today should plan for a grant somewhere around 2031 to 2033 at current rates. That timeline could improve if the government increases the annual allocation, or it could extend further if lodgement volumes rise or the allocation is cut.

The two-stage process explained

The 143 has a two-stage fee structure, and understanding it is critical to understanding the timeline.

Stage 1: lodgement and queueing

When you lodge the application and pay the first instalment of approximately $5,040 per person, your queue date is set. That is the date that determines your position in the line. From this point, your application sits in the queue. There is no active casework happening during this period; you are simply waiting for the department to work through the applications ahead of yours.

All permanent parent visa applications have been lodged online via ImmiAccount since 22 April 2026. Read the April 2026 online lodgement changes if you are preparing to lodge now.

During Stage 1 you should keep your ImmiAccount details current, particularly your email address and your sponsor’s contact details. The department uses ImmiAccount for all correspondence. If the Stage 2 invitation goes to an old email address and you miss it, your application can lapse.

Stage 2: finalisation

When the department reaches your queue date, you will be invited to pay the second instalment: approximately $43,600 per person. For two parents that is $87,200 in second instalment fees alone. This payment must be made within the deadline the department sets. Once paid, the department moves to actively assess and finalise your application.

Stage 2 involves completing or updating health examinations, obtaining current police clearances from every country where you have lived, progressing the Assurance of Support arrangement (a bond lodged with Centrelink of $10,000 for one adult or $14,000 for two), and providing any further documents the case officer requests.

If your documents are in order and you respond promptly, Stage 2 typically takes a few months. It is Stage 1, the queue, that accounts for the overwhelming majority of the total wait time.

Current queue date for the 143 visa

As of March 2026, the department is processing 143 applications with a queue date of November 2018. That means applications lodged in late 2018 are currently being invited to pay their second instalment and finalised.

A new application lodged today would have a queue date of June 2026. The gap between November 2018 and June 2026 is roughly seven and a half years. If the queue advances at its current rate, a 2026 lodgement is looking at a grant in the 2031 to 2034 range.

This is the single most important number to know when deciding whether to lodge the 143. The fees are substantial (around $48,640 per person all up), but many families decide the permanent residency outcome and the Medicare access that comes with it justify the cost and the wait.

Will processing times improve?

Annual program cap and queue movement

The annual parent visa programme has been running at approximately 8,500 places in recent years, with around 7,250 of those allocated to contributory visas like the 143 and Subclass 864. There have been periodic calls from the sector to increase this number, but no government has significantly expanded the programme in recent years.

Processing times for the 143 will only improve materially if the government increases the number of places allocated each year. Operational improvements at the department, such as digitising lodgement (done), can reduce Stage 2 processing time, but they cannot change how fast the queue moves. Queue speed is a function of programme places, not departmental resourcing.

The practical advice is to not lodge and wait for things to get faster. Lodge because you have assessed the cost, the timeline, and the outcome, and decided it makes sense for your family.

How the 143 compares to the 173 temporary pathway

The Subclass 173 is the temporary contributory parent visa. It was designed as a stepping stone to the 143: you lodge the 173, it is granted relatively quickly (processing times have historically been faster than permanent parent visas), and then you onshore and eventually transition to the 143.

However, the 173 and 143 share the same queue. Lodging a 173 sets your queue date just as lodging a 143 does. The 173 grant gives your parent a visa to be in Australia while waiting, but it does not move them ahead in the 143 queue. The total fees are also roughly the same across both visas as a pathway.

For most families today, the Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa has become a more practical bridging option because it does not require lodging a separate contributory visa application, it processes in around seven months, and it can be held for up to 10 years in total. You can lodge the 870 while your 143 works through the queue.

Frequently asked questions

Does lodging early really matter for the 143?

Yes, significantly. Every month you delay lodging is another month added to the back of a queue that is already years long. If you are confident your family meets the eligibility requirements, including the balance of family test, there is no strategic benefit to waiting. Lodge as soon as you are ready.

Can my parent visit Australia while the 143 is in the queue?

Yes. Your parent can apply for a Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) to spend time in Australia while waiting. Alternatively, applying for the Subclass 870 gives your parent a longer-term, renewable temporary visa specifically designed for this purpose. The 870 allows stays of up to three or five years at a time, up to a maximum of 10 years total.

What happens to the first instalment if the 143 is refused?

Application fees are generally not refunded if an application is refused or withdrawn after lodgement. This makes it important to assess eligibility carefully before lodging. The balance of family test, in particular, is the most common eligibility issue for 143 applicants, and it cannot be waived.

Does my parent need private health insurance for the 143?

While the 143 application is in the queue, there is no mandatory requirement to hold private health insurance in the same way as the 870. However, if your parent is in Australia on a bridging visa or a visitor visa during the wait, they will not have Medicare access, so arranging private health cover is strongly advisable from a practical standpoint. Once the 143 is granted, your parent becomes eligible for Medicare on arrival in Australia.

Talk to someone who knows this queue inside out

The 143 involves significant fees, a multi-year wait, and decisions that are hard to undo. Getting the strategy right before you lodge, not after, makes a real difference.

Andrew Heathcote, MARN 0850840, has been working with contributory parent visa applications for over 15 years. Contact us at parentvisas.com.au/contact to discuss your family’s situation.

Father spending quality time with his daughters in Australia after obtaining a Contributory Parent Visa subclass 143

Contributory Parent Visa 143: Full Cost Breakdown for 2026

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News.

The Subclass 143 is the most realistic permanent residence pathway for most parents coming to Australia. It is also one of the more expensive visas the government offers. Before you commit, you need to understand exactly what you are signing up for, when each payment is due, and what else sits on top of the headline fee.

What does the Subclass 143 cost in 2026?

The total government fee for the Subclass 143 is approximately $49,900 per applicant. That figure is split across two separate payments at two different stages of the visa process. For two parents applying together, you are looking at roughly $99,900 in government charges alone before the visa is granted.

First instalment: the lodgement fee

When you lodge the 143 application, you pay the first instalment of approximately $6,300 for the primary applicant (as at 1 July 2026, following the annual charge increase; see our 1 July 2026 fee update). If the other parent is included as a secondary applicant on the same application, they pay a lower additional-applicant charge at lodgement. These payments are made through ImmiAccount at the time of submission.

From 22 April 2026, all permanent parent visa applications must be lodged online. Paper lodgements are no longer accepted. If you are planning to apply soon, read through what the April 2026 online lodgement changes mean practically before you start gathering documents.

The first instalment is non-refundable once the Department has started assessing the application. If the visa is refused or the application is withdrawn after substantive assessment has begun, you do not get that money back.

Second instalment: the contributory charge

The second instalment is where the 143’s cost really lands. Each applicant pays approximately $43,600 at this stage. For two parents, that is roughly $87,200. This payment is triggered when the Department contacts you to confirm the visa is ready to be granted. It is not paid at lodgement. Depending on when you applied, it could be years away.

The current queue for the 143 is processing applications lodged up to around November 2018 (as at March 2026). Applications lodged today are likely looking at roughly 8 years before the second instalment invitation arrives (see current parent visa processing times). That is actually useful planning information: you have time to set funds aside rather than finding the money at short notice.

When the second instalment invitation does come, you typically have a limited window to pay. If you miss it, the visa process stalls. Have funds set aside and make sure your contact details with the Department stay current throughout the queue period.

Assurance of Support: the bond you probably haven’t budgeted for

Most families focus on the visa fees and overlook the Assurance of Support. It is not optional for most 143 applicants, and it ties up a significant amount of money for a long time.

How much is the bond?

The Assurance of Support (AoS) bond is $10,000 for a single adult applicant. If two adults are applying together, the bond is $14,000. This is paid to the Department of Social Services, held in a Commonwealth Bank account, and is separate from the visa application charges you pay to the Department of Home Affairs.

The bond is lodged by the assurer, typically the sponsoring child in Australia. The assurer enters into a formal agreement to repay the government if the visa holder accesses certain welfare payments during the AoS period. The bond is the security against that obligation.

When do you get it back?

The bond is held for 10 years from the date the visa is granted. After 10 years, provided no claim has been made against it, the assurer receives the full amount back. There is no interest paid. You are effectively lending the government $10,000 to $14,000 for a decade at zero return. It is worth factoring that opportunity cost into your financial planning.

Additional costs to budget for

Beyond the government fees and the AoS bond, a 143 application involves several other expenses that most families underestimate.

Medical exams and police checks

All applicants must complete a medical examination through a Department-approved panel physician before the visa can be granted. The cost is typically $300 to $500 per person for a standard examination. Some applicants, particularly older ones or those with pre-existing conditions, may require additional specialist reviews that increase this cost.

Police clearance certificates are required from every country where the applicant has spent 12 months or more cumulatively in the past 10 years. Australian Federal Police checks are approximately $42 each. Overseas certificates vary in cost and timing. Build in at least 4 to 6 weeks for overseas police check applications, and budget for translation costs if needed.

Private health insurance

The 143 visa holders receive Medicare access from the date of visa grant, which is one of the significant advantages over temporary options like the 870. In the period between lodgement and grant, most 143 applicants are in Australia on bridging visas or visitor visas and may need to arrange their own health coverage. Once the visa is granted, Medicare access begins immediately.

If a parent is in Australia on a Subclass 870 while waiting for their 143, they will need to maintain Overseas Visitor Health Cover throughout that period, which can be a substantial ongoing cost.

How the 143 compares to the 103 on cost

The Subclass 103 has a government fee of approximately $8,665 per person, compared to the 143’s $49,900. That looks like a saving of more than $41,000 per person. But the 103 queue is currently at July 2013 for processing. Our 143 vs 103 comparison weighs the two in full. New applications today face a wait exceeding 30 years.

Factor Subclass 143 Subclass 103
Government fee (per person) ~$49,900 ~$8,665
Approximate queue wait (new applications) ~8 years 30+ years
Annual places allocated ~7,250 ~1,250 (shared across all non-contributory parent visas)
Medicare on grant Yes (on arrival after grant) Yes (but only after grant, not during bridging)
Assurance of Support required Yes, in most cases Yes, in most cases

For most families, the 103 is not a realistic option for parents who are already in their 60s or older. By the time a 103 lodged today would be granted, the applicant would likely be in their 90s. The 143 costs more, but it is an actual path to permanent residence within a realistic timeframe.

Frequently asked questions

When exactly do I pay the second instalment?

The Department contacts you when your application reaches the front of the queue and the visa is ready to be finalised. At that point, you are invited to pay the second instalment. You then have a set period to make that payment. The exact timeframe can vary, but it is not open-ended. Once invited, act promptly.

Can both parents be included on one 143 application?

Yes. Two parents can apply together as primary and secondary applicant on a single application. The primary applicant pays the full first instalment, and the secondary applicant pays a lower fee at lodgement. At the second instalment stage, both applicants pay the full $43,600 each.

What happens if my parent passes away before the second instalment?

If a primary applicant passes away after lodgement but before the visa is granted, the application lapses. The first instalment is generally not refunded. If there was a secondary applicant (the surviving parent), they may be able to continue the application in some circumstances. This is a situation where early legal advice from a registered migration agent matters.

Are there any fee concessions for the 143?

No. The government charges for contributory parent visas are fixed and apply equally to all applicants regardless of income, circumstances, or nationality. There are no concessions, waivers, or reductions available for the application charges themselves.

Want to know exactly what a 143 will cost your family?

The numbers above are the standard figures, but every family’s situation is different. I’m Andrew Heathcote, a registered migration agent (MARN 0850840) with over 15 years of experience specifically in parent visas. I can give you a precise cost estimate based on your actual circumstances, explain the timing, and help you avoid the expensive mistakes that catch families out.

Get in touch for a consultation and let’s work through the numbers together.

Several family members of different ages stacking their hands together, representing the balance of family test for Australian parent visas

The Balance of Family Test for Australian Parent Visas: A Plain-English Guide

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News.

What is the Balance of Family Test?

The balance of family test is an eligibility requirement for Australian permanent parent visas. It exists to ensure that Australia’s parent visa program benefits families where the majority of the parent’s children are already settled here. Put simply: if most of your parent’s children live somewhere other than Australia, the Australian government will not grant a permanent parent visa.

This test applies at the time the Department of Home Affairs assesses the application. It is not assessed at lodgement, though you should be confident your parent passes it before you lodge and pay the application fees. Failing the test means refusal, and visa application fees are generally not refunded.

The balance of family test is one of the first things I check when a family comes to me about a parent visa. It is the single most common reason an otherwise straightforward application is not possible.

How do you pass it?

The two ways to satisfy the test

Your parent can pass the balance of family test in either of two ways:

  1. At least half of their eligible children usually reside in Australia, or
  2. More of their eligible children usually reside in Australia than in any other single country.

The second limb exists for situations where no single country has half the children but Australia still has more than any individual alternative. For example: a parent with four children, two in Australia, one in the UK, and one in India, passes the test under limb two even though Australia does not have a majority.

Only one of these two tests needs to be satisfied. If either applies, your parent passes.

Who counts as an “eligible child”?

Children included in the count

All of the following count as eligible children for the purposes of the test:

  • Biological children of the parent
  • Legally adopted children
  • Stepchildren (where there is or was a genuine family relationship)

The child’s nationality does not matter. Australian citizens, foreign nationals, and children of any residency status can all be counted, subject to the exclusions below.

Children excluded from the count

Deceased children are excluded. They are not counted as residing anywhere.

Children who have been adopted by a person outside the family unit may be excluded depending on the circumstances. Legal adoption severs the relationship in some cases.

The most significant exclusion in practice is this: children who are in Australia on temporary visas do not count as “usually resident in Australia.” This is a critical and frequently misunderstood point. A sibling on a student visa, a working holiday visa, a partner visa that has not yet been granted permanently, or any other temporary visa does not tip the balance in favour of Australia. Only children who are Australian citizens, permanent residents, or otherwise settled in Australia on a long-term basis satisfy the “usually resident” standard.

Common situations that trip families up

Children living in multiple countries

When the parent’s children are spread across three or more countries, families sometimes assume Australia “wins” because it has the most children in absolute terms. That is correct if Australia has more children than any other single country. But if, say, two children are in Australia, two are in India, and one is in Canada, Australia does not satisfy either limb of the test and the application cannot proceed.

Counting carefully and honestly before lodgement is essential. The Department will request birth certificates for all eligible children and evidence of their usual country of residence, so the numbers will be verified.

Children on temporary visas in Australia

This is the most common trap. A family where two children are in Australia (one as a permanent resident, one on a student visa) and one child is overseas assumes the test is passed two-to-one. In fact, only the permanent resident child counts. The balance is one-to-one, and the test fails under the first limb. Whether it passes under the second limb depends on where the overseas child is and whether any single country can claim more than one Australian-based child.

I have seen families lodge applications and pay tens of thousands of dollars in fees based on a miscalculation involving a temporary visa sibling. The fees are not recovered on refusal.

Can the test ever be waived?

No. The balance of family test cannot be waived under any circumstances. There is no ministerial discretion, no compassionate grounds exception, and no alternative criteria that substitute for it. If your parent does not pass the test, no permanent parent visa is available to them.

The only pathway for a parent who fails the balance of family test is the Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa, which does not require the balance of family test. The 870 allows your parent to live in Australia for up to 10 years but does not lead to permanent residency.

Which parent visas require the balance of family test? (See our guide to choosing the right parent visa.)

The balance of family test applies to all four permanent parent visa subclasses:

The test does not apply to the 870 temporary visa. This is one of the reasons the 870 is a useful option for families where the permanent visa pathway is blocked or uncertain.

Frequently asked questions

My parent has children from two different relationships. Do all of them count?

Yes. All eligible children, regardless of which relationship they came from, are included in the count. Half-siblings, stepchildren from a prior marriage, and children from a current relationship all count if they meet the eligibility criteria.

What evidence does the Department require to prove usual residence?

The Department typically requires birth certificates for all eligible children and supporting evidence of their usual country of residence. This might include copies of their passport (showing visa status), utility bills or lease agreements, employment records, or statutory declarations. Evidence should be recent and clearly demonstrate that Australia is the child’s usual home, not a temporary stop.

Can we wait for a sibling to get permanent residency before lodging?

Yes, and in many cases this is the right approach. If a sibling is currently on a temporary visa and is likely to obtain permanent residency within the next year or two, it may be worth waiting until that happens before lodging the parent visa. Once the sibling holds PR, they count in the balance. This is a timing strategy worth discussing with a migration agent before committing to lodgement.

Does the balance of family test apply to the parent or to the sponsor?

It applies to the parent (the visa applicant). It counts the parent’s eligible children and assesses where those children usually reside. The sponsor’s personal circumstances do not affect the test calculation directly, though the sponsor’s residency in Australia contributes to the count of Australian-resident children.

Not sure if your family passes the balance of family test?

It’s worth getting this right before you spend anything. I’m Andrew Heathcote, registered migration agent MARN 0850840, and I offer consultations specifically to assess eligibility before lodgement. A short consultation can save you thousands in non-refundable fees.

Check your eligibility

Grandparent reuniting with grandchild in Australia after successfully bringing parents to Australia permanently

How to Bring Your Parents to Australia Permanently: A Complete Guide

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News.

Can you bring your parents to Australia permanently?

Yes, you can bring your parents to Australia permanently, but it takes planning, patience, and in most cases a significant financial commitment. Australia’s permanent parent visa program has four main visa subclasses, a lengthy queue, and a limited annual allocation of roughly 8,500 places across all streams. The earlier you understand the system, the better placed you are to navigate it.

This guide covers everything: who can sponsor a parent, what your parent needs to qualify, which visa suits your situation, what it costs, how long it takes, and what mistakes to avoid. I’ve been working on parent visa cases for over 15 years and the questions I get most often are addressed directly here.

Who is eligible to sponsor a parent?

Australian citizenship, permanent residency or eligible NZ citizens

To sponsor a parent for a permanent visa, you must be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen. Eligible NZ citizens are those who hold a Special Category Visa (SCV) and have been resident in Australia for at least two years.

Temporary visa holders cannot sponsor a parent for a permanent visa. If you are on a temporary skilled visa, a student visa, or a partner visa that has not yet been granted permanently, you cannot be the primary sponsor. You would need to wait until you hold permanent residency or citizenship.

Residence requirements for the sponsor

There is no strict minimum residence period required for most sponsors, but you must be settled in Australia at the time of application. The Department will assess whether Australia is genuinely your usual country of residence. If you have been here for only a few months or are frequently absent, that can raise questions about the genuineness of the sponsorship.

For the Aged Parent Visa (804) and Contributory Aged Parent Visa (864), the sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible NZ citizen who is settled in Australia.

Does your parent qualify? Key eligibility checks

The balance of family test

The balance of family test is the eligibility requirement that catches the most families off guard. Your parent must pass this test to be eligible for a permanent parent visa.

The test works like this: at least half of your parent’s eligible children must usually reside in Australia. Alternatively, more of your parent’s children must usually reside in Australia than in any other single country.

Eligible children include biological children, adopted children, and stepchildren. Children who are deceased are excluded. The count looks at where children usually live, not their nationality or visa status.

One important and frequently misunderstood point: children on temporary visas in Australia do not count as “usually resident in Australia” for the purposes of this test. A sibling on a student visa or a working holiday visa does not tip the balance in your favour. Only those with permanent residency, citizenship, or settled long-term status count.

This test cannot be waived and there is no discretionary override. If your parent does not pass it, there is no permanent visa pathway available to them.

Health and character requirements

Your parent must meet Australian health and character requirements. Health is assessed through a medical examination conducted by a Department-approved physician. The examination includes blood tests, chest X-rays, and a general health assessment. For older applicants, additional tests may be required.

Australia applies a health waiver in limited circumstances, but the cost-to-health-care ratio is a strict filter. Character requirements involve police clearances from every country where your parent has lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.

Financial requirements: Assurance of Support

Before a permanent parent visa is granted, an Assurance of Support (AoS) is required. This is a financial bond lodged with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The amounts are $10,000 for one adult applicant and $14,000 for two adults. The bond is held for 10 years. If your parent claims certain social security payments during that period, the government recovers those amounts from the bond. After 10 years without a claim, the bond is released back to you.

The AoS is separate from visa application fees. It is a cash deposit, not a payment.

Your permanent parent visa options

Contributory Parent Visa 143: faster and more expensive

The Subclass 143 Contributory Parent Visa is the most practical permanent option for most families. It costs approximately $48,640 per person (roughly $5,040 at lodgement and $43,600 before grant) and as of March 2026 the Department is processing applications lodged in November 2018. That puts the current wait at around seven to eight years from lodgement today.

The 143 can be lodged and granted while your parent is offshore or onshore. Upon grant, your parent receives Medicare access from day one.

Non-Contributory Parent Visa 103: lower cost but very slow

The Subclass 103 Parent Visa costs approximately $7,345 per person, with no second instalment. The catch: as of March 2026, the Department is processing July 2013 lodgements. From today’s lodgement date, you are looking at 30 or more years in the queue.

The 103 is technically still available and people do still lodge it. In most cases I advise against it unless cost is genuinely the primary constraint and your family fully understands what a multi-decade wait means. Unlike the 143, Medicare under the 103 is available only after the visa is granted, not on arrival in Australia.

Aged Parent Visas 804 and 864

If your parent is 67 or older (the current Australian pension age), they qualify for the aged parent stream instead of the standard stream. The Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent Visa costs approximately $48,640 and shares the 143’s queue. The Subclass 804 Aged Parent Visa costs approximately $7,345 and shares the 103’s queue.

A critical difference from the 103 and 143: aged parent visas must be granted while your parent is physically in Australia. They cannot be granted offshore.

The 870 temporary visa as a first step

The Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa deserves serious consideration alongside any permanent application. It is a temporary visa, capped at 15,000 grants per year, and allows your parent to live in Australia for up to three or five years per grant, with a maximum stay of 10 years total.

The 870 does not require the balance of family test. It does not lead to permanent residency directly. Processing is typically around seven months. Your parent will not have Medicare or work rights on an 870.

The sponsor income requirement for the 870 is $83,454.80, which can be combined with a partner’s income.

How to use the 870 while a permanent application is in the queue

The most common strategy I see is this: lodge the permanent visa application (usually a 143 or 864), then lodge the 870 to cover the waiting period. This lets your parent spend meaningful time in Australia with you now, rather than waiting offshore for seven or more years before the permanent visa comes through.

There are two things to keep in mind. First, the 870 does not provide Medicare. Private health insurance is essential. Second, only 15,000 870 visas are granted per year globally, so earlier lodgement is better.

Step-by-step: how to apply for a parent visa

Step 1: check eligibility

Before lodging anything, confirm three things: you can sponsor (citizen, PR, or eligible NZ citizen), your parent passes the balance of family test, and your parent meets the health and character criteria. The balance of family test is the most common stumbling block. Do this analysis carefully before paying any fees.

Step 2: gather your documents

Core documents include your parent’s passport and birth certificate, birth certificates for all of your parent’s eligible children, evidence of the children’s usual country of residence, your citizenship or residency evidence, police clearance certificates for your parent, and medical examination results. Start gathering these early. Police clearances from some countries take weeks or months.

Step 3: lodge online via ImmiAccount (required from April 2026)

From 22 April 2026, all permanent parent visa applications must be lodged online through ImmiAccount. Paper lodgement is no longer accepted. You will need to create or log in to your ImmiAccount, complete the relevant form, attach all supporting documents, and pay the first instalment of the visa application charge. Details on the online lodgement changes are covered on the parent visa online lodgement page.

Step 4: await queue release and finalise

After lodgement, your application enters the queue. The Department will contact you when it is approaching the front of the queue to request updated documents, health examinations, and the Assurance of Support. The second instalment of the visa application charge (for the 143 and 864) is paid at this stage, not at lodgement.

How long it takes and what it costs

Visa Cost per person Approximate wait (from today) Medicare on arrival
Subclass 143 ~$48,640 7 to 8 years Yes
Subclass 103 ~$7,345 30+ years No (after grant only)
Subclass 864 ~$48,640 7 to 8 years Yes
Subclass 804 ~$7,345 30+ years Yes (after grant)
Subclass 870 Variable ~7 months No (temporary visa)

Common mistakes that cause delays or refusals

The balance of family test is miscalculated. Families often include children on temporary visas in the count without realising those children do not satisfy the “usually resident” requirement. The calculation must be done correctly before lodgement.

Documents are not certified or translated. If any document is not in English, it must be translated by a NAATI-accredited translator. Uncertified copies of identity documents are commonly rejected.

Health examinations are arranged too early. Medical results are only valid for 12 months. If you arrange the medical before lodgement and the application is not finalised within that window, the exam will need to be repeated.

The Assurance of Support is not set up in time. The AoS must be arranged before the visa is granted, but the bank process takes time. Leaving it to the last minute when the Department is ready to finalise the application causes unnecessary delays.

The sponsor’s status changes between lodgement and grant. If the sponsor loses permanent residency or citizenship for any reason, the sponsorship is affected. This is rare but worth noting for complex situations.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sponsor both parents on the same application?

Yes. Both parents can be included in a single application as the primary and secondary applicant. Visa fees apply per person, so the total cost is roughly doubled for a couple.

My parent failed the balance of family test. Are there any other options?

There is no permanent visa pathway if the balance of family test is not met. The 870 temporary visa does not require the test, so your parent could live in Australia temporarily for up to 10 years. That said, it does not lead to permanent residency.

Can my parent work in Australia on a permanent parent visa?

Yes. Both the 143 and 103 (and their aged equivalents) grant full work rights. However, most parents in their 60s or 70s are not looking to work. The more relevant benefit is usually Medicare access and the ability to be close to family.

Do processing times ever change?

They move slowly and usually in one direction. The annual allocation is approximately 8,500 places across all permanent parent streams. With a large backlog and limited annual places, the queue does not clear quickly. Times quoted here are as of early 2026 and may shift slightly.

Is there a faster way to get parents to Australia permanently?

Not through the parent visa program. The 143 and 864 are the fastest options and they still take seven to eight years. There is no premium processing or priority pathway for parent visas outside the normal queue.

Does it matter which country my parent lives in?

No. Parent visa applications are available to applicants from any country. The same rules, costs, and queue positions apply regardless of nationality. Country of origin can affect police clearance requirements and the time needed to gather documents.

Get a clear plan for your family’s situation

Parent visa strategy is not one-size-fits-all. The right approach depends on your parent’s age, the balance of family test, your timeline, and your budget. I’m Andrew Heathcote, registered migration agent MARN 0850840, and I’ve helped hundreds of families work through exactly this decision.

Book a consultation

Australian passport and parent visa application documents representing the 1 July 2026 visa fee increase

Parent Visa Fees Have Gone Up: What Changed on 1 July 2026

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News.

If you are planning to bring a parent to Australia, the cost of doing so rose on 1 July 2026. The Department of Home Affairs lifted its visa application charges across almost every visa, and the parent program was part of that increase. Here is what actually changed, and what it means before you lodge.

The increase is on the first instalment, not the contribution

The rise applies to the first instalment, the charge you pay when you lodge. Across the parent program this went up by about 25 per cent.

The much larger second instalment, the contribution that contributory parent applicants pay before the visa is granted, did not change. That distinction matters, because for a contributory visa the second instalment is where most of the money sits.

Here are the new first instalments for a main applicant, current as at 1 July 2026, with the second instalment payable before grant.

Visa First instalment (was) First instalment (now) Second instalment before grant
Parent (subclass 103) $5,280 $6,600 $2,065
Aged Parent (subclass 804) $5,280 $6,600 $2,065
Contributory Parent (subclass 143) $5,040 $6,300 $43,600
Contributory Aged Parent (subclass 864) $5,040 $6,300 $43,600
Contributory Parent Temporary (subclass 173) $3,395 $4,245 applied toward the 143
Sponsored Parent Temporary (subclass 870) $1,215 $1,515 up to $10,925

These charges are per person. A second adult applicant pays a further additional applicant charge on top.

The contributory reality

For a contributory parent visa, 143 or 864, the headline cost is still the second instalment of $43,600 per adult. That amount did not move on 1 July, but it remains the single largest charge in the parent program. For a couple applying together, that is about $87,200 in second instalments alone, before you add the first instalment, the Assurance of Support bond and any professional fees.

The Assurance of Support also sits on top. For contributory parents this is a refundable bond lodged with the government, currently around $10,000 for the main applicant, held for ten years.

The lower-cost pathways

The non-contributory Parent (103) and Aged Parent (804) visas are far cheaper, with a second instalment of just $2,065. The trade-off is the queue. These visas have processing times measured in decades, so for most families they are a long-term hold rather than a practical route to reunion.

The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (870) is not permanent residence. It lets a parent stay for up to five years at a time. Its first instalment rose only modestly to $1,515, though a second instalment of up to $10,925 applies before grant depending on the length of stay.

What it means for you

If your parent’s application is not yet lodged, the higher first instalment now applies. That is a reason to plan the budget properly, not to rush a half-ready application in. A refused or invalid parent visa application is an expensive mistake given the charges involved.

Before you commit, confirm the exact charge for your situation using the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator, and factor in the second instalment, the Assurance of Support bond, health checks and police clearances. Our 143 vs 103 comparison sets out how the pathways differ on cost and wait.

At MigrationBuro we help families weigh the contributory and non-contributory pathways against cost, timing and each parent’s circumstances. If you are thinking about bringing a parent to Australia, talk to us before you lodge.

This article is general information only and is current as at 1 July 2026. Visa charges change, and your circumstances can affect the amount payable. It is not migration or legal advice. For advice on your own situation, contact a registered migration agent.