More than 156,000 parent visa applications were waiting in the queue in January 2026. The 2026 to 2027 Migration Program offers only 7,060 parent visa places a year. As a result, the wait now runs into decades for some visa streams.
This calculator uses the Department of Home Affairs’ own data, released under Freedom of Information. It shows how long you are likely to wait, and what you can do about it.
How long is the parent visa wait in 2026?
Parent visas are granted in lodgement-date order within two shared queues. The contributory stream (subclasses 143, 864 and the temporary feeders 173 and 884) is the faster of the two, with an estimated wait of around 15 years for a new application. The non-contributory stream (subclasses 103 and 804) is far slower, with an estimated wait of roughly 50 years for someone lodging today. Those numbers are not Departmental promises. They are what the live backlog implies once you divide the applications ahead of you by how many visas the stream grants each year.
Estimate your parent visa wait
Use the calculator below to estimate your own position. Choose whether your parent is offshore at any age or already in Australia at Age Pension age, set whether you are thinking of lodging or are already in the queue, and the tool shows the applications ahead of you, the estimated wait, the likely grant year and your parent’s age when the visa is granted.
Contributory vs non-contributory: why the gap is so large
The difference comes down to capacity. The contributory stream is assumed to receive around 6,000 of the 7,060 parent places each year, while the non-contributory stream receives roughly 1,000. Because both streams are cleared strictly in queue-date order, a much larger annual allocation means the contributory queue moves years faster. For an older parent, that gap is often the entire decision: it can be the difference between being reunited and a visa that may never be granted in their lifetime.
What can change your parent visa wait
The wait is not entirely fixed. Locking in a queue date early, choosing the right stream from the outset, and using an onshore option for a parent who has reached Age Pension age can all change the picture. Subclasses 864 and 804 let an aged parent live in Australia on a Bridging Visa A while they wait, so the practical family reunion can happen now even though formal permanent residency is still years away. Getting the strategy right at the application stage is where a registered migration agent makes the biggest difference.
Talk to a registered migration agent
We map your family’s real position against the live queue data and the fastest lawful path. Send us a few details and a registered migration agent (MARN 0850840) will be in touch to talk through your options.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is the parent visa wait calculator?
It is an estimate built on real Home Affairs data, (obtained via FOI, parent visas on hand by month of lodgement to 31 January 2026). It assumes a steady annual grant rate and a fixed split of places between the two streams. It is a guide to the scale of the wait, not a guaranteed timeframe.
Which parent visa has the shortest wait?
The contributory parent visas (subclass 143 offshore, or subclass 864 for an aged parent in Australia) are processed years faster than the non-contributory subclasses 103 and 804, because the contributory stream receives most of the annual parent visa places.
Can my parent wait in Australia while the visa is processed?
If your parent is at Age Pension age (67) and lodges onshore for subclass 864 or 804, they can generally remain in Australia on a Bridging Visa A while they wait. Offshore applicants for subclasses 143 and 103 cannot wait in Australia on a bridging visa.
Does paying the contributory fee guarantee a faster grant?
It moves you into the contributory queue, which is far faster than the non-contributory queue, but it does not buy a fixed date. Your place is still set by your queue date relative to everyone else in that stream.
Is this calculator legal or migration advice?
No. It is general information only. Every case differs, and processing can change. For advice on your situation, speak with a registered migration agent.
Parent Visa Types
