Tag: Assurance of Support

Australian passport and visa application documents representing the Assurance of Support requirement for parent visas

Assurance of Support for Australian Parent Visas: What You Need to Know

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News.

The Assurance of Support is one of the most misunderstood parts of the Australian parent visa process. Families either don’t know it exists until late in the application, or they understand it vaguely as “a bond” without grasping what it actually commits them to. This guide covers it plainly.

What is an Assurance of Support?

An Assurance of Support (AoS) is a legal commitment made by a person in Australia (the assurer) to repay the Commonwealth government if the visa holder accesses certain welfare payments during a defined period. It is backed by a cash bond held by the Department of Social Services.

In practical terms: if your parent is granted a permanent parent visa, someone in Australia needs to vouch financially that they will not rely on government welfare payments for the specified period. That person lodges a bond in cash. If your parent receives certain welfare payments and the government seeks reimbursement, the bond can be drawn down. If no claims are made, the bond is returned in full at the end of the period.

The AoS is administered by Services Australia (formerly Centrelink), not by the Department of Home Affairs. It is a separate process from the visa application itself, but it is a condition that must be met before the visa can be granted.

Which parent visas require an Assurance of Support?

The AoS is required for the following parent visas:

The temporary Sponsored Parent Visa (Subclass 870) does not require an Assurance of Support. This is one of the practical advantages of the 870 for families where the bond requirement creates difficulties.

How much is the Assurance of Support bond?

The bond amount depends on how many adults are included in the visa application.

Single applicant

For a single adult visa applicant, the AoS bond is $10,000. This is paid as a lump sum to Services Australia before the visa is granted.

Two applicants together

If two adults are applying together (for example, both parents on a joint application), the bond is $14,000 for both combined. It is not $10,000 per person when applying jointly. This is a common source of confusion.

The bond is paid in full upfront. There are no payment plan options. The assurer needs to have the cash available at the point the bond is requested, which typically occurs when the visa is close to being granted.

Who can be an assurer?

The assurer is usually the sponsoring child in Australia, but it does not have to be. An assurer must be:

  • An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
  • At least 18 years of age
  • Resident in Australia
  • Able to meet the income threshold for the AoS period

There can be more than one assurer on a single AoS. Having a joint assurer (for example, the Australian child and their partner) is common and is often necessary to meet the income requirements.

Income requirements

The assurer must demonstrate sufficient income to meet the government’s threshold. The income test is applied at the time the AoS bond is lodged. Services Australia assesses whether the assurer’s income is adequate to support both their existing dependants and the incoming visa holder(s) without recourse to government support.

The income thresholds are updated periodically and vary depending on the assurer’s family composition. If the assurer’s income falls below the relevant threshold, the AoS may not be approved, which can block the visa grant. It is worth confirming income eligibility early in the process rather than finding out late.

Can a partner’s income be combined?

Yes. If the primary assurer is in a relationship, they can include their partner as a co-assurer, and the combined household income is assessed against the threshold. This is actually how most families get across the line when a single income is not enough. Both partners need to be willing to enter into the legal commitment of the AoS, and both need to meet the eligibility criteria above.

What happens if the assurance is called in?

During the AoS period, if your parent accesses certain welfare payments (primarily income support payments from Centrelink), Services Australia can seek repayment from the assurer. The bond is available to cover these costs. If the welfare debt exceeds the bond amount, the assurer may be personally liable for the shortfall.

In practice, most parent visa holders do not access the specific welfare payments that trigger AoS recovery. The main risk categories are income support payments, which parents generally cannot access for several years after arriving in Australia regardless of the AoS. But the commitment is real and should be understood before it is entered into.

The AoS period for contributory parent visas (143 and 864) is 10 years from visa grant. For non-contributory parent visas (103 and 804), the period is also 10 years.

When is the bond released?

The $10,000 or $14,000 bond is held for the full 10-year AoS period. At the end of that period, provided no recovery action has reduced the bond balance, the full amount is returned to the assurer. Services Australia initiates the release process and the funds are returned by cheque or direct deposit.

There is no interest earned on the bond during the holding period. The money sits in a Commonwealth Bank account in the assurer’s name but earns nothing. The real financial cost of the AoS is not the $10,000 or $14,000 itself (since you get it back), but the 10-year opportunity cost of having that capital locked away.

Frequently asked questions

Can the AoS bond be paid in instalments?

No. The bond must be paid as a single lump sum when Services Australia approves the AoS and issues a payment request. There is no instalment arrangement. If you do not have the funds available at that point, the AoS cannot proceed and the visa cannot be granted.

What if the assurer’s financial circumstances change after the bond is lodged?

Once the AoS is in force, the assurer’s ongoing financial situation does not affect the bond itself. The bond amount is fixed at lodgement. However, if the assurer loses income and becomes unable to meet the obligations of the AoS agreement (for example, reimbursing the government for welfare payments accessed by the visa holder), they remain legally liable regardless. The AoS is a genuine legal commitment, not just a deposit.

Does the AoS affect the assurer’s ability to access welfare payments themselves?

Not directly. The AoS does not automatically exclude the assurer from accessing Centrelink payments they are otherwise entitled to. However, Services Australia will consider the assurer’s income and assets when assessing any future payments, and having a significant cash bond in their name may affect some means-tested calculations.

What happens to the bond if the visa holder passes away during the 10-year period?

If the visa holder passes away during the AoS period, the obligation generally ends. Services Australia should be notified, and the remaining bond balance (less any amounts already claimed for welfare payments) can be returned early. The exact process depends on individual circumstances and it is worth contacting Services Australia directly when this situation arises.

Get the full picture before you commit

The Assurance of Support catches families off guard more than almost any other part of the parent visa process. I am Andrew Heathcote, a registered migration agent (MARN 0850840) based in Brisbane. I have been working on parent visas for more than 15 years and I can walk you through exactly what the AoS means for your family, whether you meet the income requirements, and how to structure it properly.

Contact me for a consultation before you get to the point where the AoS becomes urgent.

Grandparents spending quality time with their granddaughter after a successful Australian parent visa application

How Much Does an Australian Parent Visa Cost? (Complete 2026 Guide)

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News.

Parent visa costs in Australia are genuinely confusing, and the government fee schedule doesn’t make it easy. You’ve got two-instalment systems, bonds that tie up cash for a decade, mandatory insurance, and visa options that look cheap until you do the maths. This guide breaks it all down clearly so you can budget properly before you commit.

How much does a parent visa cost in Australia?

The short answer: anywhere from a few thousand dollars for a temporary arrangement to nearly $100,000 for two parents on a permanent contributory visa. The type of visa, the number of applicants, and how long the process takes all affect the final figure. Here’s the landscape at a glance.

Government fees at a glance

Visa Type Subclass Government Fee (per person) Approximate Wait
Contributory Parent (Permanent) 143 ~$48,640 (paid in two instalments) ~8 years from today
Parent (Permanent, Non-Contributory) 103 ~$7,345 30+ years
Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent) 864 ~$48,640 Similar to 143
Aged Parent (Permanent, Non-Contributory) 804 ~$7,345 30+ years
Sponsored Parent (Temporary) 870 ~$1,145 (3 yr) or ~$1,730 (5 yr) ~7 months

These are government application charges only. Add medical exams, police checks, health insurance, and professional fees and the real cost is higher. More on that below.

The two-instalment system explained

The Contributory Parent visas (143 and 864) use a two-instalment fee structure. You pay the first instalment when you lodge the application. You pay the second, much larger, instalment when the Department of Home Affairs invites you to do so, shortly before the visa is granted. This can be years apart. It is not a payment plan in the conventional sense: it is two separate legal obligations at two separate points in the process.

The practical effect is that you lodge with a manageable upfront cost, then face a very large bill when grant is imminent. Families who have not planned for the second instalment sometimes scramble when the invitation arrives. Don’t be one of them.

Contributory Parent Visa 143 costs

The Subclass 143 is the most popular pathway to permanent residence for parents. It costs significantly more than the non-contributory option, but the queue is manageable rather than generational.

First instalment: the lodgement fee

The first instalment for the primary applicant is approximately $5,040. A secondary applicant (the other parent, if applying jointly) pays approximately $2,535. These fees are paid at the time of lodgement and are non-refundable if the application is refused or withdrawn after assessment begins.

Note: from 22 April 2026, all permanent parent visa applications must be lodged online through ImmiAccount. Paper lodgements are no longer accepted. If you are planning to apply soon, make sure you understand what the April 2026 online lodgement changes mean for your case.

Second instalment: the contributory charge

This is the big one. The second instalment for each applicant is approximately $43,600. For two parents applying together, that is roughly $87,200 payable when the Department invites you to pay before visa grant. Combined with the first instalment, the total government fee per person is approximately $48,640, or around $97,000 for a couple.

The second instalment payment invitation typically arrives with limited notice. Have funds accessible and be ready to move quickly when it comes.

Assurance of Support bond

On top of the visa fees, most 143 applicants are required to lodge an Assurance of Support (AoS) bond with the Department of Social Services. The bond for a single adult applicant is $10,000. For two adults applying together, it is $14,000. This money is held by the government for 10 years from the date of visa grant. It is not a fee: you get it back after the holding period, provided it has not been called upon to recover welfare costs.

Non-Contributory Parent Visa 103 costs

The Subclass 103 has a government application fee of approximately $7,345 per person. For two parents, that is around $14,690 total. On the surface, it is a fraction of the 143 cost.

Why it looks cheaper but isn’t always

The 103 is allocated from the non-contributory pool, which receives just 1,250 places per year across all parent categories. The queue is enormous. As of early 2026, the Department is processing 103 applications lodged around July 2013. Applications lodged today face a wait of more than 30 years before grant.

The lower fee looks attractive. But you are paying $7,345 now for a visa your parent may not receive in their lifetime. In most cases, the 103 only makes practical sense for younger parents, or as a secondary strategy alongside a temporary option like the 870.

The real cost of waiting 30+ years

Consider what a 30-year wait actually costs in practical terms. Your parent needs to either leave Australia and return only on visitor visas, or stay on a temporary arrangement that requires ongoing fees and private health insurance. Over 30 years, the cost of temporary bridging arrangements can easily exceed the 143’s second instalment. The 103 “savings” can be largely or entirely illusory depending on your family’s circumstances.

Sponsored Parent Visa 870 costs

The Subclass 870 is the government’s temporary solution for families waiting on a permanent visa. It is processed in approximately 7 months and gives parents up to 10 years in Australia across multiple grants. It does not lead to permanent residence on its own, but it buys time while a permanent application works through the queue.

Application fee

The 870 visa fees are considerably lower than the permanent options. A 3-year grant costs approximately $1,145 per applicant. A 5-year grant costs approximately $1,730. Most families opt for the 5-year grant given the marginal cost difference. The sponsor (the Australian child) also pays a sponsorship application fee of approximately $420.

There are 15,000 places available per year across the 870 program. This cap has been a limiting factor in some years, so applying early in the program year is worth considering.

Ongoing costs: mandatory health insurance

This is where the 870 gets expensive over time. The visa requires the parent to hold Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) for the entire period of their stay. There is no Medicare access on the 870. A basic OVHC policy for an older parent can run $3,000 to $6,000 or more per year depending on age and coverage level. Over a 5-year visa, that is $15,000 to $30,000 in insurance premiums alone. Factor this in when comparing 870 costs against permanent visa costs.

Aged parent visa costs (804 and 864)

The aged parent visas are structurally similar to their standard parent equivalents, but they are available to parents who are of pension age in Australia and who meet the balance of family test.

The Contributory Aged Parent Visa (864) carries the same fee structure as the 143: approximately $48,640 per person, paid across two instalments. The Assurance of Support bond also applies at the same amounts.

The Aged Parent Visa (804) carries the same fee as the 103: approximately $7,345 per person. It faces the same 30+ year queue. The 864 is generally the more practical option for aged parents who can absorb the cost, particularly because the aged parent pathway allows onshore lodgement.

Hidden costs every family misses

Government fees are just the start. These additional costs catch families off guard more often than they should.

Medical exams and police checks

All parent visa applicants are required to undergo a medical examination conducted by a Department-approved panel physician. Budget approximately $300 to $500 per person for the initial medical. If a follow-up or specialist review is required, costs can increase substantially.

Police clearance certificates are required from every country where the applicant has lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Australian Federal Police checks cost around $42 online. Overseas police checks vary widely: some are free, others can cost $100 to $200 and take weeks to obtain. If translation is required, add a further $80 to $150 per document.

Private health insurance (when required)

As noted above, 870 holders must hold OVHC throughout their stay. Some 143 and 864 applicants may also be asked to take out health insurance before the second instalment is paid, depending on individual health assessments. Both 143 and 864 holders do get Medicare access upon visa grant, which is a significant benefit over the 870.

Migration agent fees

You are not legally required to use a registered migration agent, but parent visa applications are complex documents with long holding periods and significant financial consequences if something goes wrong. Professional fees vary depending on the complexity of the case and the agent. For a straightforward 143 or 864, expect to pay between $3,000 and $6,000 in professional fees for a competent registered agent. Cases involving health waivers, character issues, or complex family structures cost more. Get a clear scope of work in writing before you engage anyone.

Total real-world cost: what two parents actually cost

Here is what two parents on the most common pathways typically cost from lodgement through to visa grant:

Cost Item Subclass 143 (Two Parents) Subclass 870 x2 (5-Year)
Government visa fees ~$97,000 ~$3,460
Assurance of Support bond (returned after 10 years) ~$14,000 Not required
Medical exams (both parents) ~$800 ~$800
Police checks ~$200 ~$200
Health insurance (5-year estimate) Medicare after grant (nominal pre-grant only) ~$25,000 to $50,000+
Migration agent fees ~$4,000 to $8,000 ~$2,000 to $4,000
Estimated total (excl. refundable bond) ~$102,000 to $106,000 ~$31,000 to $58,000 over 5 years

The 870 looks cheaper over 5 years. But over 10 years of temporary stay while waiting for a permanent visa, the insurance costs alone can approach or exceed the 143’s second instalment. The 143 delivers permanent residence, Medicare, and eventually citizenship eligibility. The 870 delivers none of those. The right choice depends on your family’s financial position, your parent’s age and health, and how important permanent residence is.

Frequently asked questions

Are parent visa fees refundable if the visa is refused?

Generally, no. Once the Department begins assessing an application, the visa application charge is not refunded if the visa is refused or the application is withdrawn. There are very limited exceptions. The second instalment for contributory visas is not paid until grant is imminent, so refund risk is largely limited to the first instalment.

Do visa fees increase each year?

Yes. The Department of Home Affairs typically reviews and adjusts visa application charges annually on 1 July. Fees have increased consistently over recent years. Do not rely on fee figures from previous years when planning. Check the current amounts on the ImmiAccount fee estimator before lodging.

Does the Assurance of Support bond earn interest?

No. The bond is held in a Commonwealth Bank account and does not earn interest for the depositor. The $10,000 or $14,000 you deposit is the exact amount returned to you after 10 years, with no adjustment for inflation or interest.

Can the visa fees be paid in instalments beyond the two-instalment structure?

No. Each instalment is a single payment due in full at the relevant point in the process. There is no government-administered payment plan. Some families use personal loans or family lending arrangements to fund the second instalment, which is worth planning for well in advance.

Is there any way to reduce the cost of a parent visa?

The government fees are fixed and non-negotiable. You can reduce ancillary costs by using an efficient migration agent, obtaining police checks promptly, and preparing documents properly the first time. Choosing the right visa subclass for your family’s situation matters too: choosing wrongly can mean years of avoidable temporary costs.

Get clear advice on your family’s options

Parent visa costs add up fast and the decisions you make early have long-term financial consequences. I’m Andrew Heathcote, a registered migration agent (MARN 0850840) based in Brisbane with more than 15 years working specifically on parent visas. I can help you understand which pathway makes sense for your family, what you will actually pay, and how to avoid the mistakes that cost families thousands.

Contact me for a consultation and let’s go through your options properly.