Book a Consult

Tag: parent visa comparison

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.

Two older friends comparing their Australian parent visa options between the subclass 143 and subclass 103

Parent Visa 143 vs 103: Which One Is Right for Your Family?

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News.

The two permanent parent visas available to most applicants are the Subclass 143 Contributory Parent Visa and the Subclass 103 Parent Visa. On the surface, the 103 looks like the budget option and the 143 looks like the premium one. The reality is considerably more nuanced, and for the vast majority of families in 2026, the choice is effectively made for them by the realities of the queue.

143 vs 103: the fundamental trade-off

The 143 costs significantly more upfront but processes in years. The 103 costs less upfront but takes over 30 years to process under current queue conditions. That is not a trade-off between cost and speed in any meaningful sense. It is a choice between a visa that will realistically be granted in your parent’s lifetime and one that almost certainly will not, at least not for new applicants today.

Both visas lead to the same outcome: permanent residence in Australia with full work rights, Medicare access, and the ability to sponsor other family members. The difference is entirely in the cost to get there and, critically, how long it takes.

Cost comparison: what you actually pay

Subclass 143 fees

The 143 has a two-instalment fee structure. The first instalment is approximately $5,040 per person, payable at lodgement. This sets your queue date. The second instalment of approximately $43,600 per person is payable when the department invites you to finalise your application, typically six to eight years later at current queue rates.

Total cost per person: approximately $48,640. For two parents: approximately $97,280 in visa application charges alone, before factoring in health examinations, police clearances, agent fees, and the Assurance of Support bond.

The Assurance of Support bond is $10,000 for one adult or $14,000 for two adults. This is a bond lodged with Centrelink that is held for 10 years and then released. It is not a fee you lose, but it is cash that is tied up for a decade.

Subclass 103 fees

The 103 has a single upfront fee of approximately $7,345 per person, payable at lodgement. For two parents, that is approximately $14,690. There is no second instalment. The Assurance of Support bond requirements are the same: $10,000 for one adult, $14,000 for two.

The real cost of waiting: why 103 is not as cheap as it looks

The $7,345 fee for the 103 looks far more attractive than the $48,640 for the 143. But consider what you are actually buying with that lower price. The department is currently processing 103 applications lodged in July 2013. A new applicant lodging today will be waiting well into the 2050s. Over a wait that long, most parents will either be deceased, physically unable to migrate, or in circumstances so changed that the visa is irrelevant.

There are also real costs to a 30-year wait that do not appear in the fee schedule. Your parent cannot access Medicare during the queue wait unless they are in Australia on another visa. They cannot access Australian government benefits. If they develop serious health conditions, those conditions may make them ineligible when the queue date is finally reached.

For anyone lodging a 103 today, the honest advice is: lodge it as a hedge if you wish, but do not rely on it as your pathway to bringing your parents to Australia in any realistic timeframe.

Processing time comparison

Current 143 queue timeline

As of March 2026, the department is processing 143 applications with a queue date of November 2018. A new application lodged in mid-2026 would be looking at a queue date gap of approximately seven and a half years, suggesting a grant in the 2031 to 2034 range under current programme settings (see full parent visa processing times).

Approximately 7,250 contributory parent visa places are allocated each year across the 143 and Subclass 864. The pace at which the queue advances depends on how many applications are at each queue date and how many programme places are available each year.

Current 103 queue timeline

As of March 2026, the department is processing 103 applications with a queue date of July 2013. That is a 13-year gap to the current processing date, and new applications are still being accepted and lodged into a queue that now stretches more than 30 years beyond today.

Approximately 1,250 non-contributory parent visa places are allocated each year across the 103 and Subclass 804. The pace of progress is glacial by any measure.

Health coverage and Medicare access

143: Medicare on arrival in Australia

When the Subclass 143 is granted, your parent becomes eligible to enrol in Medicare on arrival in Australia. This is one of the most practically significant differences between the two visas. Medicare access means your parent can access the public health system, bulk-billed GP visits, subsidised medications through the PBS, and public hospital treatment without out-of-pocket costs for most services.

For parents of retirement age, Medicare access is often the single most important feature of permanent residency. Private health insurance premiums for elderly parents can be extraordinarily expensive. Medicare fundamentally changes the financial equation.

103: no Medicare until the visa is granted

For the Subclass 103, your parent does not have Medicare access until the visa is actually granted. During the queue wait (which could be 30 or more years), they are not entitled to Medicare based on holding the 103 application alone. If they are in Australia on a visitor visa or bridging visa during the wait, they will need private health insurance or will face significant out-of-pocket health costs.

For a new 103 applicant, this is somewhat academic given the 30-year wait. They will almost certainly not be waiting in Australia for three decades. But it is worth understanding that the 103 does not provide Medicare access in the way the 143 does.

Other key differences

Private health insurance requirements

Neither the 143 nor the 103 has a mandatory ongoing private health insurance requirement written into the visa conditions in the same way as the Subclass 870. However, if your parent is in Australia on a bridging visa while the permanent application is in the queue, practical necessity means adequate health cover is essential. For 143 applicants who may be onshore during the six to eight year wait, this is a real consideration and a real ongoing cost.

Travel and work rights

Both the 143 and 103 grant the same travel and work rights once granted: full work rights in Australia, and a five-year travel facility from the date of grant (renewable through a Resident Return Visa). There is no difference between the two visas in this respect once the visa is in hand.

During the queue wait, neither visa provides standalone work rights. Your parent’s right to work in Australia during the wait depends on the visa they hold at the time, such as a visitor visa, a bridging visa, or a 870.

Which visa is right for your family?

Choose 143 if…

  • Your family can meet the cost of approximately $48,640 per person (either now or over time, given the two-instalment structure).
  • Your parents are in reasonable health and realistically expect to be alive and able to migrate in six to eight years.
  • Medicare access after grant is important to your family’s planning.
  • You want the certainty of a defined (if long) pathway to permanent residence.

Choose 103 if…

  • You are lodging primarily to preserve an application date and do not expect to rely on the 103 as the primary pathway.
  • Your parent is young enough that a 30-plus year wait is theoretically possible (though this scenario is unusual).
  • You want to make a low-cost lodgement as a hedge while pursuing the 143 or another pathway simultaneously.

In practice, lodging a 103 today as a stand-alone strategy makes very little sense for most families. The realistic pathway to bringing parents to Australia in any foreseeable timeframe is the 143, potentially combined with a Subclass 870 as a bridge.

When to consider the 870 instead

If your family cannot afford the 143 fees, or if your parent’s age or health makes a six to eight year wait uncertain, the Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa is worth serious consideration. It processes in approximately seven months, allows your parent to live in Australia for up to 10 years in total, and costs a fraction of the 143. The trade-off is that it does not lead to permanent residence.

Many families use the 870 and the 143 together: lodge the 143 to lock in a queue date, then lodge the 870 so your parent can actually be in Australia during the years the 143 is in the queue. The two applications are independent and do not interfere with each other.

Frequently asked questions

Can I lodge both a 143 and a 103 at the same time for the same parent?

Generally, a parent can only hold one substantive visa application at a time for the same visa class. You would not lodge both a 143 and a 103 simultaneously for the same parent. You choose one pathway. For most families, the 143 is the right choice based on the realities of the 103 queue.

Does the balance of family test apply to both the 143 and 103?

Yes. The balance of family test is a mandatory requirement for both the 143 and the 103. It requires that at least half of your parent’s children are usually resident in Australia, or more of their children are in Australia than in any other single country. This test cannot be waived and is assessed at the time of decision, not at lodgement. Families with children spread across multiple countries should check parent visa eligibility and seek specific advice before lodging.

What happens to my 103 application fees if I later want to switch to a 143?

You cannot “switch” a 103 to a 143. They are separate applications. If you withdraw a 103 application to lodge a 143, the 103 fees are not refunded and your 103 queue date is lost. This is a one-way door. Get the strategy right before you lodge.

If my parent is already quite elderly, should they still lodge a 143?

That depends on their age, health, and how realistic a six to eight year wait is for them. A parent who is 65 today and in good health may well be granted the 143 in their early to mid 70s, which is entirely feasible. A parent who is 78 with significant health conditions faces a different calculation. The age requirement for the aged parent pathway (Subclass 864 or 804) should also be considered for older parents who meet the “aged parent” definition.

Are 143 fees indexed or could they increase before Stage 2 is due?

Yes. Visa application charges are indexed periodically by the government. The second instalment of the 143, payable at Stage 2 some years after lodgement, will almost certainly be higher in dollar terms than the current figure of approximately $43,600. Budget conservatively and do not lock in financial plans based on today’s fees for a payment that may not fall due for six to eight years.

Get the right visa strategy for your family

The 143 vs 103 decision sounds simple but carries real financial and practical consequences. The balance of family test, the cost timing, the Medicare implications, and whether to run a 870 alongside: these are decisions that are much easier to get right before lodgement than to fix afterwards.

Andrew Heathcote, MARN 0850840, has been navigating parent visa strategy for families across Australia for over 15 years. Contact us to book a consultation and discuss your specific situation.