Australia has four main parent visa pathways. Three are permanent — the subclass 103 Parent visa (applied for offshore), the subclass 804 Aged Parent visa (applied for onshore, and only if you are old enough for the Australian age pension) and the subclass 143 Contributory Parent visa. The fourth, the subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa, allows a temporary stay without permanent residence.
The practical difference is cost against waiting time. The Department of Home Affairs charges from AUD 8,665 over two instalments for a single applicant on the subclass 804, against from AUD 49,900 for the subclass 143 — and publishes estimated processing time frames for new applications of 33 years for Parent and Aged Parent visas against 15 years for Contributory Parent visas. All parent visas are capped and queued. Charges and estimates checked against the Department on 14 September 2026. Detailed guides to each pathway follow.
- Subclass 870 (Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa)
- Subclass 103 (Parent Visa) – Permanent Residency for Parents
- Subclass 143 (Contributory Parent Visa) – Permanent Residency for Parents
- Subclass 804 (Aged Parent Visa) – Permanent Residency for Elderly Parents
Which parent visa is which — key questions answered
Australia has several parent visa pathways and they differ mainly in cost, in whether they are permanent or temporary, and in how long the queue is. All charges below were checked against the Department of Home Affairs on 14 September 2026.
What parent visas are available for Australia?
There are four main pathways. The subclass 103 Parent visa and subclass 804 Aged Parent visa are permanent and non-contributory. The subclass 143 Contributory Parent visa is permanent and contributory. The subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa allows a temporary stay without permanent residence. Which one fits depends on the parent’s age, whether they are in or outside Australia, and budget.
How much do Australian parent visas cost?
Base application charges are AUD 6,600 for the subclass 103 Parent visa, AUD 6,600 for the subclass 804 Aged Parent visa, AUD 6,300 for the standard subclass 143 Contributory Parent visa and AUD 1,515 for the subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa. Second instalments push the totals much higher: from AUD 8,665 for the 804 and from AUD 49,900 for the 143, for a single applicant.
What is the difference between a contributory and a non-contributory parent visa?
A contributory parent visa carries a much larger second instalment, reflecting the cost of health and welfare services to a permanent resident parent. Home Affairs allocates places to contributory and non-contributory Parent visas separately and publishes queue release dates for each. Non-contributory visas cost far less but sit in a considerably longer queue.
Which parent visa can be applied for from inside Australia?
The subclass 804 Aged Parent visa is the onshore permanent pathway for a parent who is old enough to receive the Australian age pension. The subclass 103 Parent visa is the offshore equivalent. The right choice depends on where the parent is when the application is lodged and when it is decided, which is a common and expensive thing to get wrong.
Can a parent visit or stay in Australia while a parent visa is in the queue?
Some parents use the subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa or a subclass 600 Visitor visa while they wait. There is an important restriction: you cannot apply for a subclass 103, 143, 804 or 864 visa if you have already applied for or hold a subclass 870. The order in which applications are lodged matters and is worth advice before anything is submitted.
How long do Australian parent visas take to process?
The Department of Home Affairs publishes estimated processing time frames for new applications of 15 years for Contributory Parent visas and 33 years for Parent and Aged Parent visas. These visas are capped and queued: a maximum number can be granted each program year and the rest wait for a place. As at 31 May 2026 the Department had released Contributory Parent applications queued up to November 2018, and Parent and Aged Parent applications queued up to March and April 2014 respectively. No registered migration agent can shorten the queue.
Related Immigrad pages
Read the detail on the subclass 143 Contributory Parent visa, the subclass 804 Aged Parent visa, the subclass 103 Parent visa and the subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa, or contact Immigrad to work out which one you are eligible to apply for.
General information only, current as at 14 September 2026. It is not personal migration advice and does not take your circumstances into account. Charges and requirements change; always confirm current figures with the Department of Home Affairs. Complex cases should be discussed with a registered migration agent. Immigrad is operated by Oceans Consultancy Pty Ltd. Gaurav Duggal, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 1805710.