Reunite Your Family in Australia Permanently
The Subclass 103 Parent Visa allows parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia permanently. This visa is part of the family migration stream and provides a pathway for parents to join their children in Australia.
Key Benefits of the Subclass 103 Visa
✅ Permanent residency in Australia
✅ Live, work, and study without restrictions
✅ Access to Medicare (Australia’s public healthcare system)
✅ Pathway to citizenship (after meeting residency requirements)
✅ Sponsor eligible family members for future visas
Eligibility Requirements
For Parents (Applicants)
✔ Must have a child who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible NZ citizen
✔ At least half of your children must live permanently in Australia
✔ Meet the balance-of-family test (more below)
✔ Meet health and character requirements
For the Sponsor (Child in Australia)
✔ Must be an Australian citizen, PR holder, or eligible NZ citizen
✔ Must be settled in Australia (usually for at least 2 years)
✔ Must provide an Assurance of Support (AoS)
Balance-of-Family Test
To qualify, you must meet one of these conditions:
✔ At least half of your children must live permanently in Australia as PR or Citizen
Example: If you have 4 children, at least 2 must be Australian Permanent residents or Australian Citizens.
Application Process & Timeline
1. Submit the visa application
- Your sponsor (child in Australia) must lodge the application
2. Wait for Processing
- Home Affairs estimates new applications may take about 33 years to process (capping and queueing applies)
- Priority processing is not available
3. Visa Grant
- When approved, you will receive permanent residency
Why Consider Other Parent Visa Options?
Because Home Affairs estimates about 33 years for new applications, many families consider:
✔ Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143) – Faster processing but higher cost
✔ Temporary Parent Visa (Subclass 870) – Allows stays of 3–5 years and upto 10 years.
How Immigrad Can Help
✅ Assess eligibility for Subclass 103 or alternative visas
✅ Prepare and lodge applications
✅ Guide on Assurance of Support (AoS) requirements
✅ Provide updates on processing times
Start Your Parent Visa Application
Book a Free Consultation
Official Resources
Home Affairs – Parent Visa (Subclass 103)
Balance of Family Test Details
Note: Immigration regulations change frequently. While we maintain current knowledge, we recommend verifying information with the Department of Home Affairs or consulting a registered migration agent.
FAQs
Q: Can I work in Australia on this visa?
A: Yes, permanent residency grants full work rights.
Q: Is there an age limit for parents?
A: No, but health requirements apply.Q: Can I include my spouse in the application?
A: Yes, partners can be included as secondary applicants.
More questions about the subclass 103 visa
What is the balance of family test for a parent visa?
The balance of family test requires that at least half of your children are Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens usually resident in Australia, or that more of your children live in Australia than in any other single country. All of your children count, including step-children and children from earlier relationships.
How long does a subclass 103 Parent visa take?
The subclass 103 is a queued visa and the Department publishes an estimated queue release period on its website, which is considerably longer than the processing times for contributory parent visas. Because the estimate is updated over time, always check the Department current published figure rather than relying on a figure quoted elsewhere.
What is the difference between the subclass 103 and the subclass 143?
Both grant permanent residence to parents and both require the balance of family test. The subclass 143 Contributory Parent visa attracts substantially higher charges, including a second instalment, and is released from the queue considerably sooner than the subclass 103. The choice is generally a trade-off between cost and waiting time.
Do I need an Assurance of Support for a parent visa?
Yes. An Assurance of Support is required before a parent visa can be granted. An assurer undertakes to repay certain social security payments made to the visa holder during the assurance period, and must meet an income test assessed by Services Australia. A bond is also payable for contributory parent visas.
Can I stay in Australia while my subclass 103 is processed?
Not automatically. The subclass 103 can be lodged inside or outside Australia, but lodging it does not by itself give you a right to remain. Some applicants hold a visitor, subclass 870 or Aged Parent visa in the interim, and eligibility for each differs. This is a point worth planning early given the length of the queue.
Related reading: Immigrad parent visa services, the subclass 143 Contributory Parent visa, the subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa, and book a consultation.
This page is general information only and is current as at September 2026. It does not take your circumstances into account. Queue release estimates, charges and processing times published by the Department of Home Affairs change, and complex cases need personal advice from a registered migration agent.