Bringing parents to Australia: the options, the costs, the queue.
Parent visas are capped and queued, so the real question for most families is planning: which option fits your parents' age, your budget and how long you can wait. Every figure here is dated and sourced.
Seven parent visas compared.
Main applicant charges from 1 July 2026. Instalments are shown as first plus second; the second instalment is paid before grant. Health checks, police certificates and the Assurance of Support bond are extra.
| Visa | Type | Apply from | Charge (A$) | Published estimate | Key tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parent (103) | Permanent | Outside Australia | 6,600 + 2,065 = 8,665 | About 42 years | Balance of family, sponsor, Assurance of Support |
| Aged Parent (804) | Permanent | In Australia, Age Pension age | 6,600 + 2,065 = 8,665 | About 42 years | As 103; bridging visa while waiting |
| Contributory Parent (Temporary) (173) | 2 years | Outside Australia | 4,245 + 29,130 = 33,375 | About 18 years | As 103; then apply for 143 |
| Contributory Parent (143) | Permanent | Outside Australia | From 49,900 (less if holding 173) | About 18 years | As 103 |
| Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) (884) | 2 years | In Australia, Age Pension age | 6,300 + 29,130 = 35,430 | About 18 years | As 103; then apply for 864 |
| Contributory Aged Parent (864) | Permanent | In Australia, Age Pension age | From 49,900 (less if holding 884) | About 18 years | As 103; bridging visa while waiting |
| Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (870) | 3 or 5 years | Outside Australia | 1,515 + 4,855 = 6,370 (3 years) or 1,515 + 10,925 = 12,440 (5 years) | Visa: 7 / 9 months | Approved parent sponsor first; no balance of family test; no work |
Holders of 173 or 884 who apply for the permanent visa pay a first instalment of A$555 plus a second of A$19,420. Sources: Home Affairs current visa pricing (read 22 October 2026); Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa; 870 processing from the processing times tool, updated 29 September 2026 (50% / 90%).
Where the queue is up to.
Applications that meet the core criteria get a queue date, then wait to be released for final processing as places allow. There are 7,060 Parent places in 2026-27.
| Visa | Queue assessment reached | Released for final processing |
|---|---|---|
| Contributory Parent 143 and 173 | Lodged April 2024 | Queue date up to November 2018 |
| Contributory Aged Parent 864 and 884 | Lodged April 2023 | Queue date up to November 2020 |
| Parent 103 | Lodged February 2023 | Queue date up to March 2014 |
| Aged Parent 804 | Lodged January 2023 | Queue date up to October 2014 |
| Temporary to permanent (173 to 143, 884 to 864) | Not applicable | May 2026 |
Under Ministerial Direction 117 (from 25 July 2026), contributory parent visas are processed ahead of non-contributory parent visas. An order is not a promised date. Source: Home Affairs family visa processing priorities.
The rules every permanent parent visa shares
- Balance of family test. At least half of the parent's children must be Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens living in Australia, or more children must live in Australia than in any other single country. Step-children can count.
- A settled sponsor. Usually a child who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen and has lived lawfully in Australia for a reasonable period, usually 2 years. The sponsor agrees to support the parent for the first 2 years.
- Assurance of Support. Someone agrees to repay certain welfare payments and lodges a bond with Services Australia, usually requested late in processing. The bond amount is confirmed in your written quote.
- Health. Parent visas have no health waiver, so the health requirement must be met.
- Online only. Applications that used to be lodged on paper (103, 143, 804 and 864) must now be lodged online through ImmiAccount.
Source: Home Affairs, balance of family test.
The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (870)
For parents, step-parents and parents-in-law who want long visits rather than permanent residence. There is no balance of family test and no Assurance of Support, but the parent cannot work.
- The child applies first to be an approved parent sponsor (fee A$420), and must meet an income test: taxable income of at least A$83,454 for the most recent completed income year.
- Each visa allows 3 or 5 years, up to 10 years in total. Health insurance is needed for the whole stay.
- Only one parent couple can be sponsored at a time.
What families ask about parents.
Is it worth paying for a contributory parent visa?
It costs much more, but the published estimate for new applications is about 18 years rather than about 42. Whether it is worth it depends on your parents' age, health and your family budget. We compare the options in writing.
Can my parents stay in Australia while they wait?
For the in-Australia options (804, 864 and 884), a bridging visa usually lets the parent stay while the application is queued. Travel needs a separate bridging visa. Applications made outside Australia do not come with a bridging visa.
Can you speed up the queue?
No. Nobody can. The order is set by the Minister's direction and the planning level. We help you keep the case ready so there is no delay once it is released.
Plan for your parents with the real numbers.
General information only, checked 22 October 2026. It is not advice for your situation.