PARENT VISAS
Parent Visas
Several parent visa pathways are available depending on your parent’s age, location and how soon you need a result. Our immigration lawyers help you compare the options and choose the right one for your family.
- Onshore
- Permanent Residence
- 8–15+ years (subject to capping)
- Govt fee: ~$4,990
- Requires parent to be old enough for Age Pension
What Is the Subclass 804 Visa?
A permanent visa for parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens who are of pension age and are already living in Australia. One of several parent visa options — we help you choose the right pathway for your circumstances.
The Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 804) is a permanent visa for older parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens who are already living in Australia. It is designed for parents who have reached the age required to receive the Australian Age Pension and who satisfy the Balance of Family Test.
Although this visa leads to full permanent residence, processing times are lengthy due to the annual cap on places available. Our immigration lawyers help you assess whether this is the right option for your parent — or whether a different parent visa stream would better suit your family’s timeline.
Who Can Apply?
- Parents who have reached the Australian Age Pension age
- Must be living in Australia at the time of application
- Must satisfy the Balance of Family Test
- Must have an eligible child who is settled in Australia as a citizen or permanent resident
- Must meet health and character requirements
Key Requirements
Age & Sponsorship
- The applicant must have reached the age qualifying them for the Australian Age Pension — this varies depending on date of birth
- The application must be sponsored by an eligible child settled in Australia
Balance of Family Test
- At least half of the applicant's children must be permanently settled in Australia
- More of the applicant's children must live in Australia than in any other single country
Assurance of Support A financial bond is required to confirm the applicant will not need to rely on certain Australian government welfare payments. Our immigration lawyers explain what this involves and how it works before you proceed.
- Onshore
- Temporary (2 years)
- 3–6 years (approx.)
- ~$33,000+
- Pathway to Subclass 864
What Is the Subclass 884 Visa?
A temporary visa for older parents already in Australia, providing a faster route to permanent residence through the Subclass 864. Higher government fees apply but processing times are significantly shorter than the non-contributory stream.
The Subclass 884 is a temporary visa that allows eligible older parents to live in Australia for up to 2 years while they wait to transition to the permanent Contributory Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 864). It is part of the contributory parent visa stream — which processes considerably faster than the standard aged parent pathway, making it a practical option for families who want a more timely outcome.
Before the Subclass 884 expires, the parent can apply for the Subclass 864 to secure permanent residence in Australia.
Who Can Apply?
- Parents who have reached the Australian Age Pension age
- Must be living in Australia at the time of application
- Meet the Balance of Family Test
- Have an eligible sponsor
- Must meet health and character requirements
Key Requirements
Temporary Stay
The Subclass 884 is granted for up to 2 years. It is a provisional step — not a permanent visa — and is intended to be followed by an application for the Subclass 864.
Pathway to PR
Before the Subclass 884 expires, the applicant can lodge an application for the Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent Visa to remain in Australia permanently. Our immigration lawyers manage both applications and ensure the transition between the two stages is handled without any gaps in status.
- Onshore
- Permanent Residence
- 5–8 years (approx.)
- Govt fee:~$47,000+
- Follows Subclass 884
What Is the Subclass 864 Visa?
A permanent visa for older parents seeking to settle in Australia. Faster processing than the standard parent visa stream, with a significant government fee payable across two stages.
The Contributory Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 864) is a permanent visa that allows eligible older parents to live in Australia permanently. It processes faster than the non-contributory aged parent stream but requires a considerably higher financial contribution, paid in two instalments — with the larger amount due before the visa is granted.
Applicants may lodge directly for the Subclass 864 or apply after first holding the temporary Subclass 884 visa.
Who Can Apply?
- Parents who are old enough for Age Pension
- Are in Australia
- Meet the Balance of Family Test
- Have an eligible sponsor
- Must meet health and character requirements
Key Requirements
Residence Requirement
Permanent Residence Once granted, the visa holder can live, work and access Medicare in Australia permanently with no further conditions.
Assurance of Support A financial bond is required to confirm the visa holder will not depend on certain government welfare payments. Our lawyers explain what this involves before you proceed.
Two-Stage Payment The government fee is split across two payments. The first is due at lodgement and the larger second instalment must be paid prior to visa grant.
Important note on government fees and bond amounts: The government fee instalments and Assurance of Support bond amounts are reviewed periodically and subject to change. Our lawyers will confirm the current figures at the time of your consultation so your family can plan ahead with accurate information.
- Onshore
- Temporary (2 years)
- Processing: 3–6 years (approx.)
- Pathway to Subclass 143
What Is the Subclass 173 Visa?
A temporary visa for parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens living outside Australia. A faster alternative to the standard parent stream, with a clear pathway to permanent residence through the Subclass 143.
The Subclass 173 is a temporary visa that allows eligible parents living outside Australia to come and live in Australia for up to 2 years. It is part of the contributory parent stream, which processes significantly faster than the non-contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 103) — making it a practical option for families who want their parent in Australia sooner.
Before the Subclass 173 expires, the parent can apply for the permanent Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143) to remain in Australia permanently.
Who Can Apply?
- Parents who have reached the Australian Age Pension age
- Are in Australia
- Meet the Balance of Family Test
- Have an eligible sponsor
- Must meet health and character requirements
Key Requirements
Residence Requirement
- 3 years living in a designated regional area while holding 491/494
- Designated regional areas include most of Australia outside major cities
- Some absences permitted — specialist advice needed
Work & Income Requirement
- Must have worked in a designated regional area for 3 years
- At least 1 year above minimum taxable income threshold
- Employment records and tax returns required as evidence
Important note on government fees and bond amounts: The government fee instalments and Assurance of Support bond amounts are reviewed periodically and subject to change. Our lawyers will confirm the current figures at the time of your consultation so your family can plan ahead with accurate information.
- Onshore
- Permanent Residence
- Processing: 12–24 months
- Govt fee: ~$4,640
- Follows 491 visa
What Is the Subclass 143 Visa?
A permanent visa for parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens. Faster processing than the standard parent stream, with a significant government fee payable in two stages.
The Subclass 143 is a permanent visa that allows eligible parents to settle in Australia permanently. It is part of the contributory parent stream — which processes considerably faster than the non-contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 103) — but requires a substantially higher government fee, paid across two instalments with the larger amount due before the visa is granted.
Applicants can either lodge directly for the Subclass 143 or transition to it after first holding the temporary Subclass 173 visa.
Who Can Apply?
- Parents who have reached the Australian Age Pension age
- May be in or outside Australia at the time of application
- Must satisfy the Balance of Family Test
- Must have an eligible sponsoring child settled in Australia
- Must meet health and character requirements
Key Requirements
Residence Requirement
- 3 years living in a designated regional area while holding 491/494
- Designated regional areas include most of Australia outside major cities
- Some absences permitted — specialist advice needed
Work & Income Requirement
- Must have worked in a designated regional area for 3 years
- At least 1 year above minimum taxable income threshold
- Employment records and tax returns required as evidence
Important note on government fees and bond amounts: The government fee instalments and Assurance of Support bond amounts are reviewed periodically and subject to change. Our lawyers will confirm the current figures at the time of your consultation so your family can plan ahead with accurate information.
- Onshore
- Permanent Residence
- Processing: 12–24 months
- Govt fee: ~$4,640
- Follows 491 visa
What Is the Subclass 103 Visa?
A permanent visa for parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens. Lower government fees than the contributory stream, but significantly longer waiting times due to strict annual caps.
The Subclass 103 is a permanent visa that allows eligible parents to live in Australia permanently. It is the most affordable of the parent visa options in terms of government fees, making it an appealing choice for families who are not in a rush and are planning well ahead.
However, the trade-off is time. The Subclass 103 is subject to strict annual caps on the number of places available, which means waiting times are extremely long. Families considering this pathway need to plan realistically and understand that the queue can span many years. Our immigration lawyers help you weigh up all available parent visa options so you can make the right decision for your family.
Who Can Apply?
- Parents who have reached the Australian Age Pension age
- Must be outside Australia at the time of application
- Meet the Balance of Family Test
- Have an eligible sponsor
- Must meet health and character requirements
Key Requirements
Residence Requirement
Permanent Residence Once granted, the visa holder can live, work and access Medicare in Australia permanently with no further conditions.
Balance of Family Test At least half of the applicant’s children must be permanently settled in Australia, and more of the applicant’s children must live in Australia than in any other single country.
Assurance of Support A financial bond is required to confirm the visa holder will not need to rely on certain Australian government welfare payments. Our lawyers explain exactly what this involves at your consultation.
Important note on processing times and annual caps: The number of parent visa places available each year is set by the government and can change. Our lawyers will give you an honest and up-to-date picture of current waiting times and help you assess whether this pathway — or an alternative — is the right fit for your family.
- Onshore
- Temporary (3 or 5 years)
- Processing: 12–24 months
- Govt fee: ~$4,640
- Follows 491 visa
What Is the Subclass 870 Visa?
A temporary visa that allows parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens to spend extended time in Australia. Does not lead to permanent residence but is a practical option for families wanting to reunite for longer periods.
The Subclass 870 is a temporary visa that allows eligible parents to stay in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years at a time, with the possibility of applying for a second visa — allowing a total stay of up to 10 years. Unlike other parent visa options, it does not require the Balance of Family Test, which makes it accessible to a broader range of families.
It is important to understand that this visa does not lead to permanent residence. It is designed for families who want to spend meaningful time together in Australia without committing to the full permanent parent visa process — or while waiting for a permanent pathway to progress.
Who Can Apply?
- Parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens
- Can be in or outside Australia at the time of application
- Must be sponsored by an eligible child who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- Have an eligible sponsor
- Must meet health and character requirements
Key Requirements
Residence Requirement
Temporary Stay The visa is granted for either 3 or 5 years. A second Subclass 870 can be applied for, allowing a total combined stay of up to 10 years in Australia.
Approved Sponsor The sponsoring child must apply to become an approved sponsor separately before the parent’s visa application can be lodged. Our immigration lawyers manage both the sponsorship and the visa application together.
No Balance of Family Test Unlike other parent visa streams, the Subclass 870 does not require the applicant to satisfy the Balance of Family Test — making it available to parents who may not meet that requirement.
No Pathway to Permanent Residence This visa does not provide a route to permanent residence. Families who ultimately want their parent to remain in Australia permanently should discuss the long-term options with our immigration lawyers at the same time.
Important note: The Subclass 870 is a temporary visa only. If permanent residence is your goal, our lawyers will help you assess the most suitable permanent parent visa pathway alongside this application so your family can plan ahead.