About Parent Visa Australia 

The Parent Visa Australia is for parents who have children living in Australia as citizens, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizens. These visas are meant to support family reunification while maintaining strict sponsorship, health, character, and balance-of-family requirements set by the Department of Home Affairs.

Some parent visas grant permanent residence, while others act as temporary pathways toward permanent stay, depending on the subclass. At migrateVerse, we offer simple, clear, and legal advice that takes the fear and guesswork out of achieving your visa requirements.

What Parent Visa Australia Offers?

Parent visas permit eligible parents to live in Australia with their children.

✓ Family Reunification: Let parents stay in Australia with their settled child who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.

✓ Long-Term or Permanent Stay: Depending on the visa subclass, parents can live temporarily for long periods or stay in Australia permanently after a visa grant.

✓ Work Rights (Subclass-Specific): Some Parent Visa subclasses let parents to work in Australia once the visa is approved, subject to visa conditions.

✓ Access to Medicare (If Eligible): Some Parent visa holders may be eligible to enrol in Medicare, depending on residence status & visa type.

✓ Lawful Residence With Conditions: Parents have to satisfy health, character, sponsorship, and assurance of support requirements set by the Department of Home Affairs.

Streams / Subclasses Available for Parent Visa Australia 

There are different subclasses available for Parent Visa Australia, and each one of them has its own purpose listed by the Department of Home Affairs: 

1. Parent Visa – Subclass 103

Parent Visa (Subclass 103) is a permanent visa that allows parents of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or permissible New Zealand citizens to stay in Australia permanently, subject to sponsorship and visa conditions listed by the Department.

• A permanent visa gives parents permission to live in Australia indefinitely. 
• Needs sponsorship by an eligible child or sponsor.
• Subject to the Balance of Family Test and migration queues due to annual caps. 

2. Contributory Parent Visa –Subclass 143 

With higher visa fees but shorter wait times than the non-contributory Parent Visa, Subclass 143 Contributory Parent Visa allows qualified parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to settle in Australia permanently.

• Give permanent residency without moving through a temporary stage.
• Needs a valid sponsorship by an eligible child or sponsor. 
• Processed under a capped migration program, with a queue allocation system. 

3. Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa – Subclass 173

The Subclass 173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa is a two-stage process that permits qualifying parents to remain in Australia temporarily before applying for the Subclass 143 permanent Contributory Parent Visa.

• Offers temporary residence while awaiting permanent visa stage.
• Demands sponsorship by an eligible child or sponsor. 
• Assessed against health and character criteria with queueing. 

4. Aged Parent Visa – Subclass 804

Parents who meet the age requirements and are sponsored by qualifying children can get an Aged Parent Visa Subclass 804, which allows them to live permanently in Australia.

• Grants permanent residency for parents who meet age criteria. (67 years) 
• Applicants must be in Australia, satisfy the balance-of-family test and have a valid sponsorship.
• Subject to an annual cap and queueing under the migration program. 

5. Contributory Aged Parent Visa – Subclass 864

A permanent visa for elderly parents sponsored by qualified children, the Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent Visa has a higher contribution fee but a quicker application process than non-contributory aged parent visas.

• Permanent residence for aged parents (67 years or older) with a contributory pathway. 
• Needs an eligible sponsorship and meeting visa criteria. 
• Processed under capped quotas and queue allocation.

6. Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa – Subclass 884

Eligible old parents may remain in Australia temporarily with the Subclass 884 Contributory old Parent (Temporary) Visa, which provides a route to the permanent Contributory Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 864) when certain requirements are fulfilled.

• Temporary stay for aged parents before applying for permanent subclass 864.
• Requires sponsorship by an eligible child or family sponsor. 
• Assessed against health and character requirements with similar queue rules. 

7. Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa – Subclass 870

Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa does not require the Balance of Family Test and permits qualifying parent applicants, sponsored by an authorized sponsor, to temporarily reside in Australia for a maximum of five years.

• Temporary visa permits stays up to 3–5 years at a time. 
• Does not need the Balance of Family Test. 
• Needs approved sponsorship by an eligible Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible NZ citizen

Key Eligibility Requirements for Parent Visa Australia

Eligibility requirements are subject to change. Make sure to always check the official website of Department of Home Affairs for accuracy. Here are some general eligibility requirements that you need to fill out before applying for a Parent Visa in Australia: 

• Eligible Relationship: Have to be a parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Balance of Family Test: Should qualify for this test unless applying for the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 870).
• Approved Sponsorship: Should be sponsored by an eligible child who completes Home Affairs sponsorship requirements.
• Health & Character Requirements: Must complete Australian health examinations and character assessments.
• Assurance of Support (AoS): Required for certain Parent Visa subclasses, as requested by the Department.

Subclass-Specific Eligibility Requirements 

Different subclasses have their own eligibility requirements, which can be based on their purpose as listed by Australia Immigration Laws: 

Aged Parent Visas – 804, 864, 884

• Age Requirement: Have to be (67 or older)  to qualify for the Australian Age Pension at time of application.
• Location at Application: Must be present in Australia when submitting and when the visa decision is made.
• Balance of Family Test: Must qualify for the Balance of Family Test.
• Sponsorship & Compliance: Must need an eligible sponsor and meet health & character requirements.
• Capped & Queued Visas: Applications are subject to annual migration caps and queue-based processing.

Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa – 870

• Valid Sponsor Required: An eligible sponsor should be there that is an approved Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
• No Balance of Family Test: Balance of Family Test is not needed for this category.
• Health Insurance Requirement: Must have adequate health insurance for the stay duration in Australia.
• Offshore Application: An applicant should apply from outside Australia.
• Temporary Stay Only: Staying permanently in Australia is not covered under this. 

Temporary contributory Visas – 173, 884

• Balance of Family Test: Must qualify for the Balance of Family Test.
• Eligible Sponsorship: Have to be sponsored by an eligible child under Home Affairs rules.
• Two-Stage Pathway: Designed as a pathway to permanent Parent Visas (Subclass 143 or 864).
• Health & Character Criteria: Need to qualify and satisfy health and character requirements.
• Capped & Queued Processing: Applications are subject to migration caps and queue allocation.

Assurance of Support (AoS) Requirements 

For the majority of parent visas, the Department of Home Affairs requires a legal financial commitment known as an Assurance of Support (AoS). An assurer (sponsoring child) agrees to financially support migrating parents and repay certain Centrelink recoverable payments if made during the AoS period. The AoS helps ensure parents do not depend on Australian social security during their first years of residence. 

• Approved Assurer: The assurer should be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen meeting income requirements.
• Financial Capacity Test: Assurer must meet income requirements set by Services Australia to offer financial support.
• Bond Payment: A refundable bond must be paid to Services Australia before visa approval, if requested. 
• AoS Duration: Applies for a specific period that will depend on the Parent Visa subclass granted.
• Legal Obligation: Assurer may be needed to repay specific social security payments redeemed by the visa holder.

Bond Payment Amount, Duration & Other Legal Obligations depend on your visa application and subclass. For better clarity, consult our team, and we will answer your doubts! 

Documents Required For Parent Visa Australia

Parent Visa applications require documents to prove who you are, your relationship with family, that you’re eligible for the visa and that you comply with Australian migration law.

1. Identity Documents: Official passport, birth certificate and nationality documents (if applicable).

2. Relationship Evidence: Birth certificates or legal documents evidencing the parental relationship with the sponsored child.

3. Sponsorship Documents: Sponsorship approval, sponsor identity documents, and evidence of sponsor’s Australian citizenship or permanent residency.

4. Balance of Family Test Evidence: Records of every child’s location and where that child is living.

5. Health Examination Records: Health examinations conducted by approved panel physicians, when required.

6. Character Documents: Clearance certificates from countries resided in, as required by Home Affairs.

7. Assurance of Support (If Requested): AoS acceptance & bond lodgement from Services Australia if applicable on subclasses.

Visa Fees, Stay Duration & Processing Times 

Subclasses	Fees	Stay
Subclass 103 – Parent Visa	From AU$ 7,345over 2 instalments for a single applicant	Permanent
Subclass 143 – Contributory Parent Visa	From AU$ 48,640 over 2 instalments for a single applicant	Permanent
Subclass 173 – Contributory Parent Visa	From AU$ 32,525 over 2 instalments for a single applicant.	Temporary (2 Years)
Subclass 804 – Aged Parent Visa	From AU$ 7,345 over two instalments for a single applicant.	Permanent
Subclass 864 – Contributory Aged Parent Visa	From AU$ 48,640 over 2 instalments for a single applicant	Permanent
Subclass 884 – Contributory Aged Parent Visa	From AU$ 34,170  over 2 instalments for a single applicant	Temporary (2 Years)
Subclass 870 – Sponsored Parent Visa	AU$ 6,070 (3 Years)  AU$ 12,140 (Up to 5 years)	Temporary (Up to 3 or 5 years)

The prices displayed are the base application fees as announced by Department of Home Affairs; they do not include any additional expenses for police certificates, health checks, AoS bonds, or second VAC installments, if any.  For more information on additional fees that may apply, check the official website. 

Processing periods for parent visas can be much longer than those for regular visas because they are capped and queued. For the most recent estimates, always check the official visa processing time reference tool. 

How migrateVerse Handles Your Parent Visa Application? 

Our team is an expert in giving clear, lawful guidance to help parents reunite with their families in Australia.

1️⃣ Eligibility & Visa Pathway Assessment

We analyse your Parent Visa options, Balance of Family Test results, and subclass suitability under current Department of Home Affairs rules.

2️⃣ Sponsorship & AoS Guidance

We guide sponsors through sponsorship approval, Assurance of Support requirements, and Services Australia processes to meet DHA obligations.

3️⃣ Document Planning & Review

We identify required documents, review evidence carefully, and ensure submissions align with Home Affairs standards for Parent Visa applications.

4️⃣ Application Preparation & Lodgement

We prepare and submit your Parent Visa application accurately through ImmiAccount, ensuring all declarations and attachments are compliant.

5️⃣ Ongoing Case Monitoring

We monitor application progress, respond to Home Affairs requests, and keep you informed throughout capped and queue-based processing stages.

6️⃣ Decision & Post-Grant Support

We explain visa conditions, stay rights, and next steps after decision, including pathway guidance where applicable.

Why choose migrateVerse for Parent Visa Australia? 

Trusted guidance for complicated Parent Visa applications under Australian law.

✓ We work strictly within Department of Home Affairs rules to ensure accurate, lawful Parent Visa applications.

✓ Our team understands capped and queued Parent Visas and plans applications accordingly.

✓ We guide sponsors through Balance of Family and Assurance of Support requirements clearly.

✓ We carefully review documents to reduce errors and unnecessary delays.

✓ We keep you informed throughout long processing periods with transparent communication.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)