Information current to 12 October 2026. Queue and processing figures are the Department of Home Affairs' published data as at 31 August 2026. Fees are those in force from 1 July 2026.
If you are researching a parent visa Australia 2026 application, the first thing to know is that the main permanent options are capped and queued. Home Affairs currently estimates that a new Contributory Parent visa application lodged today will take about 18 years to be finalised, and a new non-contributory Parent or Aged Parent application about 42 years. That does not mean bringing your parents is impossible. It means the right subclass, the right timing and the right temporary visa in the meantime matter more than almost any other visa category.
This guide sets out every current parent pathway, the 2026–27 fees, the latest queue release dates, the eligibility tests that trip people up, and a practical plan for families in India, Malaysia and those already living in Australia.
Parent visa Australia 2026: key facts at a glance
- Parent places in 2026–27: 7,060 in the Migration Program, down from 8,500 in 2025–26.
- Estimated wait for new applications: about 18 years (Contributory) and 42 years (Parent and Aged Parent), per Home Affairs.
- Latest queue release (as at 31 August 2026): Contributory Parent queued up to November 2018; Contributory Aged Parent up to November 2020; Parent up to March 2014; Aged Parent up to October 2014.
- Contributory Parent (143) government cost: AUD 6,300 first instalment plus AUD 43,600 second instalment for the main applicant.
- Fastest realistic option: the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa subclass 870, for stays of 3 or 5 years at a time, up to 10 years in total.
- Two tests decide most cases: the balance of family test and the sponsor being an eligible, settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
The parent visa options in Australia, explained
Need expert guidance?
Speak with a migration specialist
Get personalised advice on your visa pathway — response within 2 hours.
There are seven parent-specific subclasses. They fall into three groups.
1. Contributory parent visas (higher cost, shorter wait)
- Contributory Parent visa subclass 143 (permanent): for parents of any age. Can be applied for directly.
- Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa subclass 173: a two-year temporary visa that splits the cost. Holders can later apply for the 143.
- Contributory Aged Parent visa subclass 864 (permanent): for parents who have reached Age Pension age (currently 67) and apply in Australia.
- Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa subclass 884: the two-year temporary version of the 864.
2. Non-contributory parent visas (lower cost, very long wait)
- Parent visa subclass 103: permanent, applied for from outside Australia.
- Aged Parent visa subclass 804: permanent, for parents of Age Pension age who apply in Australia.
3. Temporary sponsored parent visa
- Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa subclass 870: not a permanent pathway, but it lets parents stay for 3 or 5 years per visa, up to 10 years in total. The child must be approved as a sponsor first.
Home Affairs has a single overview of all of these on its Join family visa finder.
Parent visa processing times and queue dates in 2026
Parent visas are processed in two stages. Home Affairs first assesses each application in lodgement date order. If the parent meets the core criteria (including the balance of family test and sponsorship), the application gets a queue date. Applications that don't meet the core criteria are refused at this stage. Queued applications are then released for final processing in queue date order as places become available each program year.
These are the published dates as at 31 August 2026:
| Subclass | Initial assessment reached (lodged) | Released for final processing (queued up to) |
|---|---|---|
| 143 Contributory Parent | April 2024 | November 2018 |
| 173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) | April 2024 | November 2018 |
| 864 Contributory Aged Parent | April 2023 | November 2020 |
| 884 Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) | April 2023 | November 2020 |
| 103 Parent | February 2023 | March 2014 |
| 804 Aged Parent | January 2023 | October 2014 |
| 173 to 143 and 884 to 864 (temporary to permanent) | Not applicable | May 2026 |
Source: Home Affairs, Parent visas queue release dates and processing times. Home Affairs generally updates the estimates once a year at the start of each program year, and it does not respond to individual status enquiries.
Two things stand out. First, a Contributory Parent application queued in late 2018 is only now being finalised, so roughly seven to eight years from lodgement for families who applied then. Second, the official estimate for new applications is longer still (18 years), because there are fewer places this year and the queue behind them is large. Many older online guides still quote 5 to 6 years for contributory visas. That figure is out of date.
Why the wait is getting longer
The 2026–27 Migration Program sets the Family stream at 52,460 places, of which Parent visas receive 7,060, compared with 8,500 last year. Parent visas are capped, so once the year's places are used, no more permanent parent visas are granted until 1 July. You can check the program numbers on the Home Affairs Migration Program planning levels page.
Parent visa costs from 1 July 2026
Visa application charges were indexed on 1 July 2026 and base charges for parent visas rose by about 25%. Contributory visas carry a large second instalment, which is only requested near the end of processing, so you do not pay it at lodgement.
| Subclass | First instalment (main applicant) | Additional applicant 18+ | Additional applicant under 18 | Second instalment (main applicant) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 143 Contributory Parent | AUD 6,300 | AUD 2,125 | AUD 1,065 | AUD 43,600 |
| 173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) | AUD 4,245 | AUD 2,125 | AUD 1,065 | AUD 29,130 |
| 864 Contributory Aged Parent | AUD 6,300 | AUD 3,145 | AUD 1,580 | AUD 43,600 |
| 884 Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) | AUD 6,300 | AUD 3,145 | AUD 1,580 | Requested at final stage |
| 103 Parent | AUD 6,600 | AUD 3,300 | AUD 1,655 | Smaller second instalment |
| 804 Aged Parent | AUD 6,600 | AUD 3,300 | AUD 1,655 | Smaller second instalment |
| 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) | AUD 1,515 | Not applicable (each parent applies separately) | Not applicable | AUD 4,855 (3-year visa) or AUD 10,925 (5-year visa) |
Additional adult applicants in a contributory application (usually the other parent) also pay a second instalment. Always confirm the exact total for your family in the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator before lodging, because it applies the charges in force on the day you pay. For a full rundown of what changed on 1 July, see our article on Australian visa changes from 1 July 2026.
Other costs to budget for
- Assurance of Support (contributory visas): a bond of AUD 10,000 for the main applicant and AUD 4,000 for each additional adult, lodged with Services Australia and held for the 10-year assurance period. It is refundable if the parents do not claim recoverable social security payments. Non-contributory visas need a smaller bond for a shorter period. Details are on the Department of Social Services Assurance of Support page.
- Health examinations with a Home Affairs panel physician, and police certificates from every country the parent has lived in for 12 months or more over the last 10 years.
- Private health insurance for 870 holders, who are not covered by Medicare.
- Translations and certification of birth, marriage and name-change documents that are not in English.
Eligibility: the tests that decide most parent visa cases
The balance of family test
For all the permanent parent visas and the 173 and 884, the parent must meet the balance of family test. In short, at least half of the parent's children must be living lawfully and permanently in Australia, or more of the parent's children must live lawfully and permanently in Australia than in any other single country. All children count, including step-children and adopted children. A couple's children are counted together.
Example: a mother in Chennai has three children. One is an Australian citizen in Melbourne, one lives in India and one in the United States. One of three is not half, and Australia does not have more children than India or the US. She fails the test. If a second child becomes an Australian permanent resident, she passes. This is often the reason families wait to lodge until a sibling's PR is granted.
The sponsor
The sponsor is usually the parent's child (or the child's partner) who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen and is settled, which generally means having lived lawfully in Australia for at least two years. The sponsor also gives an undertaking to support the parent for their first two years in Australia.
Age for the aged parent visas
Subclasses 804, 864 and 884 require the parent to be old enough to receive the Age Pension, which is currently 67. These visas are applied for in Australia, so the parent must be onshore and hold a visa that does not stop them applying. Many visitor visas carry condition 8503 (No Further Stay), which blocks this.
870 sponsor requirements
For the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa, the child must first lodge and get approval of a parent sponsor application. Sponsors must meet an income threshold (indexed each year), provide police checks and can have no more than two sponsored parents per household at one time. Up to 15,000 of these visas can be granted each program year. The parent then has to show evidence of adequate health insurance. Full criteria are on the Home Affairs subclass 870 page.
Which parent visa should you choose?
| Your situation | Usually the best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You can fund about AUD 50,000 per parent plus the bond, and want permanent residency | 143 (or 864 if aged and onshore) | Far shorter wait than non-contributory; full PR and Medicare on grant |
| Same goal, but you want to spread the cost | 173 then 143 (or 884 then 864) | Lower upfront second instalment, two years in Australia first; costs slightly more overall |
| Funds are limited and parents are not in a hurry for PR | 870 now, possibly with a queued permanent application | Lets parents live here for years while the permanent queue moves |
| Parent already 67+ and in Australia on a visa without 8503 | 864 or 804 | Onshore lodgement may give a bridging visa while waiting |
| Parents only want to visit for a few months a year | Visitor visa subclass 600 | Cheaper and faster; long-validity multiple-entry options exist for parents |
If short visits are enough, read our guide to the multiple-entry visitor visa for Australia before committing to a decades-long queue.
Step-by-step: applying for a parent visa
- Confirm the balance of family test with a list of every child, their country of residence and their visa or citizenship status, with evidence.
- Confirm the sponsor is eligible and settled. Gather the sponsor's citizenship or PR evidence and proof of residence in Australia.
- Pick the subclass using cost, age and location. Moving between contributory and non-contributory later is possible in some cases, but it costs time and money.
- Prepare identity and relationship documents: passports, birth certificates showing the parent-child link, marriage certificates and any name-change records.
- Lodge the application (most parent visas are lodged online through ImmiAccount) and pay the first instalment. Home Affairs says acknowledgement takes about four weeks.
- Wait for initial assessment and a queue date. Keep contact details and circumstances updated in ImmiAccount throughout.
- At final processing, complete health examinations and police certificates when requested, lodge the Assurance of Support (contributory visas) and pay the second instalment.
- Visa grant. Note the initial entry date if the parent is outside Australia.
Common parent visa mistakes
- Miscounting children for the balance of family test. Step-children, adopted children and children from earlier relationships all count, even if they have no contact with the family.
- Lodging an aged parent visa on a visa with condition 8503. The application will not be valid. Check the visa grant notice first.
- Doing health checks and police certificates too early. They generally expire after about 12 months. Wait until Home Affairs asks for them at final processing.
- Relying on old processing times. The 5 to 6 year estimates on older websites no longer reflect Home Affairs' published figures.
- Not planning for the second instalment and bond. When the request arrives, it has a deadline. Families who cannot pay in time can face refusal.
- Inconsistent names and dates of birth across passports, school records and birth certificates, which is very common in documents issued decades ago.
Parent visa from India or Malaysia: practical points
Families in India
India is one of the largest source countries for parent visa applications, and the same documentation issues come up repeatedly. Birth certificates for parents born in the 1950s and 1960s are often missing or late-registered, so plan for secondary evidence such as school leaving certificates and affidavits. Indian police clearance certificates are issued through Passport Seva in India or the Indian mission in Australia. If you need help, our team offers police clearance certificate assistance. Health examinations must be done at a Home Affairs approved panel clinic. Many Indian families use a visitor visa while the permanent application is queued; our visitor visa guide for Indian citizens covers what officers look for.
Families in Malaysia
Malaysian passport holders can usually visit on an Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601), which suits short stays but not long ones. For parents who want to spend most of the year in Australia, the 870 is often the more useful tool. The same balance of family test applies, and families with children spread across Malaysia, Singapore and Australia should map it out carefully before lodging.
Families already in Australia
If your parents are already here and of Age Pension age, check whether their current visa allows an onshore 804 or 864 application. Lodging onshore can give access to a bridging visa, but it also ties the parents to Australia in practical terms, since leaving on a bridging visa needs separate travel permission.
How EazyViza can help
EazyViza is backed by Collins Quarters, a migration and commercial law firm with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Chennai and Kuala Lumpur. For parent visas, we help families with:
- A balance of family test and sponsor eligibility check before anything is lodged.
- Choosing between 143, 173, 864, 884, 103, 804 and 870 based on cost, age and your family's timeline.
- Document preparation, translations and police certificates for parents in India and Malaysia.
- 870 sponsorship applications and the parent visa that follows.
- Responding to Home Affairs requests at final processing, including the Assurance of Support.
Start with an initial assessment or try the free eligibility checker.
Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not legal or migration advice. Visa rules, fees, caps and processing times change, often with little notice. Check the Department of Home Affairs website and get advice on your own circumstances before you apply. Information current to 12 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a parent visa take in Australia in 2026?
Home Affairs estimates that a new Contributory Parent visa application lodged now will take about 18 years to finalise, and a new Parent or Aged Parent (non-contributory) application about 42 years. As at 31 August 2026, contributory applications queued up to November 2018 were being released for final processing. These estimates are updated yearly at the start of each program year.
How much does a Contributory Parent visa 143 cost in 2026?
From 1 July 2026 the first instalment is AUD 6,300 for the main applicant, AUD 2,125 for each additional adult and AUD 1,065 for each child. A second instalment of AUD 43,600 per main applicant is paid near the end of processing. You also need an Assurance of Support bond of AUD 10,000 for the main applicant and AUD 4,000 per additional adult.
What is the balance of family test for an Australian parent visa?
The parent passes if at least half of their children live lawfully and permanently in Australia, or if more of their children live lawfully and permanently in Australia than in any other single country. All children count, including step-children and adopted children. Many families fail because one child in Australia is on a temporary visa rather than permanent residency.
Can my parents live in Australia while the parent visa is processed?
It depends on where they apply. Parents of Age Pension age who apply onshore for an 804 or 864 may get a bridging visa, provided their current visa allows an onshore application and has no 8503 condition. Others commonly use a visitor visa for short stays or the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa subclass 870, which allows stays of 3 or 5 years at a time.
What is the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa 870?
The 870 lets parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens stay for 3 or 5 years per visa, up to 10 years in total. The child must first be approved as a parent sponsor. From 1 July 2026 the first instalment is AUD 1,515, with a second instalment of AUD 4,855 (3 years) or AUD 10,925 (5 years). Parents must hold health insurance.
How many parent visas does Australia grant in 2026-27?
The 2026-27 Migration Program allocates 7,060 places to Parent visas, down from 8,500 in 2025-26, within a Family stream of 52,460 places. Parent visas are capped, so once the year's places are used, no more permanent parent visas are granted until the next program year begins on 1 July. The separate 870 temporary visa has its own cap of up to 15,000 grants a year.
Is the contributory parent visa worth the extra cost?
For most families who can afford it, yes, because the wait is far shorter. Home Affairs estimates about 18 years for new contributory applications compared with about 42 years for non-contributory ones, and contributory releases are several years ahead. The non-contributory route is cheaper but, for many parents, the wait makes it unrealistic. Families with limited funds often combine an 870 visa with longer-term planning.