Parent Visa

Parent Visa (subclass 103)

The Parent visa (subclass 103) allows parents of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to move and live permanently in Australia with their children. To apply under this visa category, you must be sponsored by your child who has been a settled Australian resident for at least two years.

Key Updates for 2025-2026: The Parent visa (subclass 103) continues to have extremely long processing times of approximately 29 years or more due to the high demand and limited places available. For faster processing, applicants may consider the Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) which has a significantly higher fee but much shorter processing time of approximately 5 to 7 years.

Parent Visa Options

  • Parent visa (subclass 103): Lower cost but very long processing time (29+ years). Application fee: AU$4,990
  • Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143): Higher cost but faster processing (5-7 years). Application fee: AU$4,990 plus second instalment of AU$47,755
  • Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 884/864): For parents of pension age
  • Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870): Temporary option for up to 5 years. Application fee: AU$5,735 (3 years) or AU$11,470 (5 years)

Eligibility

  • You must be the parent of a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
  • Your child must sponsor you and have been a settled resident for at least 2 years
  • You must meet the balance of family test (at least half of your children live in Australia, or more children live in Australia than any other single country)
  • You must meet health and character requirements
  • You must have an Assurance of Support from your sponsor

You might be able to attain the Parent visa (subclass 103) if you:

  • have a child who is:
    • an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen
    • your sponsor is a lawful resident in Australia for at least two years
  • meet the balance-of-family test
  • meet health & character requirements
  • have a sponsor

Balance of family test

The balance-of-family test is used measures your (applicant) ties to Australia. It is important to meet this requirements to be granted the Parent visa (subclass 103), and it cannot be waived even in compelling or exceptional circumstances. You can meet the balance of family test, if either:

  • at least half of your children live permanently in Australia
  • more of your children live permanently in Australia than in any other country

Eligibility for sponsor

Your sponsor must meet the following requirements in order to sponsor their parent under the Parent visa (subclass 103). Your sponsor must:

  • an eligible Australian citizen
  • Australian permanent resident or
  • eligible New Zealand citizen
  • have been living in Australia for at least past two years

Note: Your child or your child’s spouse or de facto partner can also sponsor you.

If your child is less than 18 years of age, you can be sponsored by:

  • your child’s spouse, if the spouse has turned 18 and is a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
  • a relative or guardian of your child, if the relative or guardian has turned 18 and is a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
  • a relative or guardian of your child’s spouse, if the spouse has not turned 18 and is a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
  • an community organisation