Overview
Parent visas let a parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen settle in Australia. Contributory Parent visas (subclasses 173/143 offshore, 884/864 onshore) have much higher charges but far shorter processing than non-contributory Parent visas (103/804). The sponsoring child must meet a balance-of-family and assurance-of-support test.
The big decision is contributory vs non-contributory. Contributory costs much more but is processed far sooner; non-contributory is cheaper but the queue runs for many years. We model the real cost and timeline for your family before you commit.
Who is eligible
- Have a child who is a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible NZ citizen
- Meet the balance-of-family test
- Have an approved sponsor and assurance of support
- Meet health and character requirements
Costs
Fees change with annual indexation. See the official Visa Pricing Estimator for the current figure.
Processing times
See the official global visa processing times .
How to apply
- Choose contributory vs non-contributory. Contributory costs significantly more but is processed far faster; non-contributory has very long queues.
- Confirm the balance-of-family test. At least half your children must live permanently in Australia (or more than in any other single country).
- Lodge with assurance of support. An assurance of support and health requirements apply.
Frequently asked questions
Why are contributory parent visas so much more expensive?
Contributory Parent visas carry a much larger second-instalment charge that contributes to health and welfare costs, in exchange for substantially shorter processing than non-contributory parent visas.
What is the balance-of-family test?
Generally, at least half of your children must live lawfully and permanently in Australia, or more of them live in Australia than in any other single country.
How long do parent visas take?
Non-contributory parent visas have very long queues (many years). Contributory parent visas are faster. See the processing time shown above, sourced from Home Affairs.