Assurance of Support for Parent Visas in Australia
Migratio Editorial · Last updated
TL;DR: An Assurance of Support (AoS) is a formal legal commitment by an Australian resident or citizen (the assurer) to repay the Commonwealth for certain welfare payments the visa holder receives. For contributory parent visas, it is mandatory — not optional — and comes with a cash bond and a 10-year obligation. Non-contributory parent visas may also attract a discretionary AoS requirement. Services Australia administers the process, separate from the Department of Home Affairs.
If you are sponsoring a parent to migrate to Australia on a contributory parent visa, one of the final steps before the visa is granted is an Assurance of Support. The AoS is not a formality — it is a binding legal agreement that can expose the assurer to financial liability for up to a decade after the parent arrives. Understanding what it commits you to, how Services Australia assesses it, and what the bond actually covers will help families plan well before the visa reaches the front of the queue.
What an Assurance of Support Actually Is
Which Parent Visas Require an AoS
The Bond: Amounts and Duration
Who Can Be an Assurer
The Income Test
What Payments Are Recoverable
How & When the AoS Is Lodged
How the AoS Differs for Other Visa Types
Frequently asked questions
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Related: Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143 and 173) Australia: Complete 2026 Guide · Parent Visa Cost Australia: What You Will Actually Pay · Parent Visa Options Australia 2026: Every Pathway Compared · Balance of Family Test Australia: How It Works for Parent Visas