Forms 47PA and 40: Applying for a Parent Visa

What each form does

Form 47PA is the paper application made by the parent seeking to migrate to Australia to join their adult child. Since 22 April 2026, it's only used to lodge the two parent visa subclasses that remain paper-only — Contributory Parent (Temporary) (173) and Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) (884). For the other four subclasses (103, 143, 804, 864) the applicant now applies directly through ImmiAccount instead of filling in Form 47PA. Form 40, despite its generic-sounding title ('Sponsorship for migration to Australia'), covers sponsorship not just for parents but also for aged dependent relatives, remaining relatives and carers — and it's still completed by the sponsoring adult child (or in some cases another eligible relative) for every parent visa subclass, whether the applicant's own application is lodged on paper or through ImmiAccount.

Whichever path applies, Form 40 and the supporting evidence Home Affairs requires — together with Form 47PA for the two paper-only subclasses — make up a complete parent visa application.

Which visa subclasses this covers

Forms 47PA and 40 apply across the parent visa family: the non-contributory Parent visa (subclass 103, permanent, with typically much longer queue-based processing), the temporary Contributory Parent visa (subclass 173) and its permanent counterpart (subclass 143), and the Aged Parent visa (subclass 804) with its contributory equivalent (subclass 864, plus the related temporary subclass 884). The 'contributory' subclasses carry a substantially higher application charge in exchange for materially faster processing than the non-contributory 103/804 queue.

Which subclass fits depends on the parent's age (aged parent subclasses require the applicant to be of Age Pension age), the family's tolerance for cost versus wait time, and whether the applicant is already in Australia when they apply.

Which parent visas lodge online, and which are still paper-only

Since 22 April 2026, applicants for the Parent (103), Contributory Parent (143), Aged Parent (804) and Contributory Aged Parent (864) visas must lodge their application online through ImmiAccount, not on Form 47PA. The sponsor's Form 40 is still a paper form the sponsor completes and gives to the applicant to attach as a document in that online application.

The two temporary contributory subclasses are the exception. For Contributory Parent (Temporary) (173) and Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) (884), Home Affairs states plainly that 'online lodgement is not available' — the applicant must still complete Form 47PA and Form 40 on paper and send them by post or courier to the processing centre named on the current form.

For the two paper-only subclasses this matters practically: postal or courier transit time is itself part of your application timeline, lodgement date is determined by when Home Affairs receives (not sends) the application, and any error that would be caught instantly by an online form's validation (a missing signature, an unanswered mandatory question) can instead sit undiscovered until the physical file is reviewed. Always confirm the current lodgement address on the form itself — processing centre addresses can change, and Home Affairs' own published guidance is the authority on where to send your specific subclass. If you later move from a subclass 173 or 884 visa to the matching permanent 143 or 864 visa, that follow-on application is one of the four that lodges online.

The balance-of-family test

Most permanent parent visa subclasses require the applicant to pass the balance-of-family test — a fixed, numeric assessment of where the applicant's children live, not a qualitative judgement about family closeness or cultural obligation. Broadly, a parent passes if at least half of their children (including step-children) live permanently in Australia as citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens, or if more of their children live in Australia than in any other single country.

This test cannot be waived for compelling or exceptional circumstances — it's a hard eligibility criterion, unlike some other parts of the migration system where discretion applies. The one parent visa that doesn't require it is the temporary Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa, subclass 870 — a different visa entirely from the 103/143/173/804/864/884 family covered by Forms 47PA and 40. It's worth investigating if the balance-of-family test looks like it won't be met, but note that once a parent has applied for or holds an 870, they cannot then lodge a new application for any of the 103/143/173/804/864/884 visas.

Sponsor eligibility on Form 40

The sponsor for a parent visa is generally the applicant's adult child (or, in some circumstances, another eligible relative), who must be aged 18 or over, an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, and settled and resident in Australia at the time the application is lodged — similar in principle to the character and suitability checks that apply to partner visa sponsors, though the specific criteria differ by category. As with the partner visa sponsorship form, it's worth reading Form 40's current sponsor eligibility section closely rather than assuming any adult child automatically qualifies.

Getting the forms and confirming lodgement details

Download the current version of Form 40 directly from the Home Affairs form-listing page rather than reusing an older saved copy — every applicant's sponsor needs it, whichever subclass they're applying for. If you're applying for one of the two paper-only subclasses (173 or 884), also download the current Form 47PA, and double-check the specific mailing or courier address named on the current form before sending anything — sending to an outdated address can add real delay to a category that's often already a long wait. If you're applying for one of the four subclasses that now lodge online (103, 143, 804 or 864), you apply through ImmiAccount instead, attaching the sponsor's completed Form 40 as a document. Given the cost differences between contributory and non-contributory streams and the hard balance-of-family test, this is a category where getting early advice on which subclass genuinely fits is worth more than in most other visa types. A MARA-registered agent can assess your family's specific situation — on Migratio you describe your situation once and compare consultation fees from MARA-registered agents (comparing is free; consults are typically $150–$300 and you pay only if you book).

What is Form 47PA used for?

Form 47PA, 'Application for a parent to migrate to Australia', is the applicant's paper form for the parent visa category. Since 22 April 2026 it's only used for the two subclasses that remain paper-only — Contributory Parent (Temporary) (173) and Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) (884) — paired with Form 40, completed by the sponsoring adult child. The other four subclasses (103, 143, 804, 864) now lodge through ImmiAccount instead.

Can I apply for a parent visa online through ImmiAccount?

For four of the six subclasses, yes. Since 22 April 2026, the Parent (103), Contributory Parent (143), Aged Parent (804) and Contributory Aged Parent (864) visas must be lodged online through ImmiAccount. The two temporary contributory streams — Contributory Parent (Temporary) (173) and Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) (884) — remain paper-only; Home Affairs states online lodgement 'is not available' for these two.

What is the balance-of-family test?

A fixed numeric rule most permanent parent visas require the applicant to pass: broadly, at least half of the applicant's children live permanently in Australia, or more live in Australia than in any other single country. It's assessed on numbers and location only, and can't be waived for compelling circumstances.

Who can sponsor a parent visa?

Generally the applicant's adult child (or in some circumstances another eligible relative), who must be aged 18 or over, an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, and settled and resident in Australia when the application is lodged.

Which parent visa doesn't require the balance-of-family test?

The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa, subclass 870, doesn't require it — but it's a different visa from the 103/143/173/804/864/884 family covered by Forms 47PA and 40, with its own separate application process. Note that already holding or having applied for an 870 blocks a new application for any of those six.

What's the difference between the contributory and non-contributory parent visa subclasses?

Contributory subclasses (143, 173, 864, 884) carry a substantially higher charge in exchange for materially faster processing than the non-contributory queue (103, 804). Whether you use Form 47PA or apply through ImmiAccount depends on the specific subclass, not on whether it's contributory: the permanent contributory visas (143, 864) now lodge online, while the temporary contributory visas (173, 884) remain paper-only on Form 47PA.