Parent Visa Options Australia 2026: Every Pathway Compared

Overview: All Parent Visa Options

Australia offers these parent visa pathways: Subclass 870 — Sponsored Parent (Temporary): temporary visa, 3 or 5 year stay, maximum 10 years cumulative. Granted quickly (months). Cost: AUD 5,000 (3-year) or AUD 10,000 (5-year). Not a pathway to PR. Subclass 173 — Contributory Parent (Temporary): first stage of the contributory permanent pathway. Temporary visa while waiting. Cost: ~$4,885 upfront, then ~$22,000 for the permanent stage. Waiting time: 4–8 years. Subclass 143 — Contributory Parent (Migrant): direct permanent residence. Most expensive upfront. Cost: ~$4,885 + ~$43,600 second instalment. Waiting time: 5–8 years. Subclass 864 — Contributory Aged Parent: same as 143 but specifically for eligible pensionable age applicants who are already in Australia. Subclass 103 — Parent (Migrant): permanent, very low cost (approximately $3,000 total) but extremely long waiting time — up to 30+ years. Effectively not a practical option for most people given the wait. All permanent parent visas require: the balance of family test; an assurance of support bond; health examinations; police clearances.

The Balance of Family Test: Who Qualifies?

All parent visas — contributory and standard — require the applicant to pass the Balance of Family Test. The test asks: where do the majority of the applicant's children live? To pass: at least half of the applicant's children must permanently reside in Australia; OR more of the applicant's children must permanently reside in Australia than in any other single country. 'Children' includes biological children, legally adopted children, and stepchildren regardless of age. Children who are deceased do not count. Children who are Australian citizens or permanent residents living in Australia count toward the Australian side of the test. If the parent has 2 children — 1 in Australia and 1 in the UK — they may still pass: 1 in Australia, 1 in the UK = tied. Half are in Australia (technically 50%), and more are in Australia than in any single other country (1 = 1). This example passes. Complex family structures should be reviewed by a migration agent to confirm test eligibility before lodging.

Contributory vs Standard: The Cost-Time Trade-Off

The choice between the contributory parent visa (143/173) and the standard parent visa (103) is a trade-off between cost and time: Standard Parent visa (103): approximate total cost $3,000. Waiting time: 20–30+ years. At current program settings, the 103 offers little practical value for most families. Contributory Parent visa (143 direct): approximate total cost $50,000–$60,000+ per applicant (including second instalment, assurance of support, health, police, and agent fees). Waiting time: 5–8 years from current lodgement date. For families where the parent is older or in declining health, a 5–8 year wait may still feel long — but it is dramatically better than 30 years. The fundamental decision for most families: if the family can afford the contributory pathway, it is the only realistic permanent option within the parent's likely lifespan. The 870 Sponsored Parent visa provides the bridge while the permanent application queue moves.

Using the 870 While Waiting for Permanent Residence

The most practical parent visa strategy for most families in 2026 is: Lodge the Subclass 143 Contributory Parent application immediately to secure a queue position. Simultaneously apply for a Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa to allow the parent to live in Australia now. The 870 provides up to 10 years of cumulative stay (via a 5-year + 5-year sequence, or 3+5+2, etc.). During the 870 period, the parent can live with the family, have access to Medicare (if applicable), work if they wish, and travel. When the 143 permanent visa is eventually granted (5–8 years from lodgement), the parent transitions directly from the 870 to permanent residence. This dual-track approach is well-established and used by thousands of Australian families. The parent does not need to leave Australia to receive the 143 in most circumstances (though the visa is typically granted offshore — the parent usually departs temporarily for the grant).

Special Considerations: Health and Age

Parent visas are subject to the health requirement — the Department must be satisfied that granting the visa is not likely to impose a significant cost or demand on Australia's health or community services. Older parents with significant pre-existing health conditions (particularly those requiring ongoing treatment, dialysis, or significant pharmaceutical costs) may face health requirement issues. Health assessments are conducted by panel physicians appointed by the Department and are more detailed for older applicants and longer-visa durations. A health waiver is available in some circumstances — it involves the Department weighing the cost to public funds against the family benefit. Waivers are not guaranteed and require strong submissions. Age also affects strategy — a parent who is healthy at 65 when the 143 is lodged may be in very different health by 72 when it is granted. For parents in fragile health, the 870 visa provides more flexibility and certainty in the near term, even if the permanent pathway is also pursued.

Visit or Migrate? Two Different Goals

The first decision is whether your parent wants to visit Australia for extended periods or to migrate permanently — the answer points to very different visas. If the goal is to spend long stretches in Australia without becoming a permanent resident, the visit options are the Visitor visa (Subclass 600), which can allow stays of up to 12 months in some streams, and the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870), which allows continuous stays of three or five years and can be renewed up to a cumulative ten years. Neither leads to permanent residence. If the goal is permanent residence, the migrate options are the parent visas: the Contributory Parent visas (Subclass 143 permanent and 173 temporary) and the standard Parent visa (Subclass 103), plus the Aged Parent versions (Subclass 804 and 864) for parents who are old enough to apply onshore. The migrate options share the same Balance of Family test and Assurance of Support bond, but differ enormously in cost and waiting time. Many families use a visit visa to spend time together while a permanent application sits in the queue.

Can I apply for a parent visa from inside Australia?

The 143 application can be lodged onshore. However, the 143 is a migrant visa — it is typically granted offshore (the parent must be outside Australia when the visa is granted, unless a specific onshore variant applies). The 870 can be applied for and granted in Australia. The 873 (Contributory Aged Parent Temporary) is an onshore temporary option worth asking your agent about.

What is the assurance of support bond and who pays it?

The Australian child sponsor must provide an assurance of support (AoS) — a bond to the Australian Government. The bond is held for 10 years and returned in full if no claim is made. The current bond is approximately $10,000 for the primary applicant + $4,000 per additional applicant. It is the sponsor's responsibility to lodge and pay the AoS.

My parent has been a visitor to Australia on tourist visas. Does this affect their parent visa?

Previous visitor visa history is relevant — it demonstrates the parent has complied with Australian visa conditions. However, if the parent has overstayed a visitor visa or breached conditions in the past, this can affect the parent visa application and should be disclosed to a migration agent before lodging.

Can both parents of the same child apply for parent visas?

Yes. Each parent must have their own visa application. Both can apply for the 143 or 870 simultaneously. Each has their own application fee, health check, and assurance of support requirement.