Australian Parent Visa Assistance
Understanding Your Parent Visa Options
Australia offers several parent visa pathways – each with different eligibility, costs, and processing times. Understanding these distinctions is critical for choosing the right strategy.
Temporary sponsored parent visas (s/c 870) are available for 3 or 5 years validity. They can be extended once, so a maximum stay of 10 years is possible. These visas are strictly temporary nature and don’t grant work rights or access to Medicare. There is no pathway to permanent residency.
Best for: Parents who don’t plan to relocate permanently or who have already applied for a permanent parent visa and seek to bridge the gap.
Cost: Approx. A$ 10,000 (per Person for 5 years)
The Contributory Parent visa (s/c 143) is an offshore visa. It’s a permanent visa granting full work rights, access to Medicare and the option to qualify for Australian citizenship.
Best for: Parents with sufficient funds, seeking to relocate to Australia permanently in the mid- to long term.
Cost: Approx. A$ 50,000 per Person
Processing time: 14+ years
The Contributory Aged Parent visa is an onshore visa. It is available for parents in Australia on a suitable visa, who have reached retirement age.
Best for: Parents already in Australia, who hold sufficient funds and would like to stay in Australia while the Department processes their application.
Cost: Approx. A$ 50,000 per Person
Processing time: 14+ years
The non-contributory aged parent visa (s/c 804) is an onshore visa for parents who have reached retirement age.
Best for: Parents currently in Australia who seek to stay indefinitely and don’t mind the long processing time.
Cost: Approx. A$ 9000 for one Person
Processing time: 30+ years
The non-contributory Parent Visa (s/c 103 ) is an offshore visa. However, due to the long processing times, it is unattractive for most people, as it doesn’t allow for parents to wait onshore.
Cost: Approx. A$ 9000
Processing time: 30+ years
Key Distinctions Explained
Offshore vs. Onshore:
- Offshore (Subclass 143): This visa does not qualify for a Bridging visa. So while you can apply from anwhere, you cannot remain in Australia for the duration of visa processing.
- Onshore (Subclass 864): Apply while holding an eligible Australian visa (e.g., a eligible visitor visa) and stay in Australia during processing. Important: You must already be in Australia and able to lodge a further application onshore.
Contributory vs. Non-Contributory:
- Contributory: Higher cost (approximately A$47,000 pP), shorter queue, faster access to Medicare and other benefits.
- Non-Contributory: Lower cost (approximately A$9,000 pP), but queue exceeds 30 years. Often not a practical option.
Temporary (870) vs. Permanent:
- Temporary (870): Up to a 10 years stay possible, no permanent residency, renewable. Perfect for bridging the gap.
- Permanent (143/864/103): Grants work rights and access to Medicare, as well as a potential pathway to citizenship.
The Problem Most Parents Ignore
The Department of Home Affairs only releases a limited number of Parent Visa places each year. This has created lengthy waiting times, which have now reached at least 15 years for contributory parent visas and 30 years or more for non‑contributory parent visas.
For this reason, it is crucial to plan well in advance. If your children are living in Australia and you already know that you will want to join them later, it’s wise to apply sooner rather than later. A common misconception is that parents must be a certain age to apply for a parent visa. In reality, this only applies to the Aged Parent Visa subclasses.
Instead of waiting until retirement, one possible pathway is to apply well ahead of time, while you are still working. If you want to spend time with your family in Australia during the waiting period, you can also consider applying for a Visitor Visa or the Temporary Sponsored Parent Visa (Subclass 870) to bridge the gap.
Book your Parent Visa strategy assessment to map your timeline and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which parent visa subclass is right for my situation?
It depends on your age, location, budget, and your children’s status in Australia. We conduct a detailed assessment to recommend the optimal pathway.
2. How long does a Contributory Parent Visa really take in 2026?
All permanent parent visa subclasses are subject to capping and queuing. This means each year only a limited number of spaces are being released and allocated. Since demand exceeds supply, a queue started to form over the years.
Current processing estimates for contributory parent visas are 15+ years. This is the Department of Home Affairs own estimate, which can change depending on how many places are released each financial year for the parent visa program.
3. Can I visit Australia while waiting for my permanent visa?
Yes – you can apply for a visitor visa for stays up to 12 months or – if you wish to stay longer – you can apply for a temporary sponsored parent visa (s/c 870) if you and your children meet the requirements.
Please note: timing and order of applications is crucial in this scenario. It is not possible to apply for a s/c 870 first, and then for a permanent parent visa. We recommend seeking professional advice before proceeding.
4. Do I need an Australian sponsor?
In most cases: Yes. Your child needs to be either a permanent resident or a citizen in Australia and have been residing in Australia for a certain number of years (depending on the parent visa subclass).
However, there is an alternative pathway for applicants who hold or held a ‘Retirement (s/c 410)’ or a ‘ Investor Retirement s/c 405)’ visa – even if they do not have children in Australia. If you think this applies to you, we recommend booking a consultation to explore your options.
5. What is the ‘Balance of Family’ Test?
For most parent visas, applicants must have equal or more children living in Australia than in any other country. Your children’s visa status will be taken into account in this test. We will calculate this eligibility upfront.
6. Can I leave Australia during processing?
This will depend on what visa you hold during processing and how long for you seek to leave. Most frequent scenarios include:
- If you’re on a Visitor Visa: standard tourist visa conditions apply.
- If you’re on a Temporary Sponsored Parent Visa (s/c 870) you can travel freely during visa validity.
- If you’re on a Bridging Visa you may have to apply for a different type of Bridging visa to get a travel facility.