Bringing parents to Australia permanently is one of the most common requests migration agents receive — and one of the most difficult to navigate. The costs are high, the wait times can be decades-long, and the rules are complex. Here's an honest guide to your options.
The two main pathways
Contributory parent visa (Subclass 143/173)
The faster option, but significantly more expensive:
- Subclass 143: Permanent visa — $47,955 visa charge + $10,000-$15,000 Assurance of Support bond per parent
- Subclass 173: Temporary (2 years), then convert to 143 — split the cost into two payments
- Processing time: Approximately 12-24 months (significantly faster than non-contributory)
Non-contributory parent visa (Subclass 103/804)
Much cheaper but with an extremely long queue:
- Subclass 103: Applied from outside Australia — $4,990
- Subclass 804: Applied from inside Australia (aged parent, 65+) — $4,990
- Processing time: Currently estimated at 15-30+ years
The balance of family test
All parent visa applicants must pass the balance of family test. Your parents are eligible if:
- At least half of their children live permanently in Australia, OR
- More of their children live in Australia than in any other single country
All children (including stepchildren and adopted children) are counted, regardless of their nationality or immigration status. This test catches many families by surprise — if your parents have five children and only two live in Australia, they won't pass.
Assurance of Support
For contributory parent visas, the sponsoring child must provide an Assurance of Support (AoS) — a financial guarantee to the Australian Government that the parents will not rely on social security payments for 10 years. The bond is typically $10,000-$15,000 per parent and is held by Centrelink for the assurance period.
Temporary sponsored parent visa (Subclass 870)
A newer option for parents who don't want to commit to permanent migration. The Subclass 870 allows parents to visit Australia for 3 or 5 years:
- 3-year visa: $5,735
- 5-year visa: $11,470
- Renewable once (maximum 10 years total)
- No work rights
- Must hold adequate health insurance for the entire stay
- Sponsoring child must meet income requirements
Which option should you choose?
- Can afford $50K+ per parent and want PR? → Contributory 143 (fastest permanent option)
- Want to split the cost? → Temporary 173 first, then convert to 143
- On a budget, willing to wait 20+ years? → Non-contributory 103 (lodge now, wait in the queue)
- Just want parents to visit long-term? → Sponsored Parent 870 (3-5 years, renewable)
- Short visit? → Tourist visa 600 (3-12 months, cheapest option)
Many families use a combination strategy: lodge a non-contributory application to hold a place in the queue, use tourist visas or the 870 for visits in the meantime, and switch to the contributory pathway if they can afford it later.
Parent visa applications involve significant financial commitments and complex eligibility requirements. A registered migration agent can assess your family's situation and recommend the most practical pathway.