Bringing your parents to join you permanently in Australia is a life-changing decision. The Australian Parent Visa program offers several structured pathways for Australian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents. Choosing the right visa depends entirely on your family’s priorities: speed or cost. At Bombay Migrations, our MARA-registered migration agents provide expert guidance to navigate these complexities, from the strict Balance of Family Test to the financial commitment of the Assurance of Support (AoS). We help you secure the best route to permanent residency in Australia.
Choosing the Best Parent Visa for Australia: Current Facts & Comparison
Understanding the different types of parent visas Australia offers is the first crucial step. The permanent streams are segregated based on the financial contribution and the resulting queue length, which defines the parent visa processing time.
Parent Visa Australia Comparison Table (As at November 2025)
Visa Stream | Permanent Subclasses | Cost (VAC) (Approx.) | Estimated Wait Time (New Apps) | Key Feature |
Contributory | 143 (Permanent), 173 (Temporary) | High (From $$32,525$ to $$48,640$ AUD) | Approx. 12-15+ Years | Faster PR Queue (High Cost) |
Non-Contributory | 103 (Offshore), 804 (Onshore Aged) | Low (From $ 7,345AUD) | Approx. 30+ Years | Lowest Government Fee (Long Queue) |
Sponsored Temporary | 870 (Temporary) | Medium ($6,070$ for 3 yrs, $12,140$ for 5 yrs) | Months (Typically 6-12) | Fastest Grant, No BFT (No PR Pathway) |
Disclaimer: The figures provided in this table are indicative estimates and based on current (late 2025) published data from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and Services Australia. Visa Application Charges (VACs) are subject to change by the Australian Government without prior notice, often increasing annually in July. Processing times for capped and queued visas (143/103) are projections only, based on current visa program allocations and backlogs. For the latest fees and official queue release dates, always refer to the relevant government websites.
The Contributory vs. Non-Contributory Decision
The primary difference is the cost vs. processing time. Choosing the best parent visa for Australia relies on assessing your family’s financial capacity and expected timeline.
- Priority: Time (Contributory): This stream requires a higher contribution fee but is processed significantly faster. Current applications being released for final processing are those queued up to June 2018. [Click here to view the detailed costs and requirements for the Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143/173).
- Priority: Cost (Non-Contributory): This stream has a much lower government charge but is subject to a strict annual cap of 8,500 places for the entire Parent program, resulting in the extremely long queue. Current applications being released are those queued up to June 2013.
Read the complete guide to Non-Contributory Parent Visas (Subclass 103/804) and the current queue dates.
Core Requirements: Fact-Checking Eligibility Criteria
Every permanent parent visa application requires a sponsor and adherence to the government’s family composition rules.
The Mandatory Balance of Family Test (BFT)
To pass the Balance of Family Test, the parent must demonstrate that at least half of their children are Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens usually resident in Australia. This is a non-negotiable criterion for most permanent residency for parents in Australia visa applications.
Sponsorship and Assurance of Support (AoS) Requirements
An eligible sponsor parent visa Australia applicant must be 18 or older, settled in Australia, and commit to providing an Assurance of Support (AoS). This mandatory commitment requires the sponsor to:
- Pass the Sponsor Income Test, which assesses the taxable income from the previous financial year.
- Lodge a refundable security AoS Bond with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
The current AoS bond amounts for a single adult are approximately $10,000 AUD for Contributory visas (Subclass 143/864), where the bond is held for 10 years, and approximately $5,000 AUD for Non-Contributory visas (Subclass 103/804), held for 4 years. The AoS bond serves as a financial guarantee to cover potential government welfare payments and is refundable at the end of the holding period if no claims are made.
Note: Some sources indicate a possible increase to approximately $15,000 AUD (Contributory) and $7,500 AUD (Non-Contributory) for applications lodged on or after April 1, 2019. Our MARA-registered migration agents in Melbourne will confirm the exact amount and requirements based on your application date.
“Confused by the Balance of Family Test (BFT) or AoS?
Don’t risk a refusal. Let our MARA agents assess your family’s criteria before lodging your application.”
Aged Parent Visa: Onshore Application Status
For parents wishing to apply while in Australia, they must meet the Aged Parent Visa requirement, which means they must be of the Australian Age Pension age, currently 67 years or older. This applies to the onshore Subclass 804 (Non-Contributory) and Subclass 864 (Contributory).
The Temporary 10-Year Parent Visa (Subclass 870)
Global Expertise: Your Parent Visa Consultant (Worldwide Support)
As a global migration consultancy, Bombay Migrations proudly assists families worldwide. With offices in Melbourne, Australia, Toronto, and Mumbai, our services are structured to support clients regardless of their current location.
Our dedicated team of MARA-registered migration agents ensures your documentation meets all DHA requirements from day one. We are the migration consultants in Melbourne committed to simplifying the complex Parent Visa process, helping you secure the earliest possible queue date and achieving permanent residency in Australia for your family, whether you are lodging from Melbourne or overseas..
“Ready to start the Parent Visa process?
Speak with a MARA agent today!”
Parent Visa FAQs (Facts & Current Information)
What is the estimated Contributory Parent Visa processing time?
The estimated Contributory Parent Visa processing time (Subclass 143/173) for new applications is currently around 13-15 years. The Department of Home Affairs is presently finalising applications that received a queue date up to June 2018. While still a long wait, this is significantly shorter than the Non-Contributory stream, making it the preferred path for many.
What is the current Aged Pension age for an Aged Parent Visa?
The Australian Age Pension age for an Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 804 or 864) is currently 67 years or older. This age criterion must be met by the primary applicant when the onshore application is lodged. This requirement ensures that the visa aligns with Australia’s social security framework for elderly residents.
What is the Assurance of Support (AoS) bond amount?
The refundable AoS bond amount for a single applicant is approximately $10,000 AUD for Contributory visas (143/864), held for 10 years, and approximately $5,000 AUD for Non-Contributory visas (103/804), held for 4 years. The bond is lodged with the Commonwealth Bank and acts as a financial guarantee to cover possible recoverable income support payments received by your parent during the holding period. If there are no claims, the bond is refunded at the end of the period.
Can parents stay in Australia while waiting for a permanent visa?
Only parents applying for the onshore Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 804 or 864) who hold a substantive visa (without a “No Further Stay” condition) can generally be granted a Bridging Visa. This Bridging Visa allows them to remain in Australia during the lengthy processing time. Applicants for offshore visas (103/143) must be outside Australia for the visa grant.
Is the Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143) processed faster than the Non-Contributory (Subclass 103)?
Yes, the Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143) is significantly faster. While both visas are subject to capping and queueing, the higher fee for the 143 stream results in a much greater annual allocation of visa places. Currently, the 143 queue is advancing by approximately 13-15 years, while the 103 queue is advancing by 30+ years.
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