Parent Visa/ Family migration

Parent migration is mainly delivered through several visa subclasses.

​

• The Subclass 103 (Parent visa) is a permanent visa with very low application charges but extremely long processing times, often decades. ​

• The Subclass 143 (Contributory Parent visa) is also permanent but involves significantly higher costs in exchange for much faster processing.

• The Subclass 870 (Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa) allows parents to stay in Australia temporarily for up to 3 or 5 years but does not lead to permanent residency.

• Temporary contributory options such as Subclass 173 exist as staged pathways to permanent residence.

 

A central technical requirement is the “Balance of Family Test”, which assesses whether at
least half of the applicant’s children live permanently in Australia, or more children live in
Australia than in any other single country. Applicants must also have an eligible sponsor,
usually an Australian citizen or permanent resident, who meets income and residency
requirements.

Health, character, and assurance of support requirements apply to all applicants. Parent and
family migration is quota-controlled, meaning applications can be valid but wait long periods before finalisation.