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AUSTRALIAN PARENT VISAS
Australian Parent Visas & Sponsorship Pathways
Reunite your family in Australia with expert guidance on temporary and permanent parent visa options. Whether you are exploring a 143 contributory parent visa, a 173 contributory parent temporary visa, an onshore 804 aged parent visa or 864 contributory aged parent visa, an affordable subclass 103 parent visa, or the flexible 870 sponsored parent temporary visa, our MARA registered agent parent visa specialists in Melbourne manage your eligibility, sponsorship, and lodgement from start to finish.
96%
Agency Approval Rate
6 Subclasses
103, 143, 173, 804, 864 & 870
3 Mo – 15+ Yrs
Processing Timelines
PR & Temp
Permanent & Long-Stay Options
CORE CRITERIA
Parent Visa Eligibility Requirements
Australia’s parent visa framework offers permanent contributory, permanent non-contributory, and temporary visitor sponsorship pathways. To qualify across these programs, both the sponsoring child and parent must meet essential statutory thresholds.
Eligible Child Sponsor
You must be sponsored by a biological, adoptive, or step-child who is a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen generally living in Australia for 2+ years.
Balance of Family (BoF) Test
For permanent subclasses (103, 143, 173, 804, 864), at least half of your parents' children must live permanently in Australia, or more live in Australia than in any other single country.
Onshore Age Requirements
To lodge onshore for an 804 aged parent visa or 864 contributory aged parent visa, the primary applicant must have reached the Australian Age Pension age (currently 67 years).
Approved Parent Sponsor (870)
For the 870 sponsored parent temporary visa, your child must first apply and be formally approved as a Parent Sponsor before the visa application can be lodged.
Assurance of Support (AoS)
Permanent contributory and non-contributory parent visas require an approved Assurance of Support and bank guarantee bond lodged with Services Australia prior to visa grant.
Health & Character Clearances
All applicants and dependent family members must pass mandatory Australian medical examinations and international police character checks.
Avoid Common Disqualifying Mistakes: Miscalculating children under the Balance of Family test (such as counting children on student visas as Australian residents), failing to meet sponsor household income tests for the Assurance of Support, or lodging an onshore aged parent visa while holding a visitor visa with a 'No Further Stay' (Condition 8503) clause can lead to immediate application refusal.
STEP-BY-STEP
How We Handle Your Parent Visa Application
Our end-to-end agency management minimizes procedural delays and ensures every claim made in your application is backed by compliant evidentiary documentation.
01
Pathway Strategy & BoF Audit
We evaluate your family structure against the Balance of Family test and compare contributory, non-contributory, and temporary 870 pathways.
02
Sponsorship & Document Lodgement
We prepare and submit formal sponsorship forms (such as Form 40 or 870 Parent Sponsorship) alongside identity and relationship evidence.
03
Visa Lodgement & Queue Entry
We lodge your complete parent visa application via ImmiAccount, securing your official queue date or onshore Bridging Visa A (BVA).
04
AoS & Second Instalment
When requested by Home Affairs, we guide sponsors through the Assurance of Support bond lodgement and coordinate Second VAC contributions.
05
Liaison to Visa Grant
We act as your legal representative with the Department of Home Affairs, managing requests, medical checks, and compliance through to visa decision.
EVIDENCE CHECKLIST
Documents Required for Parent Visas
A successful parent visa application requires structured evidence from both parents and their sponsoring children. Below are the primary document categories you will need to assemble.
Identity & Relationship Records
- Valid passport bio-data pages for all applicant parents
- Birth certificates of sponsoring child showing parents' names
- Family books, adoption papers, or step-parent documentation
- Marriage certificates or de facto relationship evidence
Sponsor Residence & Finances
- Sponsor's Australian passport, citizenship certificate, or PR grant
- Proof of sponsor residing in Australia for 2+ lawful years
- ATO tax assessments, payslips, or income proofs for AoS
- Approved Parent Sponsor outcome letter (for Subclass 870)
Health, Character & Welfare
- Police clearances from any country lived in for 12+ months
- Mandatory Australian medical examination completion records
- Assurance of Support (AoS) bond confirmation from Services Australia
- Adequate health insurance cover (OVHC) for temporary 870 holders
INVESTMENT & TIMELINES
Costs & Processing Schedule (Updated 1 July 2026)
We believe in transparent budgeting so you know exactly what government application charges, second instalments, and professional representation fees to plan for.
Department of Home Affairs Fees
From AUD $5,040
First instalment application charges start from approximately AUD $5,040 for Contributory Parent visas (143/864) and AUD $5,125 for Non-Contributory visas (103/804). For the temporary 870 visa, fees are AUD $6,370 (3-year) or AUD $12,440 (5-year).
* Contributory visas (143/864) require a Second VAC of ~$43,600 per adult before grant. Fees are set by the Department and subject to change — confirm current fees during your initial assessment.
Our Agency Service Fee
Case-Dependent
Our professional service fees are tailored to the specific complexity of your case. We evaluate your unique family structure, Balance of Family calculation, and sponsorship requirements before providing a clear, fixed-quote quotation without hourly billing.
* Our fee covers sponsorship applications, AoS guidance, and full visa lodgement representation.
Typical Processing Timelines
3 Mo – 15+ Yrs
Processing times depend on subclass selection. The 870 temporary visa is processed in a few months. Contributory parent visas (143/864) have queues of roughly 12 to 15 years, while non-contributory visas (103/804) face wait times exceeding 30 years.
* Clean, decision-ready applications with complete evidence tend to be processed without unnecessary Departmental delays.
MARN 2619225
Why Work With a MARA Registered Agent for Parent Visas?
Australian parent migration is one of the most legally intricate and financially significant visa categories administered by the Department of Home Affairs. Sponsoring your parents requires choosing between permanent contributory pathways (which demand roughly $87,200 in government second instalments for a couple plus a 10-year bank guarantee bond), non-contributory queues that span decades, or long-stay temporary visitor options like the subclass 870 visa.
A frequent cause of parent visa refusal or wasted application fees is failing the Balance of Family test—such as miscounting dependent children abroad or incorrectly assuming step-children do not apply. Furthermore, if an applicant lodges an onshore aged parent visa (Subclass 804 or 864) without verifying that their current visa allows onshore lodgement, their application can be rejected immediately.
As the best migration consultant parent visa Melbourne team and registered MARN professionals, we represent both sponsoring children and migrating parents. We conduct thorough pre-lodgement audits of family trees, sponsor income thresholds, and Assurance of Support obligations—ensuring total compliance with Australian Migration Regulations across all parent visa subclasses.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear, direct answers regarding Australian parent visas, costs, wait times, and sponsorship rules.
What is the difference between Contributory and Non-Contributory Parent visas?
Contributory parent visas (such as the 143 contributory parent visa and 864 contributory aged parent visa) require a significantly higher second instalment contribution (~$43,600 per adult) to the Australian Government, but are processed faster (typically 12 to 15 years). Non-contributory visas (like the subclass 103 parent visa and 804 aged parent visa) have lower government fees (~$7,345), but wait times currently exceed 30 years.
How long does parent visa take in Australia?
Processing times depend on the subclass. The 870 sponsored parent temporary visa takes a few months. Contributory parent visas (Subclasses 143 and 864) have estimated queues of 12 to 15 years for new lodgements. Non-contributory parent visas (Subclasses 103 and 804) have queues exceeding 30 years.
How to sponsor parents for Australian visa?
To sponsor your parents, you must be a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen generally living in Australia for at least two lawful years. For permanent parent visas, you must also pass the Balance of Family (BoF) test. For the temporary 870 visa, you must apply to be an approved Parent Sponsor first.
What is the Balance of Family (BoF) test?
The Balance of Family test requires that at least half of your parents' children live permanently in Australia, or more of their children live permanently in Australia than in any other single country. This test applies to Subclasses 103, 143, 173, 804, and 864, but is waived for the 870 sponsored parent temporary visa.
What is an Assurance of Support (AoS) and bond?
An Assurance of Support is a legal commitment by the sponsor (or joint assurers) to repay the Australian Government for any welfare benefits paid to the parent after arrival. For Contributory Parent visas (Subclass 143/864), it requires a 10-year bank guarantee bond of AUD $10,000 for the main applicant and $4,000 for a secondary adult.
Can my parents stay in Australia while their aged parent visa is processing?
Yes. If your parents have reached the Australian Age Pension age and lodge a valid onshore application for an 804 aged parent visa or 864 contributory aged parent visa while holding an eligible substantive visa without a 'No Further Stay' (8503) condition, they are generally granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA) allowing them to remain in Australia lawfully.
Ready to Sponsor Your Parents for Australia?
Speak directly with registered MARN migration agents in Melbourne. Send us a message on WhatsApp to discuss your parents' eligibility, Balance of Family test, and visa costs.