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SUBCLASS 103 VISA
Subclass 103 Parent Visa Australia
Secure permanent residency for your parents under Australia’s most affordable non-contributory migration pathway. We evaluate subclass 103 visa eligibility, audit your Balance of Family test, manage queue placeholder strategies alongside temporary visitor visas, and lodge digital ImmiAccount applications with complete transparency on fees and timelines.
96%
Agency Approval Rate
30+ Yrs
Estimated Queue Wait Time
$6,600
1st VAC Fee / Primary Applicant
PR
Permanent Residency Outcome
CORE CRITERIA
Subclass 103 Eligibility Requirements
Who is eligible for subclass 103 visa? The Non-Contributory Parent Visa is a permanent residency pathway for parents of settled Australian children. To qualify, both the sponsoring child and applicant parents must meet strict statutory criteria.
Settled Australian Child Sponsor
You must be sponsored by an eligible biological, adoptive, or step-child who is a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen living lawfully in Australia for 2+ years.
Balance of Family (BoF) Test
At least half of your parents' children must live permanently in Australia, or more of their children must reside permanently in Australia than in any other single overseas country.
Assurance of Support (AoS) Bond
An approved assurer (typically your sponsoring child) must provide a legal commitment and lodge a statutory bank guarantee bond with Services Australia before the visa can be granted.
Modest Second VAC Charge
Unlike contributory parent visas, the mandatory second instalment government charge is modest (AUD $2,065 per applicant), making it the most cost-effective permanent option.
No Age Restriction
Unlike aged parent visas (Subclass 804 or 864), there is no minimum age requirement to apply for the Subclass 103 parent visa Australia.
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 the Balance of Family test by incorrectly counting children on temporary student visas as permanent residents, failing the sponsor household taxable income test required for Assurance of Support approval, or lodging onshore while holding a visa stamped with Condition 8503 ('No Further Stay') without a waiver can cause immediate refusal.
STEP-BY-STEP
How We Handle Your 103 Visa Application
Our end-to-end agency management ensures your application is decision-ready, securing your official place in the non-contributory processing queue without administrative delays.
01
Balance of Family & Sponsor Audit
We review your family tree across all biological, step, and adopted children to confirm strict compliance with statutory Balance of Family ratios.
02
Digital ImmiAccount Lodgement
We prepare and submit your official Subclass 103 visa application online via ImmiAccount alongside Form 40 sponsorship documentation.
03
Queue Assessment & Placement
Your application is formally assessed by the Parent Visa Centre and placed into the official non-contributory processing queue.
04
Placeholder Strategy & Long-Stay Visas
While queued, we assist families in securing temporary long-stay visitor visas (such as Subclass 870 or 5-year visitor visas) to reunite in Australia.
05
AoS Bond & PR Grant
When queue processing reaches your date, we guide sponsors through Assurance of Support bond lodgement and coordinate second instalment payment for PR grant.
EVIDENCE CHECKLIST
Documents Required for Subclass 103
A successful Parent Visa Australia 103 application requires structured evidence from both parents and their sponsoring children. Below are the core document categories.
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 lawfully for 2+ years
- Birth certificates of all children worldwide (for BoF test)
- ATO tax assessments, payslips, and income proofs for AoS
Health, Character & AoS Records
- Police clearances from any country lived in for 12+ months
- Mandatory Australian Bupa medical examination completion records
- Assurance of Support (AoS) bond lodgement confirmation
- Form 80 & Form 1221 personal character declarations
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
AUD $6,600
How much does subclass 103 visa cost? As of 1 July 2026, the primary applicant first instalment fee is AUD $6,600. Additional first instalment fees apply for secondary family members (~$3,300 for a partner). Before visa grant, applicants pay a modest second instalment of AUD $2,065 per person.
* An Assurance of Support bank bond is also required by Services Australia. Fees are set by the Department and subject to change.
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 Assurance of Support obligations before providing a clear, fixed-quote quotation without hourly billing.
* Our fee covers digital ImmiAccount lodgement, BoF audits, AoS guidance, and full visa representation.
Typical Processing Timelines
30+ Years Queue
How long does subclass 103 visa take? Why is subclass 103 visa so slow? Due to strict annual migration program capping levels set by the Australian Government for non-contributory parent visas, the waiting time currently exceeds 30 years.
* Many families use the 103 visa as a permanent queue placeholder while applying for temporary visitor visas.
MARN 2619225
Why Work With a MARA Registered Agent for Subclass 103?
What is subclass 103 parent visa? It is Australia’s most cost-effective permanent parent visa option, but navigating its decades-long processing queue requires a strategic approach. Because non-contributory queues currently exceed 30 years, many families lodge a Subclass 103 application to secure an official queue priority date while simultaneously utilizing temporary visas—such as the Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa or 5-year visitor visas—to bring their parents to Australia immediately.
A frequent cause of parent visa refusal or wasted application fees is failing the Balance of Family test—such as miscounting dependent children abroad, incorrectly assuming step-children do not count, or failing to substantiate where siblings reside permanently. Furthermore, paper lodgements are no longer accepted for Subclass 103; applications must be lodged digitally through ImmiAccount with precise supporting documentation.
As your MARA registered agent parent visa team in Melbourne, we represent both sponsoring children and migrating parents. We conduct thorough pre-lodgement audits of family trees, statutory BoF ratios, and sponsor taxable income levels—ensuring complete compliance with Australian Migration Regulations across the entire non-contributory journey.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear, direct answers regarding the Subclass 103 Parent Visa, costs, wait times, and eligibility.
What is subclass 103 parent visa?
The Subclass 103 Parent Visa is an offshore or onshore non-contributory permanent residency visa that allows parents of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live permanently in Australia. While it is the most affordable permanent parent visa option, it has an extended processing queue.
Who is eligible for subclass 103 visa?
To be eligible for the Subclass 103 visa, you must be sponsored by an eligible child who is settled in Australia, pass the mandatory Balance of Family (BoF) test, obtain an approved Assurance of Support (AoS) from Services Australia before grant, and satisfy all Australian health and character requirements.
How much does subclass 103 visa cost?
As of 1 July 2026, the Department of Home Affairs primary applicant first instalment application fee for the Subclass 103 visa is AUD $6,600. Additional first instalment fees apply for secondary family members (~$3,300 for a partner). Before visa grant, applicants must pay a modest second instalment charge of AUD $2,065 per applicant, plus lodge a statutory Assurance of Support bank guarantee bond with Services Australia.
How long does subclass 103 visa take?
Due to strict annual migration program capping levels set by the Australian Government for non-contributory parent visas, the Subclass 103 waiting time currently exceeds 30 years for newly lodged applications. Many families use the 103 visa as a permanent queue placeholder while simultaneously applying for temporary visitor visas like the Subclass 870.
Why is subclass 103 visa so slow?
The Subclass 103 visa is slow because the Australian Government allocates only a small number of non-contributory parent visa places each program year (typically under 1,500 places annually across all non-contributory categories), while demand exceeds tens of thousands of queued applications.
Can I lodge a Subclass 103 visa online?
Yes. The Department of Home Affairs now mandates that all new Subclass 103 parent visa applications be lodged digitally through ImmiAccount. Paper applications are no longer accepted for this subclass.
Ready to Sponsor Your Parents for Australia?
Speak directly with registered MARN migration agents in Melbourne. Send us a message on WhatsApp to discuss Subclass 103 eligibility, Balance of Family rules, and queue placeholder strategies.