If you’re an Australian citizen or permanent resident wanting to reunite with your parents permanently in Australia, the Parent Visa Subclass 103 may be the ideal pathway. This visa allows eligible parents to migrate and live permanently in Australia with their children. In this guide, we’ll explain everything Australian sponsors need to know — from eligibility and costs to processing times and sponsorship responsibilities.
What is the Parent Visa Subclass 103?
The Parent visa (subclass 103) is a permanent visa designed for parents of settled Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. It enables parents to move to Australia permanently to join their children.
This is a non-contributory visa , which means the application fee is lower than contributory parent visas, but the trade-off is significantly longer processing times — often exceeding 20 years due to high demand and limited places.
Key Eligibility Criteria
For the parent visa subclass 103, both the applicant (parent) and the sponsor (usually the child) must meet certain criteria:
For the Parent:
-
Must be sponsored by an eligible child who is settled in Australia.
-
Must pass the Balance of Family Test , meaning at least half of their children live permanently in Australia, or more children live in Australia than any other single country.
-
Meet health and character requirements.
-
Not have any outstanding debts to the Australian Government.
For the Sponsor:
-
Must be 18 years or older.
-
Be a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident , or eligible New Zealand citizen.
-
Agree to provide financial and accommodation support to the parent(s).
-
Provide an Assurance of Support (AoS) if requested by the Department of Home Affairs.
Costs Involved
The Parent visa subclass 103 has a much lower visa application charge than contributory parent visas. As of July 2025, the fees are approximately:
-
Base charge: $4,990 AUD (may vary based on family composition)
-
Additional costs for health checks, police certificates, and AoS bond.
Processing Time
This visa is subject to capping and queuing , meaning that there are only a limited number of places available each year. The current estimated wait time for a subclass 103 visa can exceed 20–30 years . This makes it a long-term migration option, often used while parents hold temporary visas in the meantime.
Can Parents Stay in Australia While Waiting?
Parents can apply for a bridging visa to remain in Australia temporarily while waiting, but only if they applied for the 103 visa onshore and held a valid visa at the time of application. However, most subclass 103 applications are lodged offshore , which means the applicant must wait overseas.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
-
Permanent residency once granted.
-
Access to Medicare.
-
Potential pathway to citizenship.
-
No need for a large upfront financial contribution.
Cons:
-
Very long processing times.
-
Limited ability to stay in Australia during the wait.
-
Requirement for Assurance of Support in some cases.
Alternatives to Consider
Due to the long wait times, many families opt for the Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143) or Temporary Contributory Visa (subclass 173) despite the higher costs, as they are processed much faster (3–5 years on average).
Final Thoughts
The Parent visa subclass 103 offers a low-cost, permanent option for bringing parents to Australia, but it comes with a major caveat — the long waiting period. Australian sponsors should carefully assess whether this option suits their family’s long-term goals and explore whether other parent visa options or temporary stay solutions might be more practical in the short term.
