What this visa lets you do
- Parent (103) and Contributory Parent (143): stay in Australia permanently, work and study, enrol in Medicare, and apply for citizenship if eligible
- Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (870): visit your children for 3 or 5 years per visa, up to 10 years in total — no work rights and no pathway to permanent residence
Key requirements
- Have an eligible sponsor — usually your child who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
- For 103 and 143: meet the balance of family test — at least half your children live in Australia as eligible children, or more of them live in Australia than in any other single country
- For 870: have an approved Parent Sponsor before you apply
- Meet health and character requirements
Compare the options
| Visa | Stay | Cost from (main applicant) | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent (103) | Permanent | AUD 8,665 (paid in 2 instalments) | Capped and queued — very long waits |
| Contributory Parent (143) | Permanent | AUD 49,900 (paid in 2 instalments) | Capped and queued — shorter than 103 |
| Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (870) | 3 or 5 years per visa, max 10 years | AUD 6,370 (3 yrs) · AUD 12,440 (5 yrs) | See the processing time guide |
Important
Holding or applying for an 870 visa means you can't apply for a permanent or temporary parent visa at the same time. Demand for permanent parent visas is much greater than the places available each year, which is why they're capped and queued.
Choose carefullyParent visas have very different costs, waiting times and rights. This is the area where personalised advice can save your family the most time and money.