Australia's parent visa program offers several pathways for children who are Australian citizens or permanent residents to bring their parents to live here permanently. Waiting lists can span decades — choosing the right pathway from the start is critical.
A MARA-registered agent will review your family's situation and contact you within 2 business hours with a clear pathway assessment.
Australia offers five parent visa subclasses. The right choice depends on your parents' location, your budget, and how urgently you need them here.
Two requirements unique to parent visas that catch many families off-guard. Understanding them early prevents costly delays.
We assess your family's situation — Balance of Family test, parent's location and age, budget, and timeline — to identify the right subclass for your circumstances.
We formally verify the Balance of Family test using all children's details and confirm the sponsoring child meets the eligibility criteria as an Australian citizen or PR.
We prepare the complete application including health examinations, police clearances, financial evidence, and Assurance of Support arrangements, then lodge with the Department.
Parent visas can take years. We monitor your application, respond to any Department requests, and keep you updated on queue movements throughout the wait.
On grant, we confirm visa conditions, travel validity, and any health insurance requirements. For contributory visas we ensure the Assurance of Support bond is correctly in place.
Tell us your situation and we'll advise on the right pathway within 2 hours.
Both are permanent parent visas, but the 143 (Contributory Parent) has a significantly higher visa application charge (around $48,590 for the primary applicant) compared to the 103. The trade-off is processing time: the 143 typically takes 3–5 years, while the 103 can take 20–30 years given the queue. Most families who need their parents here within a reasonable timeframe choose the 143.
If your parents apply for the 804 or 884 (onshore subclasses), they can remain in Australia on bridging visas while the application is processed. For 103 and 143 (offshore), parents must generally be outside Australia at time of decision unless specific circumstances apply. We advise on the best approach depending on your family's situation.
If the BOF test is not satisfied, the application cannot be granted. However, the BOF is assessed at the time of the decision, not lodgement — so if the situation changes (e.g., a sibling moves to Australia), the test may be satisfied later. We advise on strategies and monitor the situation throughout processing. It is critical to get professional assessment before lodging.
Yes. Biological parents, step-parents, and adoptive parents are all eligible for parent visas, provided the sponsoring child meets the eligibility criteria. Step-parents are also counted as children for the Balance of Family test calculations. This can be important when assessing whether BOF is satisfied.
Bringing your parents to Australia is one of the most meaningful things you can do — and one of the most complex visa applications. Our MARA-registered agents guide you through every step, from pathway selection to the moment your family is reunited.
Parent visas have some of the longest queues in the immigration system. The sooner you lodge, the sooner your family is reunited. Let us check your eligibility now.