Where complexity meets clarity - Visual Legal

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Bringing your parents to live with you in Australia is a dream for many families — especially here in Adelaide, where the lifestyle, healthcare, climate, and community make it an attractive place to settle. 

But the parent visa system is one of the most complex and heavily capped parts of Australia’s migration program. 

Waiting times, costs, and eligibility rules vary widely depending on your parents’ age, current location, health, and finances.

At Visual Legal, we help South Australian families understand their options and choose the right pathway. 

Here’s a comprehensive overview of the main parent visa types available in 2026, based on current Department of Home Affairs rules.

1. Non-Contributory Parent Visas – The Longest Wait

These visas have the lowest application fees but extremely long processing times — often 30+ years — due to strict annual caps and a large backlog.

• Parent Visa (subclass 103) – OffshorePermanent visa for parents outside Australia. Allows indefinite stay, work, study, Medicare access, family sponsorship, and citizenship eligibility (after meeting residence rules). Waiting time: Around 30 years (very long queue). Requires Assurance of Support (AoS) — a formal bond covering potential welfare costs for the first 10 years.
• Aged Parent Visa (subclass 804) – OnshorePermanent visa for parents aged 67+ (pension age) already in Australia. Same benefits as subclass 103. Waiting time: Around 30 years. Bridging visa usually granted on application, allowing lawful stay while waiting.

2. Contributory Parent Visas – Faster but Expensive

These visas require a significant upfront payment (the Contributory Parent Charge, currently around $47,755 per applicant as of mid-2025, plus second instalment fees) to offset future healthcare costs. 

Processing is much faster — typically 4–6 years.

• Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 173) – OffshoreTemporary 2-year visa. Allows work, study, Medicare access (but no government income support). After 2 years, transition to permanent subclass 143 visa. Waiting time: Around 4–6 years. Popular as a two-step process to spread costs.

• Contributory Parent (Permanent) Visa (subclass 143) – On/OffshorePermanent visa with full rights: indefinite stay, work, study, Medicare, family sponsorship, citizenship eligibility. Waiting time: Around 4–6 years.

• Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 884) – OnshoreTemporary 2-year visa for parents 67+ in Australia. Transition to permanent subclass 864 visa. Waiting time: Around 4–6 years. Bridging visa usually granted to stay lawfully during processing.

• Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent) Visa (subclass 864) – OnshorePermanent visa for parents 67+ in Australia. Full rights. Waiting time: Around 4–6 years. Bridging visa granted on application.

3. Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 870)

A popular temporary option — no permanent pathway, but allows stays of up to 3 or 5 years (renewable to a maximum total of 10 years).

• Allows parents to visit and reunite with family.
• No work rights.
• Sponsor must meet income threshold (currently around $83,454 for one parent, higher for two) and residency rules.
• Processing time: Much faster (often months, not years).

4. Core Requirements for Most Parent Visas

• Balance of family test: At least half your children must be settled in Australia (or more children in Australia than any other single country).
• Sponsor eligibility: You must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible NZ citizen, usually resident in Australia for 2 years before sponsoring.
• Assurance of Support (AoS): A formal bond (often $10,000–$20,000+ per person) to cover potential welfare costs — 10 years for non-contributory, shorter for contributory.
• Health & character checks: Parents must meet Australia’s health requirement (health insurance often required) and character test.
• No outstanding debts: No debts to the Australian Government (e.g., previous visa debts).

Practical Advice for South Australian Families

• Non-contributory visas are low-cost but the wait is extreme — often a lifetime.
• Contributory visas are expensive but realistic for families who can afford the charge and want parents here sooner.
• Subclass 870 is a great short- to medium-term solution if permanent residency isn’t the goal.
• Processing times fluctuate — always check the latest on the Department of Home Affairs website.
• Bridging visas often allow parents to stay lawfully in Australia while waiting for contributory or aged parent visas.
• First-step visas (173/884) let you split costs over time — a common strategy.

If you’re considering sponsoring your parents to join you in South Australia — whether for a visit, retirement, or permanent move — the rules are complex and change regularly. 

At Visual Legal, we help families understand visa options, meet sponsorship and AoS requirements, and prepare strong applications.

Book a free consultation — we’ll meet in our central Adelaide office or via secure teleconference, listen to your family’s situation, explain the current pathways in plain terms, and help you choose the best option. 

No pressure, just practical support.

Thinking about bringing your parents to Australia? Let’s talk — get in touch today.