Australian Parent Visa Options in 2026: Onshore vs Offshore – The Complete Guide

Want to bring your parents to Australia? Compare Parent visas 103, 143, 173, 804, 864, 884 and 870, including eligibility, costs, processing queues, bridging visas, Medicare and work rights.

By Sunil Choudhary | Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2418425) | A2MS – Aussie Academics and Migration Services®
Updated: October 2026

You’ve Made Australia Your Home. Now You Want Your Parents Here Too.

For many migrant families, settling in Australia brings a difficult reality: parents and grandparents remain thousands of kilometres away. You may have built a career, bought a home and raised children here, but short visits cannot replace everyday family life. As parents grow older, families naturally begin asking whether they can live in Australia permanently or spend longer periods here.

The answer depends on much more than selecting a visa number. The parent’s age, family composition, current visa, available funds and intended residence all matter. Some pathways can provide an associated Bridging Visa A; others do not. Some lead to permanent residency, while subclass 870 is expressly temporary.

This guide explains the principal options using immigration legislation, the July 2026 Parent visa policy, the April 2026 subclass 870 sponsorship policy and relevant bridging visa guidance. It is general information, not individual legal advice.

1. Onshore vs Offshore Parent Visas: What’s the Real Difference?

An “onshore Parent visa” is not simply any Parent application lodged while visiting Australia. The key practical distinction is whether the visa subclass and applicant’s circumstances can provide a bridging visa during processing.

Onshore aged-parent pathways: subclasses 804 (Aged Parent), 864 (Contributory Aged Parent) and 884 (Contributory Aged Parent – Temporary). Ordinary applicants must apply in Australia, and eligible valid applications generally can be associated with a Bridging Visa A.

Other Parent pathways: subclasses 103 (Parent), 143 (Contributory Parent) and 173 (Contributory Parent – Temporary). These applications may generally be lodged from inside or outside Australia subject to validity requirements, but an ordinary application does not automatically produce bridging visa rights. Limited exceptions apply, including some former temporary contributory Parent visa holders and qualifying Retirement Pathway applicants.

For example, a 58-year-old parent who applies for subclass 143 while visiting Australia ordinarily needs a separate lawful visa to remain here. A 69-year-old parent who validly applies for subclass 804 while eligible and onshore may generally receive a BVA. These are very different lawful-stay arrangements.

2. Parent Visa Options at a Glance

The six main Parent migration subclasses operate under permanent migration capping and queueing arrangements. Subclass 870 has a separate temporary visa and sponsorship framework.

3. Who Can Sponsor Parents?

For most permanent Parent pathways, the sponsoring child is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who meets the relevant settled residence and other sponsorship criteria. Certain other sponsorship arrangements may be possible under the legislation. The applicant must establish the parent-child relationship and satisfy all other requirements.

Do not confuse the Parent visa sponsor with an Assurance of Support assurer. They do not necessarily have to be the same person.

4. The Balance of Family Test

Most permanent Parent visa applicants must satisfy the Balance of Family Test. Broadly, a parent passes if at least half of their children and relevant stepchildren are eligible children, or if the number of eligible children exceeds the number of children living in any other single country.

For example, two eligible children in Australia and one child overseas generally satisfies the test; one eligible child in Australia and two children in the same overseas country generally does not. The actual calculation involves the statutory definitions of eligible children, stepchildren, adopted children and specific exclusions.

Australian citizen children and Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen children are treated under somewhat different usual-residence rules. The test generally must be satisfied at application and cannot ordinarily be waived merely because a family has compelling circumstances. Subclass 870 does not require this test.

5. Subclass 103: Lower-Cost Permanent Parent Visa

Subclass 103 offers permanent residence with significantly lower standard government visa charges than contributory Parent visas. It has no ordinary minimum aged-parent age requirement. The standard government visa charge for one primary applicant currently starts from AUD $8,665, paid in two instalments.

Its disadvantage is the exceptionally long non-contributory queue. Home Affairs’ October 2026 planning estimate for new non-contributory Parent applications is approximately 42 years. An ordinary subclass 103 application does not provide a bridging visa, and ordinary applicants generally must be outside Australia at visa grant.

6. Subclass 143: Permanent Contributory Parent Visa

Subclass 143 is a permanent visa with no ordinary age-67 requirement. Its standard government charge for one primary applicant is approximately AUD $49,900 in two instalments. Home Affairs’ current estimate for new contributory Parent applications is approximately 18 years.

A standard subclass 143 application does not ordinarily provide a Bridging Visa A, even if lodged while a parent is visiting Australia. Ordinary applicants generally must be outside Australia at grant, subject to limited exceptions. Read our complete subclass 143 guide for eligibility, queueing, fees and lawful-stay considerations.

7. Onshore Aged Parent Visas: 804 and 864

For ordinary aged-parent applications, the parent must generally have reached Australian Age Pension age, currently 67, at the time of application. Since 17 December 2024, this age requirement generally applies at lodgement, subject to specific exceptions.

Subclass 804 is the lower-cost, non-contributory permanent onshore option, with an exceptionally long queue. Subclass 864 is the higher-cost, contributory permanent onshore option, with the shorter contributory queue. Both generally require the parent to be in Australia at application and grant, and valid eligible applications can be associated with a BVA.

The standard charges for one primary applicant are currently $8,665 for subclass 804 and $49,900 for subclass 864. The published planning estimates are approximately 42 years and 18 years respectively. Neither estimate is a guarantee. For a detailed comparison, see Subclass 804 vs 864: Costs, Bridging Visas and Work Rights.

8. Bridging Visa A: Lawful Stay and Work Rights

An eligible applicant who validly lodges subclass 804, 864 or 884 may generally receive a Bridging Visa A (subclass 010). A BVA may be granted while a Visitor visa is still in effect, but ordinarily does not become effective until the substantive visa ceases.

Important work-rights clarification: under the Migration Regulations and legislative instrument LIN 23/029, an ordinary BVA granted in association with an unfinalised subclass 804, 864 or 884 application is generally granted without visa conditions. Once that condition-free BVA becomes effective, the holder generally has unrestricted work rights without needing to establish financial hardship.

However, a parent still holding an effective Visitor visa with condition 8101 (No Work) cannot start work merely because a future BVA has been granted. The operative visa and conditions must be verified from the grant notice and VEVO. Different bridging visa circumstances, including certain review-related cases, may have different conditions.

9. Bridging Visa A vs Bridging Visa B: International Travel

A BVA does not ordinarily permit its holder to depart and return to Australia using that visa. An eligible parent who needs to travel may apply for a Bridging Visa B (subclass 020) before departure. A BVB allows return only within its approved travel period. The nil-conditions arrangements under LIN 23/029 can also apply to qualifying associated BVBs, but they do not remove the travel-period restriction.

Leaving Australia without appropriate return permission can end the BVA and create significant immigration complications. Obtain advice before booking overseas travel.

10. What If a Parent Application Is Refused or Withdrawn?

A bridging visa is temporary, not permanent residence. Refusal or withdrawal of the associated Parent application can affect when the BVA ceases. Under many current BVA cessation arrangements, it generally ceases 35 days after the relevant refusal or effective withdrawal event, but the actual position depends on the visa grant, notification, review events and statutory provisions.

Never assume there is an unconditional 35-day entitlement in every case. If a valid merits review application is made, different arrangements may apply. Do not withdraw a pending Parent application without reviewing its bridging visa consequences.

11. Can Applicants Switch From Subclass 804 to 864?

Eligible applicants may be able to switch from certain non-contributory Parent pathways to contributory pathways, including subclass 804 to 864 and subclass 103 to 143. Under applicable provisions, earlier application and queue dates may be preserved. A new application and government charge are ordinarily required, and previous charges are generally not refundable or transferable.

Special arrangements under regulation 2.21A can provide for a replacement BVA in certain aged-parent switching circumstances. The sequence of withdrawal and new application matters. An existing Parent application should never be withdrawn on the assumption that bridging status or queue priority will automatically be preserved.

12. Government Visa Charges: Two Instalments

Figures are AUD, for one standard primary applicant as at October 2026. Additional applicants and concessions change charges. The first instalment is paid at lodgement; the second is generally requested before grant, potentially many years later. Do not assume that the future amount will necessarily remain unchanged.

Temporary contributory Parent visas 173 and 884 offer a two-stage process, with published standard temporary-stage charges starting around $33,375 and $35,430 respectively for one primary applicant. Progressing to the corresponding permanent visa requires a separate application and charges. The combined two-stage cost is generally higher than direct permanent contributory application.

13. Processing Times and Queue Release Dates

Permanent Parent visas are capped and queued. A valid application acknowledgement does not necessarily mean a queue date has been allocated. Home Affairs initially assesses core criteria before queueing, then releases applications for final processing as places become available.

As at 31 August 2026, the published final-processing queue release dates were: Contributory Parent — November 2018; Contributory Aged Parent — November 2020; Parent — March 2014; Aged Parent — October 2014. These dates differ from the estimated processing periods for new applications: approximately 18 years contributory and 42 years non-contributory. They are planning estimates, not guarantees.

Check Home Affairs’ Parent visa queue information for updates.

14. Medicare and Private Health Insurance

Ordinary pending Parent visa applications generally do not qualify for Medicare merely because the applicant has applied for permanent residence or holds a BVA. Work rights do not equal Medicare eligibility. Some applicants may qualify under Reciprocal Health Care Agreements or specific previous temporary contributory Parent visa arrangements, including certain former 173 or 884 holders.

Private health insurance should be carefully considered during lengthy temporary residence, including hospital care, specialists, pre-existing conditions and out-of-pocket costs. A qualifying condition-free 804/864 BVA does not ordinarily carry condition 8501, but this does not make healthcare free. Medicare generally becomes available after permanent visa grant, subject to the applicable rules.

15. Assurance of Support

Permanent Parent visas generally require an Assurance of Support (AoS), unless an exemption applies. The approved assurer accepts obligations for certain recoverable Australian Government income-support payments. The assurer need not be the same person as the visa sponsor.

The security is separate from the visa charge and is generally arranged later, when requested. Release is subject to applicable requirements and outstanding recoverable liabilities.

16. Subclass 870: Extended Temporary Family Visits

The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870) allows eligible parents to stay in Australia for up to three or five years per visa, subject to a cumulative maximum of ten years. It is not permanent residency, does not permit employment and requires adequate private health insurance. Crucially, it does not require the Balance of Family Test.

Subclass 870 requires separate approval of an eligible Parent Sponsor and generally an offshore visa application. Exceptional onshore permission may be available in tightly defined circumstances, but ordinary family preference or convenience is not enough.

17. Subclass 870 Sponsorship and Income Requirements

The sponsor must generally be at least 18 and meet the relevant relationship, status, residence, character and financial criteria. Australian permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens generally face a four-year usual-residence requirement; the same requirement does not apply in the same way to Australian citizens.

The currently published taxable-income threshold is AUD $83,454.80. In qualifying circumstances the sponsor may combine taxable income with an eligible spouse, de facto partner or another eligible child, but must personally meet at least half of the threshold. This is a taxable-income test, not simply a gross salary or savings test.

A sponsoring household generally can have only one active Parent sponsorship and a maximum of two sponsored parents under the household arrangements. Certain parent-in-law and step-parent relationships can qualify, subject to the rules.

18. Subclass 870 Charges and Application Process

The standard Parent sponsorship fee is currently $420, separate from the visa charge. The standard three-year subclass 870 visa charge is $6,370; the five-year charge is $12,440, generally paid in two instalments.

The sponsor first applies through ImmiAccount. After sponsorship approval, the parent generally must apply within six months if applying offshore. Where exceptional permission to apply onshore is granted, the period is generally 60 days. Subsequent visas remain subject to eligibility, the ten-year maximum and applicable offshore-stay requirements, including generally 90 consecutive days outside Australia before a further grant.

19. Subclass 870 Sponsor Obligations

Approved sponsors accept continuing obligations, including financial support, accommodation, reporting relevant changes and repayment of certain outstanding public health debts. Some obligations may continue after the parent leaves Australia or sponsorship ends. Breaches can have significant consequences. Subclass 870 does not require an ordinary permanent Parent visa AoS, but it has its own financial responsibilities.

20. Can a Pending Subclass 143 Applicant Seek Subclass 870?

Potentially, subject to the specific rules. An existing permanent Parent application does not necessarily need to be withdrawn simply because a parent later applies for subclass 870. However, restrictions generally prevent making a new permanent or temporary Parent visa application after applying for or while holding subclass 870. The existing subclass 143 application also retains its own decision-location requirements. Obtain individual advice before combining these pathways.

21. Permanent Parent Visas vs Subclass 870

22. Visitor Visa Conditions: 8503, 8558 and Other Restrictions

Condition 8503 (No Further Stay) generally prevents a valid onshore application for another substantive visa unless waived or an exception applies. A waiver requires the relevant legal criteria, ordinarily involving qualifying compelling and compassionate circumstances arising after visa grant and beyond the holder’s control. A waiver request does not itself extend lawful stay.

Condition 8558 can restrict a Visitor visa holder to a maximum of 12 months in Australia in a rolling 18-month period. The arrival deadline on a grant notice is not the same as permission to remain continuously. Section 48 of the Migration Act may also bar certain onshore applications after refusal or cancellation. Always check the grant notice, VEVO and immigration history before planning onshore lodgement.

23. Parent Visa Lodgement Procedures in 2026

Since 22 April 2026, new applications for permanent Parent visas 103, 143, 804 and 864 generally must be lodged online through ImmiAccount. Temporary contributory Parent applications under subclasses 173 and 884 continue under their applicable paper procedures. Limited alternative arrangements can apply where unresolved technical difficulties prevent online lodgement. An incorrect application method may affect validity.

24. Five Questions to Ask Before Choosing

1. How old are your parents? The ordinary onshore aged-parent pathways require Age Pension age, currently 67.
2. Where are they and what visa do they hold? Location, 8503, 8558, section 48 and previous immigration history may affect options.
3. Do they pass the Balance of Family Test? This generally matters for permanent Parent visas, not subclass 870.
4. What financial commitment is sustainable? Plan for both instalments, healthcare and Assurance of Support.
5. Is the goal permanent migration or a long temporary visit? The pathways serve different purposes.

25. Common Parent Visa Mistakes

1. Assuming every Parent application produces a BVA.
2. Believing subclass 143 allows indefinite onshore residence during processing.
3. Applying for an aged-parent subclass before meeting the age requirement.
4. Ignoring Visitor visa condition 8503 or 8558.
5. Assuming a condition-free BVA automatically provides Medicare.
6. Working before a BVA becomes effective while a Visitor visa prohibits work.
7. Leaving Australia on a BVA without appropriate return permission.
8. Withdrawing or switching applications without checking bridging status and queue consequences.
9. Overlooking the second government instalment and Assurance of Support.
10. Treating subclass 870 as a direct permanent residency pathway.

26. How A2MS Can Help

At A2MS – Aussie Academics and Migration Services®, we assess Parent visa eligibility, sponsorship, the Balance of Family Test, Visitor visa conditions, bridging visa arrangements, subclass 870 sponsorship, government fees, healthcare implications and existing application switching risks. Our objective is to help families choose a lawful and financially sustainable pathway for their circumstances.

Book a Parent Visa Eligibility Assessment with Sunil Choudhary, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2418425).

A2MS – Aussie Academics and Migration Services®
GO1, 450 Pulteney Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Phone: 08 7094 8094
Email: info@a2ms.com.au
Website: a2ms.com.au
Book a consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

Can parents apply for subclass 804 while on a Visitor visa?

Potentially, if they meet age and other requirements and their current visa conditions and immigration history permit a valid onshore application.

Do 804 and 864 BVA holders have work rights?

Ordinary associated BVAs covered by LIN 23/029 are generally condition-free. Unrestricted work is generally permitted once the BVA becomes effective, not while an earlier Visitor visa with a no-work condition remains in effect.

Will parents get Medicare on an 804 or 864 BVA?

Not automatically. Most ordinary pending Parent applicants do not qualify solely because of the application or BVA. Separate exceptions may apply.

Can a parent switch from 804 to 864?

Potentially, with queue-date preservation under qualifying provisions. Withdrawal, new application and bridging visa sequencing require careful assessment.

Can a pending subclass 143 applicant receive a BVA?

Not ordinarily. Specific exceptions apply to certain qualifying applicants.

Can subclass 870 holders work?

No. It is a temporary family-stay visa without employment permission.

How long will a new Parent visa application take?

Home Affairs’ October 2026 planning estimates are approximately 18 years for contributory and 42 years for non-contributory Parent applications. Individual outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

Final Thoughts

The best Parent visa is not necessarily the cheapest or the one with the shortest estimated queue. Families need to plan for lawful residence, healthcare, financial obligations and the many years before any permanent visa decision. Professional eligibility assessment can help clarify the risks and available options.

Important Disclaimer

This article is general Australian migration information current as at October 2026, not individual migration advice. It draws on the July 2026 Parent visa procedural guidance, April 2026 subclass 870 sponsorship policy, relevant bridging visa guidance, the Migration Act 1958, Migration Regulations 1994 and applicable legislative instruments. Departmental guidance does not override legislation. Visa charges, queues, eligibility rules and processing estimates may change. No visa grant, bridging visa or processing outcome is guaranteed.

Explore the A2MS Parent Visa Information Hub

For detailed guidance on individual Parent visa pathways, read our subclass 804 versus 864 onshore comparison, permanent subclass 143 guide, temporary subclass 173 and the two-stage 143 pathway, and subclass 870 temporary Parent visa guide. For work permissions, Medicare and travel while waiting, see our Parent visa bridging visa guide.

Official References

• Home Affairs – Parent visa processing and queue dates
• Home Affairs – Visa pricing
• Subclass 103 and subclass 143
• Subclass 804 and subclass 864
• Subclass 870
• LIN 23/029 – associated bridging visas
• Services Australia – Medicare enrolment
• Services Australia – Assurance of Support