Parent visas 143 vs 103 vs 804: cost, wait times, and trade-offs

Australia offers several permanent pathways for parents of citizens and permanent residents. The three most common are the Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143), the Parent visa (subclass 103), and the Aged Parent visa (subclass 804). Each carries different costs, queue times and practical implications, so families should weigh budget, timeframes and day-to-day living arrangements before choosing a direction. For tailored guidance, speak with an immigration consultant in Sydney.

What each visa actually is

Subclass 143 (Contributory Parent)
A permanent visa for parents who meet the balance-of-family test and can pay a large second instalment before grant. It is generally an offshore pathway and, under current rules, applicants must be outside Australia at grant (retiree exceptions aside), as set out in the official paper application instructions (Form 47PA).

Subclass 103 (Parent—non-contributory)
Also permanent, with far lower government charges but a very long queue. Like the 143, it is an offshore pathway with the grant made outside Australia.

Subclass 804 (Aged Parent—non-contributory, onshore)
For parents who meet the Australian age-pension age at lodgement and are in Australia when applying. You must also be in Australia at decision, and if you leave while waiting you must hold a visa that lets you return.

If you’re comparing pathways and need someone to sanity-check eligibility and evidence for the balance-of-family test or age rules, the best immigration agents Sydney work with these files daily.

Costs at a glance (government fees and bonds)

Government charges are split into two instalments for all three visas. For the Parent (103), Home Affairs lists “from AUD 7,345 over 2 instalments” for a single applicant. For the Contributory Aged Parent (864)—a close benchmark to the 143—the Department lists “from AUD 48,640 over 2 instalments”; the 143 has similar “high-$40,000s” total charges with a substantial second instalment payable before grant. Exact figures change with indexation, so use the official fee pages and the Visa Pricing Estimator for current totals.

On top of visa charges, most parent visas require an Assurance of Support (AoS). Services Australia sets the AoS bond and duration: for contributory parent visas, the bond is $10,000 for one adult or $14,000 for two adults, held for 10 years; for non-contributory parent visas, the AoS period is 2 years with lower bond levels ($5,000 for one adult, $7,000 for two). These are refundable (less any recoverable social-security debts) at the end of the AoS period.

If you want someone to walk you through how AoS interacts with your family’s income and timing, an immigration agent near me can map out the numbers and sequence.

How long you may wait

Parent visas are capped and queued. The Department publishes both queue-release dates and high-level estimates for new applications:

• As at 31 July 2025, cases released for final processing had queue dates up to May 2018 for Contributory Parent (143/173) and up to January 2013 for Parent (103) and Aged Parent (804).
• For new applications, the Department currently estimates about 15 years for contributory parent visas and about 33 years for Parent and Aged Parent visas.

These figures shift with annual planning levels, but they show the real trade-off: pay much more and wait a long time—or pay less and wait decades.

If you need help interpreting where a specific lodgement might sit in the queue, an experienced immigration advisor Sydney can read the queue-date tables alongside your acknowledgement letter and advise on likely next milestones.

Practical trade-offs beyond dollars

Living arrangements during the wait

• 143 and 103 are offshore pathways at grant, which means you should plan for the final decision to occur while the applicant is outside Australia (retiree concessions aside). This affects travel and settlement planning.
• 804 is lodged onshore and requires the applicant to be onshore at decision. If travel is necessary during processing, ensure a return visa is in place; Home Affairs cautions applicants accordingly.

Medicare access
Parent-visa applicants can usually enrol in Medicare after grant. During processing, Medicare access is limited: applicants may be eligible only if they are from a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) country or if they hold certain contributory temporary visas (173/884) on the path to permanent. Many 804/103 applicants rely on private cover during the queue.

Cash-flow options
If the contributory price is the right path but the lump sum is difficult, the temporary-to-permanent stages (173→143 offshore or 884→864 onshore) allow staged payments, with permanent residency granted at the final stage.

For families wanting time together while waiting on a permanent parent visa place, the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) 870 can offer 3 or 5-year stays without meeting the balance-of-family test, subject to sponsorship and other criteria. It doesn’t lead to permanent residence but can bridge family time.

If you’re unsure which combination of visa and temporary options suits your circumstances, a regulated immigration agency Sydney can map a workable plan that fits budget, age and timing.

Quick comparison

Visa	Typical profile	Government charges (indicative)	AoS bond (assurer—individual)	Estimated wait (new apps)	Where at grant
143 Contributory Parent	Parent meets balance-of-family; seeks quicker outcome	High-$40,000s over two instalments (check current fees)	$10,000 (1 adult) / $14,000 (2 adults), held 10 years	~15 years	Outside Australia*
103 Parent	Budget-sensitive; willing to wait	From $7,345 over two instalments (single applicant)	$5,000 (1 adult) / $7,000 (2 adults), held 2 years	~33 years	Outside Australia
804 Aged Parent (onshore)	Meets age-pension age; intends to remain in Australia during processing	Similar schedule to 103 (check current fees)	$5,000 (1 adult) / $7,000 (2 adults), held 2 years	~33 years	In Australia

*Retiree provisions may differ—see official form guidance. Sources: Department of Home Affairs queue page and visa pages; Services Australia AoS rules.

Which path suits which family?

• Choose 143 if faster processing is essential and you can absorb both the visa charges and the 10-year AoS bond.
• Choose 103 if budget is tight and the applicant can remain overseas for the long queue.
• Choose 804 if the parent is already in Australia, meets the age threshold, and is prepared to reside on an onshore bridging arrangement for many years, typically with private health cover until grant or RHCA eligibility applies.

A common hybrid is to use the 870 temporary visa to spend extended time in Australia while a contributory or non-contributory application sits in the queue. This doesn’t shorten the queue but can ease family pressures.

 

Key take-away: the 143 buys time with money; the 103 and 804 save money but cost time. Check current charges with Home Affairs, confirm AoS capacity with Services Australia, and align the pathway with your family’s finances, health needs and where the parent can live during the wait.

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