Parent visas · Subclass 103
Subclass 103 Parent Visa — Permanent Residence for Parents, Non-Contributory
The 103 visa Australia offers is the non-contributory permanent parent visa. Its government charge is a fraction of the 143, and its queue is far longer. This page covers who can apply, the family test, the charges from 1 July 2026 and the queue.
What is the 103 visa?
The Subclass 103 parent visa is a permanent visa for parents of settled Australians. Your child sponsors you, you must pass the balance of family test and an assurance of support is required. It is non-contributory, so the charge is low and the queue is long.
Key facts
- It is a permanent visa. It lets you travel to and enter Australia for five years from grant.
- There is no age requirement. Most applicants must be outside Australia when the visa is granted.
- The charge from 1 July 2026 is $6,600 at lodgement and $2,065 before grant.
- The balance of family test applies. An Australian citizen child counts on the Australian side wherever they live.
- An assurance of support must be accepted before grant. For a non-contributory parent visa it generally runs for four years.
- The queue is the wait. At 31 May 2026, Home Affairs had released parent applications queued in early 2014.
- You cannot hold two parent applications at once. Any earlier parent application must be decided or withdrawn first.
Who can apply for the parent visa subclass 103?
A visa 103 Australia application is for a parent of a settled Australian. The child must be a citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Your child | A settled Australian citizen, settled permanent resident or settled eligible New Zealand citizen. Settled means lawfully resident in Australia for a reasonable period. |
| A sponsor | Your child, if 18 or over, or their settled cohabiting spouse or de facto partner. Where the child is under 18, a relative or guardian, or a community organisation. |
| Balance of family test | At least half your children are eligible, or more are eligible than live in any one other country. |
| Assurance of support | A person or organisation agrees to support you, and it must be accepted before grant. A bond is lodged with it. |
| Health and character | You, and family members included or not included in your application, meet the health and character requirements. |
| No other parent application | Any earlier parent visa application has been decided or withdrawn. |
| No Subclass 870 | You do not hold a Subclass 870, and have left Australia since any earlier one ended. |
| Location at grant | Most applicants must be outside Australia when the visa is granted. |
How does the balance of family test work?
The test counts all of your children, including step-children and your current partner's children. An eligible child is an Australian citizen, wherever they live. A permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen child counts if they usually live in Australia. Every other child, including a child in Australia on a temporary visa, is treated as living overseas.
You pass if you have at least as many eligible children as ineligible ones. You also pass if more of your children are eligible than live in any single overseas country.
How much does the 103 visa cost?
The government charge is paid in two instalments. The amounts apply from 1 July 2026 and change every 1 July.
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| First instalment, main applicant | $6,600 |
| Each other applicant 18 or over | $3,300 |
| Each other applicant under 18 | $1,655 |
| Second instalment, paid before grant | $2,065 |
Lower first-instalment amounts apply to a holder of a passport from a Pacific-regional country. The assurance of support bond is separate, and its amount is set by the Department of Social Services.
What is the parent visa 103 processing time?
All parent visas are capped and queued. Home Affairs first checks an application against the core criteria and gives it a queue date. It then releases applications in queue-date order. Home Affairs says it cannot give exact processing timeframes for parent visas.
| Stage | Where Home Affairs was |
|---|---|
| Queue assessment | Applications lodged in February 2023 |
| Released for final processing | Applications queued in early 2014 |
For the 103, Home Affairs gives February 2014 in its summary and March 2014 in its table. We show early 2014 until the two agree.
103 vs 143, and 804 vs 103: which parent visa suits you?
| Point | 103 visa | 143 visa | 804 visa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Any parent; most must be outside Australia at grant | Any parent; most must be outside Australia at grant | Aged parent in Australia |
| Charge from 1 July 2026 | $8,665 | $49,900 | $8,665 |
| Released from the queue at 31 May 2026 | Queued in early 2014 | Queued up to November 2018 | Queued in early 2014 |
Read the Subclass 143 contributory parent visa and Subclass 804 aged parent visa pages for the detail of each.
How do you apply for the 103 visa?
- Check the family testList every child, with citizenship and residence, before anything is paid.
- Sponsor and lodgeThe sponsor is lodged with the application, and the first instalment is paid.
- Queue assessmentHome Affairs checks the core criteria, including health and character, and assigns a queue date.
- Queue releaseYour application is released for final processing when places allow.
- Assurance and paymentThe assurance of support is accepted and the second instalment is paid.
- GrantThe visa is granted, usually while you are outside Australia.
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Subclass 103 parent visa: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the 103 and the 143?
Both are permanent parent visas with the same core requirements. You need a settled child, a sponsor, the family test and an assurance of support. The difference is the charge and the queue. From 1 July 2026, one applicant pays $6,600 plus $2,065 for the 103. The 143 costs $6,300 plus $43,600. At 31 May 2026, the 143 queue had reached November 2018. For the 103, it had reached early 2014.
How much does a parent visa 103 cost?
From 1 July 2026 the first instalment is $6,600 for the main applicant. Each other applicant adds $3,300, or $1,655 if under 18. The second instalment of $2,065 is paid before grant. For one applicant, that totals $8,665. Lower first-instalment amounts apply to holders of a Pacific-regional country passport. The assurance of support bond is separate, and the Department of Social Services sets its amount.
How long does a 103 parent visa take?
Home Affairs says it cannot give exact processing timeframes for parent visas. All parent visas are capped and queued. As at 31 May 2026, it was assessing 103 applications lodged in February 2023 for a queue date. It had released parent applications queued in early 2014. The queue date is set when the application is found to meet the core criteria, not at lodgement.
What is the difference between the 804 and the 103?
Both are non-contributory permanent parent visas with the same charges. From 1 July 2026, each costs $6,600 plus $2,065 for one applicant. The 804 is for an aged parent and is applied for and granted in Australia. The 103 has no age requirement. Most 103 applicants must be outside Australia when it is granted. Both queues had reached early 2014 at 31 May 2026.
Can I switch from the 103 to the 143 later?
You cannot hold two parent applications at once. An unfinalised 103 must be decided or withdrawn before a 143 is lodged. The two are charged and queued very differently. The 143 costs $49,900 for one person; the 103 costs $8,665. At 31 May 2026, the contributory queue had reached November 2018. Get advice on the timing before you withdraw anything.
Do I need an assurance of support for the 103?
Yes, in the ordinary case. An assurance of support must be accepted before grant. For a non-contributory parent visa it generally runs for four years. A bond is lodged with it, and the Department of Social Services sets its amount. The bond is not released because the holder changes visa or becomes a citizen. A closed group of 405 or 410 retirement visa holders does not need one.
Can I get Medicare while my 103 is being processed?
You can enrol in Medicare once the 103 is granted. While it is assessed, you can enrol only if you come from a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement country. You must also meet that country's conditions, Services Australia says. Its general enrolment route for permanent visa applicants expressly excludes a parent visa. So most 103 applicants wait until grant. Plan health cover for the wait if you are not from an agreement country.
Weigh the queue before you choose the cheaper visa.
A free eligibility check shows whether the family test and sponsor rules look met. It also shows which parent visa fits your timing.
Visa Advisor, based in Sydney, NSW, is a MARA-registered migration practice advising families in Australia and overseas on parent visas.
Sources and last checked dates
- Migration Regulations 1994 — Compilation No. 288, 1 July 2026 (F2026C00667) — Schedule 2 Part 103; Schedule 1 items 1124, 1124A and 1130; regulations 1.03 and 1.05 read 25 September 2026 open ↗
- Department of Home Affairs — Parent visas queue release dates and processing times checked 25 September 2026 · page last updated 9 July 2026 open ↗
- Department of Home Affairs — Parent visa (subclass 103) checked 25 September 2026 open ↗
- Services Australia — Enrolling in Medicare if you’re an Australian permanent resident (parent visa table) checked 25 September 2026 open ↗
- Services Australia — Enrolling in Medicare if you’re a temporary resident covered by a Ministerial Order checked 25 September 2026 · page last updated 14 May 2024 open ↗
- Department of Home Affairs — PI VM-3048 Assurance of Support (policy, LEGEND version 8 May 2026) read 25 September 2026
Reviewed by a Registered Migration Agent · MARN 0852408. Visa charges change every 1 July and queue dates move during the year. Confirm the current figure with the source before acting on anything on this page.