Australia Parent Migration Visa – Bring Your Parents to Australia

Are you an Australian PR holder or citizen and want to call your parents to Australia? The Australia Parent Migration Visa allows PR holders or citizens to sponsor a PR visa for their parents. However, this is not a simple immigration procedure and you will need expert guidance to help you. With our in-depth knowledge and decades of experience with Australian immigration, Y-Axis can help you settle with your parents in Australia.

Comparison at a Glance: Choosing the Right Parent Visa Pathway

Understanding Australia’s parent visa options can be overwhelming, especially with significant differences in costs, wait times, and eligibility rules. The table below gives you a clear overview of the main pathways, including permanent and temporary options, so you can decide which best suits your family’s situation.

Visa (subclass)	Fees	Wait time	Onshore/Offshore	Age requirement
Parent (103)	Low base VAC	~31 years	Offshore	None
Aged Parent (804)	Low base VAC	~31 years	Onshore	Age Pension age
Contributory Parent (143)	High (incl. 2nd VAC)	~14 years	Offshore	None
Contributory Parent (Temporary) (173)	High, split over 173→143	Counts towards 143 timeline	Offshore	None
Contributory Aged Parent (864)	High (incl. 2nd VAC)	~14 years	Onshore	Age Pension age
Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) (884)	High, split over 884→864	Counts towards 864 timeline	Onshore	Age Pension age
Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (870)	Moderate, no PR	3–5 years (max 10)	Offshore/Onshore	None

Temporary Pathways and Bridging Visa Mechanics

For parents applying onshore, bridging visas are an essential part of remaining lawful in Australia while awaiting a decision. Understanding how these work can help families plan effectively.

Who gets a BVA?

If you apply for a parent visa onshore while holding a substantive visa, you are generally granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA). This allows you to remain lawfully in Australia until a decision is made. However, a BVA does not allow international travel—if you leave, it will cease. To travel and return, you must apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB) with supporting evidence of your travel plans.

Work rights while waiting

Most BVAs for parent visas are issued without work rights. Applicants can request a variation of conditions online or using Form 1005 by demonstrating financial hardship. Evidence such as bank statements, budgets, or employer letters may be required. Approval is discretionary and assessed case by case.

Medicare access

Applicants who lodge an onshore application for permanent residence may be able to enrol in Medicare if they meet Services Australia criteria, such as having permission to work or being the parent, spouse, or child of an Australian citizen or permanent resident. In addition, applicants for contributory parent visas (subclasses 173, 143, 884, and 864) are explicitly covered by Ministerial Order and are eligible for Medicare while waiting. Non-contributory applicants (103/804) are not included in this automatic coverage.

Transitioning from temporary to permanent

Contributory parent visas are often structured in two stages. Offshore applicants move from subclass 173 (temporary) to 143 (permanent), while onshore aged applicants progress from subclass 884 (temporary) to 864 (permanent). These transitions require a new permanent visa application, with fees and conditions applying, but time spent on the temporary stage counts towards the permanent pathway.

Sponsor Responsibilities and Assurance of Support (AoS)

Sponsoring parents for migration to Australia comes with financial responsibilities designed to ensure that new arrivals do not rely on government support. The Assurance of Support (AoS) is a key part of this process and varies depending on the visa subclass.

AoS Basics

• Duration: 10 years for contributory parent visas; 4 years for non-contributory parent visas.
• Bond/Bank Guarantee: AUD 10,000 for the main applicant plus AUD 4,000 for each additional adult in contributory visas; AUD 5,000/2,000 for non-contributory visas. These bonds are refundable at the end of the AoS period if no recoverable debts exist.

Who Can Provide the AoS

The sponsor may act as the assurer, or another eligible person/organisation can step in.

Up to three joint assurers are permitted, meaning siblings or other family members can share the responsibility.

Evidence Required

• An official Notice of Assessment from the Australian Taxation Office (not just a tax return).
• Recent payslips and proof of stable income.
• In some cases, bank statements or additional financial evidence may be required.

Income Requirement for Subclass 870 Sponsors

• Sponsors for the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870) must show a minimum taxable income of AUD 83,454.80.
• In certain cases, income can be combined with up to two others, provided the primary sponsor meets at least half of the threshold.

Documents Required for Parent Migration Visa

The documentation and other requirements for Australia Parent Migration Visa includes:

• Having a child who is an Australian citizen, PR holder or eligible New Zealand citizen
• Applicant should have half or more of their children living permanently in Australia
• Meet health, character and other visa conditions
• Applicant’s sponsors should demonstrate financial capability
• Must not have no further stay condition for those applying from Australia
• Passport & travel history

Real Queue Data and Backlog Context

• Contributory Parent visas (143/864): Approximate wait time of 14 years
• Non-contributory Parent visas (103/804): Approximate wait time of 31 years
• Backlog: More than 150,000 applications currently in the system
• Deaths while waiting: Over 2,300 applicants have died in the past three years without receiving a decision
• Queue progress (Feb 2025):
  • Subclass 103: up to December 2012
  • Subclass 804: up to January 2013
  • Subclasses 143/173/864/884: up to February 2018

How Y-Axis can help you?

With our vast experience in Australian immigration, Y-Axis can help you understand and navigate the process with complete confidence. Our services include:

• Eligibility evaluation
• Immigration documents checklist
• Complete application processing
• Forms, documentation & application filing
• Updates & follow up
• Relocation and post-landing support in Australia

The Australia Parent Migration Visa is a cap driven visa. If you are looking to bring your parents to Australia, start your process today to take advantage of friendly immigration policies before they change. Reach out to us for reliable, professional visa application support.

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