Updated 2026–27 fee guide
A practical comparison of Australian Parent visa application charges, Assurance of Support, and the extra expenses families should include in their budget.
The parent visa Australia cost varies dramatically by pathway. At current published rates, a Parent visa (subclass 103) starts from AUD 8,665 for one applicant, while a Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) starts from AUD 49,900. A Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870) costs AUD 6,370 for up to three years or AUD 12,440 for up to five years.
Quick answer: the current Australian Parent visa cost ranges from AUD 6,370 for a three-year subclass 870 to AUD 49,900 for a direct permanent contributory visa. The lower-priced permanent visas usually have much longer queues; paying more does not guarantee approval or an immediate decision.
Parent visa Australia cost: current fee table
The table below uses Department of Home Affairs charges published for 2026–27 and checked on 21 August 2026. “From” means the minimum charge for one main applicant. Additional applicants, later applications and payment surcharges can change the total.
| Visa |
Status/stay |
Current charge |
How paid |
| Parent 103 |
Permanent |
AUD 8,665 |
Two instalments |
| Aged Parent 804 |
Permanent; onshore aged pathway |
AUD 8,665 |
Two instalments |
| Contributory Parent 143 |
Permanent |
AUD 49,900 |
Two instalments |
| Contributory Parent 173 |
Temporary; up to 2 years |
AUD 33,375 |
Two instalments |
| Contributory Aged Parent 864 |
Permanent; onshore aged pathway |
AUD 49,900 |
Two instalments |
| Contributory Aged Parent 884 |
Temporary; up to 2 years |
AUD 35,430 |
Two instalments |
| Sponsored Parent 870 |
Temporary; 3 or 5 years |
AUD 6,370 / 12,440 |
AUD 1,515 first instalment; balance before grant |
Do not budget from the first instalment alone
Most Parent visas have a substantial second visa application charge. Home Affairs normally requests it later, before grant. Its pricing estimator may not display that second instalment, so check the subclass page and current pricing table as well.
What does “Parent visa” include?
There is no single Australian Parent visa. The right pathway depends on whether the parent seeks permanent residence or a temporary long stay, where the parent is located, their age, sponsorship eligibility and whether the family passes the Balance of Family test.
Lower-cost permanent
Subclasses 103 and 804 have much lower visa charges, but are capped and queued. Families should plan for a very long wait.
Contributory
Subclasses 143, 173, 864 and 884 require a much larger contribution and are also capped and queued, although generally prioritised ahead of non-contributory Parent visas.
Temporary 870
Allows an approved sponsor’s parent to stay for up to three or five years. It does not itself grant permanent residence and does not require the Balance of Family test.
The aged pathways are not simply cheaper alternatives. The applicant must meet the relevant Australian pension-age requirement and valid onshore application rules. A bridging visa may arise after a valid onshore application, but travel and work rights need separate attention.
For a broader eligibility comparison, read VEM’s Australian Parent visa guide and Sponsored Parent visa 870 guide.
Contributory Parent visa fees: direct or staged?
A family may apply directly for permanent subclass 143 or 864, or use the two-stage route: temporary subclass 173 followed by 143, or temporary subclass 884 followed by 864. The temporary visa can spread the contribution across applications and allow a limited stay before the permanent stage.
Do not add the full headline price of both visas. When a qualifying temporary contributory Parent visa holder applies for the corresponding permanent stage within the permitted period, the later charge structure recognises the earlier contribution. The exact total depends on who is included, lodgement timing and the current charges at each application.
Cost versus cash flow
The staged route is mainly a timing and flexibility decision, not an automatic discount. Compare the combined current and future charges, temporary-visa expiry, permanent-stage deadline, medical risk and possible annual fee indexation.
What is the 10-year Parent visa Australia cost?
Australia does not offer one subclass 870 visa valid for ten continuous years. The visa can be granted for up to three or five years, and a parent may hold further 870 visas up to a maximum cumulative stay of ten years, subject to a new application and all rules at that time.
One 5-year visa
AUD 12,440
Current visa charge per parent.
Two 5-year visas
AUD 24,880
Illustration using today’s rate twice.
AUD 24,880 is not a guaranteed 10-year price. The second visa is a fresh application, and government charges will likely be indexed before it is lodged. The parent may also need to spend time outside Australia between 870 visas unless an exception or permission applies. Each parent generally needs their own application.
Also budget for the separate sponsorship application, health insurance for the full stay, medical checks and repeat document costs. The 870 has no direct permanent-residence conversion; a family seeking PR must qualify for another pathway.
Assurance of Support: a major amount outside the visa fee
Permanent Parent and contributory Parent visas require a mandatory Assurance of Support (AoS). An eligible assurer promises to support the parent and repay specified recoverable income-support payments. Services Australia assesses the assurer’s income and requests the bank guarantee near the appropriate stage; it is not paid with the visa application.
| AoS period |
1 adult |
2 adults |
Usually relevant to |
| 4 years |
AUD 5,000 |
AUD 7,000 |
Parent / Aged Parent |
| 10 years |
AUD 10,000 |
AUD 14,000 |
Contributory Parent / Contributory Aged Parent |
These are current guarantee amounts where an individual provides the AoS. The term deposit is generally releasable after the AoS period, less any recoverable payments. It is therefore different from a non-refundable visa application charge, but the money may be unavailable for years.
The assurer must pass the income test for the current and previous financial year. Up to three people may act as joint assurers. Wait for the Department’s request before starting the AoS process.
Health examinations
Panel-physician fees vary by country, age and tests required. Repeat examinations may be requested during long processing periods.
Police certificates
Applicants may need certificates from multiple countries and may need updated checks before decision.
Translation and certification
Birth, marriage, identity and custody documents not in English need acceptable translations.
Health insurance
Especially important for subclass 870 and applicants who are not eligible for Medicare. Premiums rise with age, cover and pre-existing-condition rules.
Payment surcharge
Home Affairs may add a surcharge based on the payment method used.
Professional fees
Migration-agent or lawyer fees are separate from government charges and depend on complexity and scope.
Cost versus waiting time
The cheapest permanent visa is not necessarily the most practical. Parent visas are capped and queued. As at 31 May 2026, Home Affairs reported that final-processing queue dates had reached approximately February/March 2014 for subclass 103, April 2014 for subclass 804 and November 2018 for contributory Parent applications.
Queue dates show which older applications were being released for final processing; they do not promise a decision date for a new application. Family composition, health, character, document requests, annual places and policy changes can all affect the outcome.
The 870 is not part of the permanent Parent visa queue, but it is temporary, requires approved sponsorship and does not create a direct PR pathway. Compare status, stay conditions and long-term objectives, not only the application fee.
Worked parent visa cost examples
One parent applying for subclass 143
Start with AUD 49,900 in visa charges. Add a possible AUD 10,000 AoS bank guarantee, plus medicals, police checks, translations, payment surcharge and any professional fee. The guarantee is not normally a permanent expense if no recoverable payments are made, but it affects cash flow for ten years.
One parent seeking up to five years on subclass 870
Budget AUD 12,440 for the visa charge, plus the sponsorship application, comprehensive health insurance and associated checks. An AoS is not the same requirement for the 870, and the visa does not provide PR.
Two parents
Do not assume the bill is exactly twice the single-applicant headline. Additional-applicant charges, age, dependent status, separate subclass 870 applications and AoS rules can change the calculation. Use the official pricing estimator with both parents’ details.
Common budgeting mistakes
- Comparing only the first instalment and overlooking the larger second charge.
- Treating the AoS bank guarantee as part of the quoted visa fee—or omitting it entirely.
- Assuming the AUD 24,880 illustration buys one guaranteed ten-year subclass 870 visa.
- Using an old blog fee after annual government indexation.
- Choosing a cheaper queue without planning interim visits, insurance and changing family circumstances.
- Paying non-refundable charges before checking sponsorship, Balance of Family, health, age and location rules.
If you need further assistance, please contact VEM. Our consultant, Mr. Peter Cao, a registered migration agent (MARN: 1577877), with more than 10 years of experience in the migration field, will help you.
Need a costed Parent visa strategy?
Compare eligibility, queue risk, temporary stay options and the complete family budget before lodging.
Contact VEM Visa
FAQs
How much does an Australian Parent visa cost?
Current base charges for one main applicant range from AUD 6,370 for a three-year subclass 870 to AUD 49,900 for a direct permanent contributory Parent visa. The complete cost depends on the subclass, number of applicants and additional expenses.
How much is a subclass 103 Parent visa?
The current published charge starts from AUD 8,665 for one applicant, paid in two instalments. A mandatory four-year AoS and other expenses are separate.
How much is a subclass 143 Contributory Parent visa?
It currently starts from AUD 49,900 for one applicant over two instalments. A ten-year AoS, including the applicable bank guarantee, is additional.
What is the 10-year Parent visa Australia cost?
Two five-year subclass 870 visas would total AUD 24,880 if today’s AUD 12,440 charge applied twice. It almost certainly will not remain fixed over ten years, and sponsorship, insurance and other expenses are additional.
Is the Assurance of Support refundable?
The bank guarantee is generally released when the AoS period ends, less any recoverable income-support payments. The assurer remains liable under the agreement, so the AoS should not be treated as a simple application deposit.
Are Parent visa application fees refundable after refusal?
Visa application charges are generally not refunded merely because an application is refused or withdrawn. Limited refund circumstances exist, so check eligibility and evidence before paying.
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