Written by Navpreet Aulakh, Registered Migration Agent MARN 2619467
Checked against Department of Home Affairs guidance on 21 October 2026
Parent visa cost in Australia ranges from about AUD6,370 for a 3-year Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870) to AUD49,900 for a single applicant on the permanent Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143). The non-contributory Parent visa (subclass 103) costs much less at AUD8,665, but its queue is far longer. What you pay depends on whether you want a long visit or permanent residence, and on how long your family can wait.
This guide sets out the Home Affairs charges for each option, when each instalment is due, and the other costs families often miss, like the Assurance of Support bond, health checks and health insurance.
How much does each parent visa cost in 2026?
Home Affairs splits most parent visa charges into two instalments. You pay the first when you lodge and the second when the Department asks for it, which is close to the end of processing. The figures below are for one main applicant, taken from the Home Affairs current visa pricing table and each visa page.
| Visa | Type | First instalment | Second instalment | Total (one applicant) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary), up to 3 years | Temporary | AUD1,515 | AUD4,855 | AUD6,370 |
| 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary), up to 5 years | Temporary | AUD1,515 | AUD10,925 | AUD12,440 |
| 103 Parent | Permanent | AUD6,600 | AUD2,065 | AUD8,665 |
| 173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) | Temporary (2 years) | AUD4,245 | AUD29,130 | AUD33,375 |
| 143 Contributory Parent | Permanent | AUD6,300 | AUD43,600 | AUD49,900 |
Concessions apply in limited cases. From 1 July 2026, Home Affairs charges a lower visa application charge to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens. Health checks, police certificates and biometrics are extra and are not included above.
What does the 870 visa cost and what do you get for it?
The 870 visa is the cheapest way to have a parent with you for a long stretch. It costs AUD6,370 for a visa of up to 3 years or AUD12,440 for up to 5 years. The first instalment is AUD1,515 either way. The second instalment, paid before grant, is AUD4,855 for 3 years or AUD10,925 for 5 years.
Some points to weigh up before you choose it:
- Sponsor first. The Australian child must be approved as a parent sponsor before the parent can apply. The visa application must then be lodged within 6 months of that approval. The sponsorship application has its own fee, separate from the visa charges above.
- One applicant per visa. Additional applicants cannot be included, so each parent applies and pays separately.
- No work rights. The holder cannot work in Australia.
- Health insurance. The parent must have and keep adequate health insurance from an Australian provider for the whole stay. This is an ongoing cost on top of the visa charge.
- 10-year limit. Further 870 visas can be granted, up to a total of 10 years in Australia.
- No permanent residence. Home Affairs says you cannot apply for a permanent or temporary parent visa while you have applied for or hold an 870 visa.
Home Affairs says up to 15,000 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visas may be granted each program year. Unlike the other parent visas, the 870 is not part of the parent visa capping and queueing system.
How much does the 143 Contributory Parent visa cost?
The 143 visa costs from AUD49,900 over 2 instalments for one applicant. That is a first instalment of AUD6,300 at lodgement and a second instalment of AUD43,600 when Home Affairs asks for it. Each family member who applies with you adds further charges.
The large second instalment is the "contribution" that gives this visa its name. In return, the 143 moves much faster than the non-contributory 103, although it is still capped and queued. You can read more about the wait in our guide to parent visa waiting times.
Most 143 applicants also need:
- a sponsor (unless applying as a retiree under the retirement pathway)
- to pass the balance of family test
- an Assurance of Support, with a bond lodged by the assurer
- to meet health and character requirements
Is it cheaper to go through the 173 first?
The 173 is the 2-year temporary version of the Contributory Parent visa. It costs from AUD33,375 for one applicant: AUD4,245 first instalment and AUD29,130 second instalment. Holders can then apply for the permanent 143 at a much lower charge.
For a 173 holder who meets the conditions in the pricing table, the 143 first instalment is AUD555. The second instalment is AUD19,420 for an applicant who held a 173 at any time in the 28 days before applying for the 143. That puts the combined 173 plus 143 cost at roughly AUD53,350 for one applicant, which is slightly more than going straight to the 143.
So why do families pick the 173 route? It splits the cost over two stages, which helps with cash flow. It also lets the parent live in Australia with work and study rights while the permanent step is arranged. A 173 holder has already met the balance of family test, and does not need to meet it again if they apply for the 143 before the 173 ends.
Why is the 103 Parent visa so much cheaper?
The 103 costs from AUD8,665 for one applicant: AUD6,600 first instalment and AUD2,065 second instalment for each person on the application. Adult family members add AUD3,300 each and children under 18 add AUD1,655 each to the first instalment.
The low price comes with a very long wait. All permanent parent visas are capped, and the non-contributory 103 gets far fewer places relative to demand. As at 31 August 2026, Home Affairs had released Parent (103) applications with a queue date up to March 2014 for final processing. By comparison, Contributory Parent applications had been released up to a November 2018 queue date. Home Affairs says it cannot give exact processing timeframes for these visas.
For many families, the 103 makes sense only where the parent is in good health, has other family support in the meantime, and the cost of the contributory visa is out of reach. Older parents already in Australia may also look at the Aged Parent visa (subclass 804) or the Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864), which carry similar charges and queues to the 103 and 143.
What other costs come with a parent visa?
The visa application charge is only part of the budget. Plan for these as well:
| Cost | Which visas | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Assurance of Support bond | 143, 173, 864, 884 and other parent visas where required | Refundable bond lodged with the Commonwealth Bank. Services Australia assesses the Assurance of Support and sets the amount. |
| Health examinations | All | Each applicant must meet the health requirement. Examination fees are paid separately from the visa charge. |
| Police certificates | All | Charged by each country that issues them. |
| Biometrics | Where requested | Provided when Home Affairs asks for them. |
| Private health insurance | 870 (mandatory) | Must be held for the whole stay with an Australian provider. |
| Sponsorship fee | 870 | Paid by the sponsor when applying for parent sponsor approval. |
How does the Assurance of Support bond work?
An Assurance of Support is a promise that the parent will not need government assistance for a set period after arriving. The assurer can be the sponsor, another person, more than one person or an organisation. It does not have to be the sponsor or a family member.
For the permanent Contributory Parent and Contributory Aged Parent visas, the Assurance of Support period is 10 years. It runs from the date the parent arrives in Australia, or from the date of grant if they applied in Australia. For other visas where an Assurance of Support applies, the period is up to 4 years.
The bond is held for the whole period. Once it ends, the assurer asks Centrelink to release the bond, less any recoverable payments the parent claimed. Home Affairs will tell you when to arrange the Assurance of Support. Once the assurer has lodged it, you have 28 days to give the Department the assurer details. More detail is on our Assurance of Support page.
Which parent visa is the best value for your family?
There is no single right answer, but this is how the options usually line up:
- You want your parent here soon, for a long visit, without paying for permanent residence: the 870 is usually the best value. Remember it cannot lead to a parent visa while it is held.
- You want permanent residence and can fund it: the 143, either directly or through the 173 first.
- You want permanent residence but cannot meet the contribution: the 103, with a very long queue.
- Short visits are enough: a Visitor visa (subclass 600) may be enough and costs far less.
Choosing the wrong pathway can cost thousands. For example, a parent who takes an 870 and later decides they want permanent residence cannot apply for a parent visa while the 870 application is pending or the visa is held. Get the order right before you lodge anything. Our parent visas page compares the eligibility rules in more detail.
Common mistakes that add to the cost
- Budgeting only for the first instalment and being caught short when the large second instalment is requested.
- Not planning who will give the Assurance of Support and lodge the bond.
- Lodging before checking the balance of family test, which most 103 and 143 applicants must pass.
- Lodging an 870 application without realising it blocks a permanent parent visa application while it is pending or held.
- Letting a 173 expire before applying for the 143, and losing the lower second instalment.
Parent visa cost: quick questions
What is the cheapest parent visa in Australia?
For a single applicant, the 3-year 870 visa (AUD6,370) has the lowest total visa charge, followed by the permanent 103 (AUD8,665). The 103 has a much longer queue.
When do I pay the second instalment?
Home Affairs asks for the second instalment near the end of processing, before the visa is granted. You do not pay it at lodgement.
Can both parents go on one 870 application?
No. Additional applicants are not eligible for the 870, so each parent lodges and pays for their own visa.
Does the 143 cost less if I hold a 173?
Yes. A 173 holder who meets the conditions pays a first instalment of AUD555 and a second instalment of AUD19,420 for the 143, instead of AUD6,300 and AUD43,600.
Is the Assurance of Support bond refundable?
Yes, once the Assurance of Support period ends, less any recoverable Centrelink payments the parent received during that period.
Get advice before you pay
Parent visas involve large charges and long commitments. If you are weighing up the 870, 143, 173 or 103 for your parents, book your consultation with our registered migration agents. We will look at your family's situation, the balance of family test and the Assurance of Support before you commit.
Official sources: Home Affairs: Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870); Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143); Parent visa (subclass 103); Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173); Parent visa queue release dates; Assurance of Support.
This article is general information only and is not migration advice for your circumstances. Visa charges can change. Check the current amounts on the Home Affairs website, and book a consultation with a registered migration agent before you lodge.