Parent Visa – Subclass 103

The Parent visa (subclass 103) is the standard, non-contributory permanent visa for the parent, step-parent or parent-in-law of a settled Australian citizen or permanent resident.

It's generally the lowest-cost permanent parent pathway, but that comes with a trade-off — it's also subject to capping and queuing, so it can take considerably longer to be finalised than the contributory alternatives.

Who Can Apply

You'll generally need to:

• be the parent, step-parent or parent-in-law of an Australian citizen or permanent resident;
• be at least 18 years of age;
• have an approved sponsor, usually your child or another eligible relative; and
• satisfy the Balance of Family test.

The Balance of Family test generally requires at least half of your children to be Australian citizens or permanent residents usually living in Australia, or more of your children to live in Australia than in any other single country.

What the Visa Allows

As a permanent visa, the subclass 103 generally lets you:

• live in Australia permanently;
• work and study;
• enrol in Medicare;
• include eligible family unit members in your application; and
• sponsor other eligible family members for their own visas, subject to meeting the relevant requirements.

The travel facility attached to the visa is generally valid for five years, after which you'd need a further application, such as a Resident Return Visa, to keep travelling as a permanent resident.

Financial and Other Requirements

You'll need to show you're able to support yourself financially without relying on Australian government assistance, and you shouldn't have any relevant prior visa refusals or cancellations that haven't been addressed. Applications are lodged on paper rather than online, and can be made from inside or outside Australia.

Why Processing Can Take So Long

Because the subclass 103 is subject to annual planning levels and a queuing system, and because it's substantially cheaper than the contributory pathways, demand generally outstrips the number of places available each year — which is what drives the long waiting periods you may have heard about. If time matters more to your family than cost, it's worth comparing this against the Contributory Parent visa options.

How I Can Help

I can assist with:

• assessing your eligibility, including the Balance of Family test;
• weighing up the 103 against the contributory pathways for your circumstances;
• preparing sponsorship and financial evidence; and
• preparing and lodging your paper application.

Important Information

The information on this page is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute migration advice for your individual circumstances.

Visa requirements, planning levels and processing times can change. Meeting the general requirements described above does not guarantee that a visa application will be approved.

Professional advice should be obtained based on your individual circumstances before lodging an application.