Building a successful life in Australia is an incredible achievement, but it can feel incomplete when the parents who supported your dreams are thousands of miles away. Missing out on shared family dinners, regular weekend catchups, and everyday milestones is a heavy burden for anyone living abroad. If you are an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen, the Parent Visa Subclass 103 offers a legal pathway to bring your parents home to live with you permanently.
While this is the most budget-friendly permanent parent visa available, it is subject to a massive government backlog. Here is the essential, up-to-date information you need for your application layout.
Key Visa Facts
Permanent residency allowing an indefinite stay.
7,345 AUD (paid across two separate instalments).
30+ years due to strict annual government caps.
Full enrollment in Medicare upon visa approval.
Unrestricted rights across Australia.
What This Visa Offers
Once approved, your parents receive full permanent resident status. This allows them to:
Live, work, and study anywhere in Australia indefinitely.
Access the public healthcare network through Medicare.
Sponsor other eligible family members for their own visas.
Travel in and out of Australia freely for the first five years.
Apply for full Australian citizenship once you meet the standard residency requirements.
Core Eligibility Criteria
To submit a valid application, your family must meet the following baseline rules:
Your parents must be sponsored by an active child who is a settled citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
At least half of the parents' children must live permanently in Australia, or more of their children must live permanently in Australia than in any other single country.
Your parents cannot apply for or hold a temporary Sponsored Parent Subclass 870 visa while they apply for this visa.
A sponsor must provide a financial bond to guarantee the parents will not rely on government social security payments.
Applicants must clear standard medical checkups and criminal background screenings.
The Retirement Pathway Exception
If your parents already reside in Australia and hold or have previously held an Investor Retirement Subclass 405 visa or a Retirement Subclass 410 visa, they bypass most of the standard hurdles. For retirees:
The Balance of Family Test is completely waived.
No Assurance of Support bond is required.
No individual family sponsor is necessary.
They only need to be physically inside Australia when lodging the application.
Fees and Instalments
The baseline government fee starts from 7,345 AUD for a single applicant. This expense is broken into two distinct parts:
- The First Instalment: 5,280 AUD paid when you first submit the paperwork.
- The Second Instalment: 2,065 AUD paid later, only when the government is ready to formally grant the visa.
Note: Extra charges apply if you include a partner, in addition to the standard independent fees for health exams and police clearances.
Let Expert Education and Visa Services Handle the Paperwork
Navigating the complexity of parent visas, balancing the strict eligibility criteria, and choosing between long wait times or high fees requires strategic planning. You do not have to figure it out alone.
At Expert Education and Visa Services, our registered migration agents specialise in clear, stress-free family visa pathways. We will review your family circumstances, assess your eligibility, and manage your entire application with absolute precision to help reunite your family.