Parent Visa Costs Australia 2026: 103 vs 143 vs 173 vs 804 vs 864 vs 884 vs 870
Australian Parent Visa costs vary dramatically depending on the pathway. A non-contributory Parent Visa can start from thousands of dollars but involve an exceptionally long queue, while a direct Contributory Parent Visa can cost tens of thousands of dollars per primary applicant. Temporary pathways such as Subclass 870 have a different pricing structure again.
This 2026 comparison explains the current headline government charges for 103, 143, 173, 804, 864, 884 and 870, what “two instalments” means, which costs sit outside the Visa Application Charge, and why the cheapest visa is not necessarily the cheapest long-term family strategy.
For eligibility and pathway comparison, see our Australian Parent Visa hub.
Parent Visa costs Australia 2026 — quick comparison
| Visa | Type | Current headline cost for a single applicant | Key point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 103 Parent | Permanent, non-contributory | From AUD8,665 | Low government charge, very long queue |
| 143 Contributory Parent | Permanent, contributory | From AUD49,900 | Higher charge, contributory queue |
| 173 Contributory Parent | Temporary, 2 years | From AUD33,375 | First stage before 143 for some families |
| 804 Aged Parent | Permanent, non-contributory | From AUD8,665 | Onshore aged-parent pathway, very long queue |
| 864 Contributory Aged Parent | Permanent, contributory | From AUD49,900 | Onshore contributory aged-parent pathway |
| 884 Contributory Aged Parent | Temporary, 2 years | From AUD35,430 | Temporary stage before 864 |
| 870 Sponsored Parent | Temporary | From AUD6,370 up to 3 years / AUD12,440 up to 5 years | Separate AUD420 sponsorship fee; maximum cumulative stay 10 years |
These are Home Affairs headline amounts current in September 2026 and are not a personalised fee quote. Additional applicant charges, second-instalment rules, concessions and individual circumstances can change the total.
Why Parent Visa pricing is so different between subclasses
Australia divides Parent migration into non-contributory, contributory and temporary sponsored pathways. The contributory pathways require much larger Visa Application Charges but sit in a more recent queue than the non-contributory Parent/Aged Parent categories. Subclass 870 is temporary and does not confer permanent residence.
The price therefore reflects the legal pathway, not simply the amount of paperwork involved.
Subclass 103 cost: the lower-cost permanent Parent Visa
Home Affairs currently lists the Subclass 103 Parent Visa from AUD8,665 over two instalments for a single applicant. Additional charges apply for family members.
The financial trade-off is the queue. Subclass 103 is capped and queued, and current queue-release dates reach back many years. Families choosing 103 should view the government charge together with the realistic waiting period and temporary-visit strategy.
Subclass 143 cost: direct permanent contributory pathway
The Subclass 143 Contributory Parent Visa currently starts from AUD49,900 over two instalments for a single applicant. The second instalment forms a major part of the total charge and is requested later in processing.
Some applicants — including certain people moving from Subclass 173 or qualifying substituted Subclass 600 circumstances — can have different charging provisions. Do not assume the headline direct-entry figure applies to every case.
Subclass 173 cost: spreading the contributory pathway across two visas
Home Affairs currently lists Subclass 173 from AUD33,375 over two instalments for a single applicant. The 173 is temporary for two years and can be followed by Subclass 143.
The two-stage 173→143 strategy spreads the costs over time, but Home Affairs expressly notes that the two-stage route costs more overall than applying directly for Subclass 143. Read our 173 to 143 two-stage guide.
Subclass 804 cost: low headline fee, very long onshore queue
The Subclass 804 Aged Parent Visa currently starts from AUD8,665 over two instalments for a single applicant.
Because it is an onshore Aged Parent Visa, eligible applicants can have an associated bridging-visa strategy. The government fee should therefore be weighed against the very long queue, health and insurance planning, travel restrictions, possible work limitations and age-related needs during the wait.
Subclass 864 cost: permanent contributory aged-parent pathway
The direct Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent Visa starts from AUD49,900 over two instalments for a single applicant. Different charging provisions can apply to some holders of Subclass 884 or substituted Subclass 600 visas.
Subclass 884 cost: temporary first stage before 864
Home Affairs lists Subclass 884 from AUD35,430 over two instalments for a single applicant. Like the 173/143 model, it can be used as a temporary first stage before the corresponding permanent 864 pathway.
Subclass 870 cost: 3-year vs 5-year sponsored stay
Subclass 870 currently costs from AUD6,370 for up to three years or AUD12,440 for up to five years. There is also a separate AUD420 Parent Sponsorship application fee before the parent can lodge the visa application.
The 870 is temporary, cannot be used for paid work and does not itself lead to permanent residence. See our detailed 870 Visa Cost Australia 2026 guide.
What does “paid in two instalments” mean?
For several Parent Visa subclasses, Home Affairs splits the Visa Application Charge into a first and second instalment. The first is paid at lodgement. The second is requested later when the application reaches the relevant stage. The second instalment can be the largest component of a contributory Parent Visa cost.
This structure means families should plan liquidity years in advance rather than assume all costs are paid on day one.
Assurance of Support is a separate financial requirement
For many permanent/contributory Parent Visas, an Assurance of Support (AoS) is required. The assurer may need to meet income requirements and provide a security through the Social Services framework.
The AoS is not simply another visa application fee and should not be confused with the sponsor’s legal role. Read our Assurance of Support guide.
Other costs families should budget for
- health examinations
- police certificates
- biometrics where required
- translations and certified documents
- private health insurance for temporary stays where relevant
- Bridging Visa B or travel-related costs in onshore cases
- Assurance of Support security where required
- professional legal fees if a lawyer is retained
The correct budget is therefore broader than the Home Affairs headline VAC.
Are there Parent Visa fee concessions in 2026?
From 1 July 2026, Home Affairs introduced lower Visa Application Charges for eligible citizens of specified Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste for relevant visas. Eligibility is passport-based and subclass-specific. Families should check the current pricing table rather than assuming the standard amount applies.
Can Parent Visa fees be refunded if the visa is refused?
Visa Application Charges are generally not refunded simply because an application is refused or withdrawn, although statutory refund provisions can apply in limited circumstances. This is why legal eligibility — particularly the Balance of Family Test, sponsor requirements, age and application validity — should be checked before paying substantial charges.
Which Parent Visa is cheapest?
If the comparison is limited to headline permanent-visa government charges, Subclasses 103 and 804 are substantially lower than direct contributory pathways. But “cheapest” is not a complete migration strategy. A family may spend years on temporary visits, private insurance, travel and bridging arrangements while waiting.
Likewise, a contributory visa has much higher government charges but may better fit a family whose priority is an earlier place in the contributory queue.
Case example: one parent or two parents
A couple applying together will not simply pay the single-applicant amount twice in every circumstance. The primary and secondary applicant charges differ and depend on age, subclass, pathway and timing. Use the Visa Pricing Estimator for the exact family configuration and obtain advice where temporary-to-permanent or substituted-600 charging rules may apply.
Compare total strategy cost, not only the application fee
For Parent migration, cost, waiting time, onshore status, health cover, travel and permanent-residence objectives are intertwined. A low VAC can come with decades of waiting; a high VAC does not remove queueing.
Parent Visa cost FAQs
How much is a Parent Visa in Australia in 2026?
It depends on the subclass. Current headline single-applicant costs range from the lower non-contributory amounts to approximately AUD49,900 for direct contributory permanent pathways, while 870 pricing is based on the 3- or 5-year temporary stay.
Is the second instalment optional?
No. Where the visa has a second instalment, it forms part of the Visa Application Charge and must be paid when Home Affairs requests it for the application to progress to grant.
Is Assurance of Support included in the visa fee?
No. It is a separate Social Services requirement where applicable.
Do parents over 70 pay more?
The charging table depends on subclass and applicant category rather than a simple age-over-70 surcharge. Check the pricing table for the exact applicant configuration.
Does paying AUD49,900 guarantee faster approval?
No. Contributory Parent Visas remain capped and queued.
Can professional fees be paid in instalments?
Professional fee arrangements depend on the engagement terms. Government Visa Application Charges are governed separately by Home Affairs.
How should couples compare the cost of one applicant vs two?
The single-applicant headline figure is not the total cost for a married couple. Where the subclass allows a spouse to be included, Home Affairs applies an additional applicant charge rather than simply duplicating the primary applicant’s base charge. The exact total also depends on second instalments and the visa subclass.
For couples, obtain a current Visa Pricing Estimator result for the precise family composition and retain it with the financial plan. Do not budget from a blog figure alone where the application may be lodged months later.
What are the biggest hidden Parent Visa costs?
Families often focus on the Visa Application Charge and overlook long-term costs. For an onshore 804 strategy, years on a bridging visa can involve private health insurance, travel and healthcare expenditure. For a contributory visa, the second instalment and Assurance of Support can be the largest future cash-flow events. For 870, repeat visa charges and private health cover can accumulate over a decade.
How does the Parent Visa queue change the economic comparison?
The non-contributory visas cost much less in government charges but can remain queued for a very long time. A family may therefore spend more on repeated Visitor Visas, international travel, healthcare and separation over the waiting period. Those costs are not Department fees, but they are real family costs and can change the strategic comparison.
Direct 143 vs 173 then 143: which costs less?
Home Affairs states that the two-stage Subclass 173 then 143 route costs more overall than applying directly for Subclass 143. Its advantage is that the cost is spread across two visas and a longer period. Families who have the funds for direct 143 may prefer the simpler one-stage permanent pathway, while others may value staged payments and the temporary 173 period.
Direct 864 vs 884 then 864
The same strategic issue arises for aged parents. Subclass 884 can provide a temporary contributory stage before the permanent 864, but the combined two-stage pathway has its own charging provisions. Compare the exact current second-instalment rules before deciding that the temporary first stage is “cheaper”.
Can a prior temporary Parent Visa reduce the permanent visa charge?
Yes, some temporary-to-permanent contributory pathways have different charges for people who hold or recently held the corresponding temporary visa. That is why a generic “864 costs AUD49,900” or “143 costs AUD49,900” statement can be incomplete for a person coming through 884 or 173.
Does a substituted Subclass 600 change Parent Visa costs?
Some Parent Visa charging provisions contain special rates for qualifying substituted Subclass 600 visa holders. A substituted visa is a specialised legal status and should not be confused with an ordinary Visitor Visa. Confirm the grant history before relying on any concessional charging rule.
What happens if fees rise after you decide to apply?
Home Affairs says visa charges depend on the date it receives the application, and charges can change. Families should therefore re-check the current pricing table immediately before lodgement. A historic fee quote is not a guarantee of the amount payable later.
Case example: parents choosing 804 because it is cheaper
A couple sees the 804’s much lower VAC and assumes it is obviously better than 864. But they expect regular overseas travel, want to preserve access to private health care, and may spend years on bridging visas. Once those practical costs and the queue are included, the decision becomes more nuanced than the application fee alone.
Case example: direct 143 vs staged 173/143
A family can afford the direct 143 charge and wants permanent residence as soon as the contributory queue permits. The 173/143 route would spread payments but add a temporary stage and higher aggregate visa charges. On those priorities, direct 143 may be financially more efficient, subject to eligibility.
How Emigrate Lawyers approaches Parent Visa costs
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Related Parent Visa Services and Guides
Legal review: Reviewed by Madhab Kharel, Principal Lawyer, Emigrate Lawyers on 28 September 2026. General information only; not legal advice. Visa charges and rules can change and should be checked at the date of lodgement.
Official sources: Department of Home Affairs visa pages and the current Visa Pricing Table. Headline costs stated above were checked on 28 September 2026.
