Parent Visa 103 and 143: Document Checklist 2026

The Parent Visa (Subclass 103) and Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143) are permanent residency visas for parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. The core difference is cost versus wait time: as of 1 July 2026, the 103 costs from AUD $8,665 over two instalments but has a very long processing queue, since demand for parent visa places far exceeds the number available each year; the 143 costs substantially more — from AUD $49,900 over two instalments — in exchange for meaningfully faster processing. Confirm current figures on the Department's website before committing, since both are reviewed periodically. The document requirements are largely the same for both visas.

Identity documents

• Passport bio-data page
• Birth certificate
• Change of name document, if applicable

Two ways to qualify: standard pathway or as a retiree

Most applicants go through the standard pathway below (balance of family test, sponsor, and Assurance of Support). However, if you held an Investor Retirement (subclass 405) or Retirement (subclass 410) visa on 8 May 2018, and haven't held any other substantive visa between that date and applying for the parent visa, you can apply as a retiree instead — skipping the balance of family test, the sponsor requirement, and the Assurance of Support entirely. In exchange, retiree-pathway applicants need to maintain adequate health insurance for the duration of processing, since they're personally liable for healthcare costs until the visa is granted.

Balance of Family test (standard pathway)

One of the most common reasons for parent visa refusal is failing the Balance of Family test. You need to show that at least half of your children live permanently in Australia, or that more of your children live in Australia than in any other single country. This doesn't apply if you're applying as a retiree.

• A list of all your children worldwide, with their current country of residence
• Your Australian children's citizenship or permanent residency evidence
• Your Australian children's birth certificates
• Evidence for any overseas children, if relevant to the test

Sponsorship (standard pathway)

Not required if you're applying as a retiree.

• Form 40 — Sponsorship for Migration to Australia
• Sponsor's proof of identity
• Sponsor's evidence of Australian citizenship or permanent residency
• Sponsor's birth certificate
• Form 47PA — Additional applicant details, if there are multiple applicants on the same sponsorship

Assurance of Support (standard pathway)

Not required if you're applying as a retiree. Otherwise, you generally need an Assurance of Support (AoS) — a bond lodged by the sponsor or another assurer with Services Australia, guaranteeing you won't need to rely on certain social security payments for a specified period. The required guarantee period and bond amount are set by Services Australia — confirm the current settings before lodging rather than assuming a fixed figure.

• Assurance of Support (AoS) receipt
• The AoS holder's financial evidence supporting their capacity to provide the assurance

Health, insurance, and character

• Health examination through an approved panel physician
• If applying as a retiree: evidence of adequate health insurance maintained until the visa is granted
• Police clearance certificates from your country of citizenship and any country lived in for 12 months or more since turning 16
• Form 80 — Personal Particulars
• A signed Australian Values Statement, if you're 18 or over

Additional documents

• Marriage certificate, if your spouse or partner is included on the application
• Spouse or partner's passport, if included
• Evidence of your second visa charge instalment payment, at the appropriate stage of processing

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming the retiree pathway is available to everyone — it only applies if you held an Investor Retirement (405) or Retirement (410) visa on 8 May 2018
• Missing children in the Balance of Family test list, including from previous relationships
• Assuming the AoS guarantee period or bond amount without checking the current requirement
• Missing Form 40 or Form 47PA when multiple family members are applying together
• Applying for this visa while you've already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870) — this makes you ineligible
• Underestimating total cost by focusing only on the visa application charge and not the AoS bond

Frequently asked questions

What's the actual difference in wait time between the 103 and 143?

The 143 is designed to process substantially faster than the 103 in exchange for a much higher contributory charge, though the exact gap changes as queues and charges are periodically reviewed. Check current published processing times and the Parent visa queue release dates for both subclasses before deciding, since the gap can be very large.

Who can act as my Assurance of Support holder?

It's often the sponsoring child, but other eligible assurers may qualify depending on current Services Australia rules — an individual, more than one person, or an organisation can provide it. Confirm eligibility for your specific assurer before lodging, since the AoS must be approved before the visa can be finalised.

What if I already hold a Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173)?

If you hold or held a 173 visa, you may already have met the balance of family test as part of that visa, which can streamline your 143 application. Check your specific circumstances against the current second-stage pathway rules.