Australian Parent Visas: A Complete Guide for 2025
Australia offers a range of parent visas for families who want to reunite permanently or temporarily. But the reality is that processing times can be very long stretching from a few years to several decades, depending on the visa subclass. In this blog, we’ll explain why parent visas take so long, what options are available in 2025, and what families can do while waiting.
Types of Parent Visas
- Contributory Parent Visas (Subclass 143 & 173)
- Higher visa application fees but faster processing.
- Estimated processing time: 3–5 years.
- Subclass 173 is temporary (2 years), then leads to 143.
- Non-Contributory Parent Visas (Subclass 103 & 804)
- Lower application fee, but extremely long wait times.
- Estimated processing time: 30+ years.
- Usually not practical for most families.
- Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 870)
- Temporary stay of 3 or 5 years, renewable up to 10 years.
- No balance of family test required.
- Processing is faster compared to permanent parent visas.
Why Are Processing Times So Long?
- High demand vs. limited places: Only a small number of parent visa places are allocated each year.
- Queue system: Applications are placed in a queue based on lodgement date.
- Policy priority: Skilled migration gets higher priority than parent migration.
- Backlog: Thousands of applications from previous years are still pending.
Current Processing Times (July 2025 Update)
| Visa Subclass | Type | Estimated Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Subclass 143 | Contributory Parent Visa | 3–5 years (depends on number of applications in queue as this visa is capped) |
| Subclass 173 | Temporary Contributory Parent Visa | Similar queue, then move to 143 |
| Subclass 103 | Parent Visa | 30–40 years |
| Subclass 870 | Temporary Parent Visa | 3–6 months |
Costs (as of July 2025)
| Visa Type | Duration | Cost (single applicant) |
|---|---|---|
| Contributory Parent (143) | Permanent | From $48,640.00 over 2 instalments |
| Non-Contributory Parent (103) | Permanent | From $7,345.00 over 2 instalments |
| Temporary Parent (870) | Up to 3 years | $6,070.00 |
| Temporary Parent (870) | Up to 5 years | $12,140.00 |
What Families Can Do While Waiting
- Consider the 870 Temporary Parent Visa – allows quicker reunions.
- Keep documents updated – medicals, police checks, and sponsor income evidence.
- Plan finances carefully – contributory visas involve significant costs.
- Understand the balance of family test – this determines eligibility for permanent parent visas.
PMEC Tips for Applicants
- Don’t wait until last minute: parent visas require years of planning.
- Think long-term: if permanent migration isn’t possible soon, explore temporary solutions like 870.
- Seek expert guidance: policies change, and updated advice can save years of waiting.
Conclusion
Parent visas are one of the most emotionally important but time-consuming visa categories in Australia. With waiting times stretching for decades in some cases, families must plan carefully and explore all available options, including temporary solutions. At PMEC, we support families by finding the best parent visa pathway, managing expectations, and ensuring applications are as strong as possible.
Contact our team to book an appointment to explore your parent visa options.
