What is the balance-of-family test?

It is the gateway test for parent visas, set out in Regulation 1.05. You satisfy it if at least half of your children are usually resident in Australia as citizens or permanent residents, or if more of your children live in Australia than in any other single country. Every child counts, including children overseas and from previous relationships, so it is worth checking carefully before you apply.

What is the difference between contributory and non-contributory parent visas?

Non-contributory parent visas (subclasses 103 and 804) cost much less but have very long queues. Contributory parent visas (subclasses 143, 173, 864 and 884) are processed far faster but carry a substantially higher cost, including a large second instalment and usually an Assurance of Support. The choice is essentially money versus time.

Can I bring an elderly relative who is not my parent?

Possibly, through the aged-dependent relative visa (subclass 114 offshore or 838 onshore). It is for a single relative who is of pension age, has no partner, and has been substantially and genuinely dependent on an Australian citizen or permanent resident relative. The dependency must be real and well evidenced. These visas are narrow but can be the only pathway for the right relative.

What is an Assurance of Support?

It is a legally binding undertaking by a person in Australia to repay certain social security payments the visa holder receives during the assurance period. Most parent visas require one, and for contributory parent visas it is a significant commitment. Confirming who can give the Assurance of Support, and that they can meet its requirements, is part of preparing the application.

How long do parent visas take?

Processing times vary a great deal between the contributory and non-contributory pathways and change over time, so I do not quote a fixed figure. Non-contributory parent visas are known for very long queues, while contributory visas are considerably faster. For an accurate, current estimate for your situation, the Department of Home Affairs website is the right source.

Parent & Family Visas Australia: A 2026 Guide

Reuniting a family in Australia is some of the most meaningful work I do. It is also some of the most misunderstood, because the parent and family visa system is a maze of subclasses, tests and long queues.

This guide maps out the main pathways — parent visas, the balance-of-family test, and the aged-dependent relative visa — so you can see where you might fit and what the realistic trade-offs are.

Parent visas: the two families of options

Parent visas come in two broad groups, and choosing between them is the first real decision.

Non-contributory parent visas — subclass 103 (offshore) and subclass 804 (onshore, aged) — cost far less. The catch is the queue: processing takes many years, because the number of places is limited and demand is high.

Contributory parent visas — subclass 143 (offshore permanent), 173 (offshore temporary), 864 (onshore aged permanent) and 884 (onshore aged temporary) — are processed much faster. In exchange, they carry a substantially higher cost, including a large second instalment and, usually, an Assurance of Support.

I do not quote queue lengths or charges here, because both move — and getting them wrong can shape a family's plans badly. What matters is understanding the trade-off: money versus time. For older applicants especially, that trade-off is often decisive.

"Aged" parent visas

Some subclasses (804, 864, 884) are for aged parents. "Aged" means old enough to be eligible for the Australian age pension. Aged parent visas can be applied for onshore, which is why they matter for parents already in Australia on another visa.

Non-aged parents generally apply offshore (103 or 143/173).

The balance-of-family test

This is the gateway test for parent visas, and it is where many hopeful applications stop before they start. Set out in Regulation 1.05 of the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth), the balance-of-family test is satisfied if either:

at least half of the parent's children (including step-children) are usually resident in Australia as citizens or permanent residents; or
more of the parent's children are usually resident in Australia than in any other single country.

Every child counts — including children from previous relationships and children who live overseas. A parent with several children spread across other countries can fail the test even if one or two children are settled in Australia.

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