The Subclass 103 parent visa allows parents to move to Australia if more of their children live in Australia than any other country
With this visa you can
Live in Australia permanently
Work and study in Australia
Access Australia’s public healthcare system, Medicare
Sponsor family members to join you in Australia
Travel to and from Australia for five years
Attend free English language classes through the Adult Migrant English Program, if eligible
Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible
You must
Have an eligible child who is a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
Comply with all relevant visa conditions and Australian laws
Not have previously applied for or currently hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 870) visa when submitting this application
Apply for a Parent visa (subclass 103) as a retiree
If you apply for the subclass 103 visa as a retiree, you do not need to:
- Meet the balance of family test
- Have a sponsor or provide an assurance of support
How long you can stay
This is a permanent visa that allows you to stay in Australia indefinitely.
For citizenship purposes, your permanent residency begins on the day we grant the visa.
Include family
You can include members of your family unit in your application when you apply.
You are required to provide details of all your family members in your application form, regardless of whether they are migrating or not.
Family members applying for the visa must meet our health and character requirements. Additionally, family members who are not coming to Australia may also need to fulfill these requirements.
If you apply for this visa as a retiree:
- You can include your partner in your application, provided they are also retired.
- You cannot include your children in your application.
Newborn Child
If your child is born after you apply, please refer to our guidelines on what to do next.
Apply from
You can apply for the visa while in or outside Australia, but you must not be in immigration clearance at the time of your application.
If you apply from within Australia, all family members applying with you must also be in Australia (but not in immigration clearance) at the time of your application. Conversely, if you apply from outside Australia, all accompanying family members must also be outside Australia when you apply.
If you are applying as a retiree, you must be in Australia (but not in immigration clearance) at the time of your application. You can be either in or outside Australia when we make a decision on your application.
Applying for a Parent (Subclass 103) Visa
You cannot apply for this visa if you have already applied for or currently hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa.
Apply as a retiree
You can apply for a Parent visa (subclass 103) as a retiree if:
- On 8 May 2018, you held or had previously held an Investor Retirement (subclass 405) visa or Retirement (subclass 410), and
- You have not held any other substantive visa between 8 May 2018 and the date you apply for the Parent visa.
If you apply for this visa as a retiree:
- You do not need to meet the balance of family test
- You do not need to have an assurance of support
- You do not need a sponsor
Have a sponsor
You must be sponsored by an eligible sponsor.
Typically, you would be sponsored by an eligible child. If your child is under 18, you can be sponsored by an eligible relative or community organization.
The sponsorship must be approved by us.
However, if you apply for this visa as a retiree, you do not need a sponsor.
Meet the balance-of-family test
You must meet the balance-of-family test. You satisfy this requirement if:
- At least half of your children and stepchildren are eligible children, or
- There are more eligible children living in Australia than in any other single country.
For examples of how the balance-of-family test is applied, please refer to our resources.
If you apply for this visa as a retiree, you do not need to meet the balance-of-family test.
Have assurance of support
You must be able to obtain an assurance of support, which assures us that you will not need to rely on government assistance after entering Australia on this visa. This assurance applies to you and any family members who come to Australia with you.
We will inform you when you need to provide the assurance of support.
However, if you apply for the visa as a retiree, you do not need an assurance of support.
For more information, please learn about assurances of support.
Health requirement
You and any family members applying for the visa with you must meet our health requirements.
We may also request that other non-migrating family members fulfill these requirements.
Character requirement
You and any family members applying for the visa with you must meet our character requirements.
We may also request that other non-migrating family members fulfill this requirement.
Have paid back your debt to the Australian Government
If you or any family members owe money to the Australian Government, you must have repaid it or have an approved formal arrangement in place to repay it.
Sign the Australian values statement
If you are 18 years of age or older, you must:
- Have read, or had explained to you, the “Life in Australia” booklet
- Sign an Australian Values Statement confirming that you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws.
Have health insurance
You are personally responsible for all your healthcare costs while in Australia. Medical insurance can help limit your financial liability.
If you apply for this visa as a retiree, you must maintain adequate health insurance until your Parent visa is granted. Your insurance should cover medically necessary treatment, including transport.
For more information on what we consider adequate health insurance, please see our guide.
Learn more about health insurance for overseas visitors.
Reciprocal Healthcare Agreements
Some countries have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia. For more details, visit Services Australia to learn about these agreements.
How long will it take to get a decision on your 103 visa?
Processing time frames for new applications
| Visa type | Estimated processing time |
|---|---|
| Contributory Parent visas | 15 years |
| Parent and Aged Parent visas | 33 years |
Note: These time frames are estimates and are generally updated annually at the end of each program year.
Processing Times Updated 1 November 2025
You may be able to include immediate family in your application when you apply
Family members who are being included in the application must meet the health and character requirements. Family members who are not coming to Australia may also have to meet the health and character requirements.
Get a quote
Know what visa you want to apply for but need some pricing? Get in touch with us and we will get back to you with a fixed price quote.
Book a consultation
Here at Australian Skilled Migration, our team of Registered Migration Agents can assist you with your parent (Subclass 103) visa application. Let one of our experienced migration agents assess your parent’s visa options. There are a number of parent visa options which may be suitable.