Knowledge Centre
Parent Visa Processing Times & Queues in 2026
Written and reviewed by the Reliance Law Group immigration team · Last reviewed August 2026
Parent visa waiting times are not really processing times. They are queues, created by an annual cap on places set against demand that vastly exceeds it. Understanding that distinction changes how families plan, because no amount of preparation shortens a queue.
Short answer: contributory parent visas are commonly quoted at many years, while non-contributory parent visas can run to decades because of the cap. The difference between them is money.
Why the wait is so long
The government sets an annual limit on how many parent visas are granted. Applications that meet the criteria are placed in a queue and released as places become available. Because far more applications are lodged each year than there are places, the queue lengthens rather than clears.
Within that system the contributory stream receives the large majority of places, which is why it moves in years while the non-contributory stream moves in decades.
The two streams
| Contributory | Non-contributory | |
|---|---|---|
|
Main visas |
143, 173, 864, 884 |
103, 804 |
|
Cost |
Tens of thousands per parent |
Thousands per parent |
|
Wait |
Years |
Decades |
|
Outcome |
Permanent residence |
Permanent residence |
Both end in the same place. What differs is how much you pay and how long you wait, which for older parents can be the difference between a realistic plan and a theoretical one. Our parent visa page compares the options.
What families actually do during the wait
The permanent application is only half the plan. Most families arrange interim arrangements so parents can spend meaningful time in Australia while the queue moves:
- Visitor visas, sometimes with longer validity for parents of Australian citizens and residents
- The sponsored parent temporary visa, which allows extended stays for approved sponsors, subject to its own requirements and caps (verify)
- Rolling arrangements combining periods in Australia with periods at home
Getting these right matters, because a poorly handled visitor visa history can complicate later applications.
Does lodging early help?
Yes, in the sense that your queue date is established when your application is queued, and the queue only gets longer. For families who intend to pursue a parent visa eventually, delaying the lodgement generally means a later place in a longer line.
That said, lodging into a queue you may never reach, at an age where the wait exceeds a realistic horizon, deserves honest thought first. Confirm current queue expectations before committing.
Age and health considerations
The aged versions of these visas, such as the 864, have age requirements and allow onshore lodgement, which affects whether a parent can remain in Australia while waiting. Health requirements also apply, and health can change materially over a wait measured in years.
These factors, taken together, are usually what pushes families toward the contributory stream despite the cost. Our 143 visa page covers the main contributory pathway.
Frequently asked questions
It receives the large majority of the annual places, funded by a much higher charge that offsets the parent’s expected healthcare and welfare costs.
Often yes, through visitor visas or the sponsored parent temporary visa, subject to conditions and caps. Interim travel is a central part of parent visa planning.
Your queue date is established once the application is queued, and queues lengthen over time. Confirm current requirements before relying on this.
The application generally ends. This is a difficult but real consideration for families weighing a decades-long queue against a costlier faster option.
Only with a valid visa. The aged onshore versions allow lodgement in Australia with a bridging visa; offshore versions generally require the parent to be outside Australia at grant.
Speak to an immigration lawyer
Get clear, fixed-fee advice on your matter from Reliance Law Group’s immigration lawyers in North Sydney.