The Australian government has introduced updates to the Parent and Other Family visa categories, including visa caps, queue release dates, and estimated processing times. If you are applying for one of these visas, here’s what you need to know.
Australia has a set limit on the number of Parent and Other Family visas it can grant each financial year. For 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025, the visa caps are:
Contributory Parent Visas – 6,800 places
Non-Contributory Parent Visas – 1,700 places
Other Family Visas – 500 places
Why is this important?
Once the yearly cap is reached, any remaining applications will be placed in a queue and processed in a future year.
All Parent visas are subject to capping and queuing rules. This includes:
How does queuing of Parent visas work?
Important: If you applied for a Contributory Parent visa before 1 June 2018, your queue date is your application lodgement date. For all other applications, a queue date is assigned after meeting the core criteria.
Queue Release Dates (as of 28 February 2025):
Parent Visas Processing Time Estimates (as of 28 February 2025):
| Visa Type | Acknowledge New Application | Queue Assessment | Visa Assessment (Queue Release Date) |
| Temporary to Permanent (173 to 143, 884 to 864) | ~4 weeks | N/A | November 2024 |
| Contributory Parent (143 & 173) | ~4 weeks | Lodged Jan 2022 | Queued up to Feb 2018 |
| Contributory Aged Parent (864 & 884) | ~4 weeks | Lodged Jan 2022 | Queued up to Feb 2018 |
| Parent (103) | ~4 weeks | Lodged Jan 2023 | Queued up to Dec 2012 |
| Aged Parent (804) | ~4 weeks | Lodged June 2022 | Queued up to Jan 2013 |
Note: The Department is working to correct processing time discrepancies between onshore and offshore Parent visa applications.
How long will it take to process my Parent visa?
Due to high demand and limited places, processing times for Parent visas can be very long:
| Visa Type | Estimated Processing Time |
| Contributory Parent visas (Subclass 143 & 173, 864 & 884) | 14 years |
| Parent & Aged Parent visas (Subclass 103 & 804) | 31 years |
Note: Processing times are updated yearly at the end of the migration program.
Need Help With Your Parent Visa Application?
Navigating Australia’s visa system can be overwhelming, especially with long waiting times and complex requirements. The registered migration agents at Heenan & Browne are experts in Australian migration law and can help you:
✔ Understand your visa options
✔ Plan your application to avoid delays
✔ Ensure your documents meet all legal requirements
Book a consultation today to get expert advice on your visa application: https://www.heenanbrownemigration.com/consultation/
