Parent Visa to Australia: What New Zealanders Need to Know

7 September 2026

Moving from New Zealand to Australia doesn't shrink the distance to your parents, it just means you're the one who moved. There's a particular ache that turns up once the excitement of a new life settles, and you realise your parents are getting older on the other side of the world.

The good news: Australia has a well-established family migration program, with genuine pathways to bring your parents here permanently or for extended stays. The process is not quick, and for the permanent options it is genuinely expensive, but it is real and thousands of families have done it. This guide covers the main options honestly, including the one that most people should rule out on cost or wait time alone.

First: do your parents pass the balance of family test?

The main visa pathways

Visa	Name	Type	Cost	Processing	Condition
143	Contributory Parent	permanent	~AUD $48,640-$49,900 (2nd instalment ~$43,600)	Several years	Offshore or onshore application
173	Contributory Parent (Temporary)	temporary	~AUD $32,500-$34,000 total	Several years	2-yr stay, stepping stone to 143, no full Medicare
103	Parent	long	~AUD $8,665 (govt fee only)	30+ years	Non-contributory, not practical for ageing parents
804	Aged Parent	long	~AUD $8,665 (govt fee only)	30+ years	Onshore, non-contributory, same queue as 103
864	Contributory Aged Parent	permanent	Similar to 143	Several years	Onshore, aged 67+
884	Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary)	temporary	Lower upfront, stepping stone to 864	Varies	Onshore, aged 67+
600	Visitor	temporary	~AUD $150-370	Weeks	Up to 12 months, no work rights

The honest read on this table: the non-contributory Parent (103) and Aged Parent (804) visas are cheap, and effectively unusable for anyone hoping to actually see their parents move in this decade. As at February 2026, the Department of Home Affairs was still finalising applications lodged in July 2013, meaning a new application today faces a wait exceeding 30 years. Almost every family that goes ahead with a permanent visa uses the contributory pathway (143 or 864) instead, paying far more for a wait measured in years rather than decades.

Understanding the real costs

Between government fees, the Assurance of Support bond, health examinations, police checks, migration agent fees, and health insurance, bringing two parents to Australia on the contributory pathway can realistically cost AUD $120,000-$150,000 or more. Fees are indexed and rose again from 1 July 2026, so treat any figure here as a starting point, not a final number. Confirm the current charge on Home Affairs' own visa pricing estimator before you commit.

Govt fees (143, 2 parents)

~$96k-$100k

2nd instalment only, indexed annually

Assurance of Support bond

Refundable

Returned after 10 years if unused

Total realistic cost

$120-150k

Inc. agents, health checks, insurance

The Assurance of Support bond is refundable after the assurance period ends (typically 10 years), provided your parents haven't drawn on certain social security payments. Think of it less as a cost and more as a security deposit held by the government.

Healthcare: what New Zealanders need to know

Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with New Zealand, so visiting New Zealanders can access medically necessary treatment through Medicare while in Australia. This covers GP visits and emergency hospital treatment, but not elective procedures, pharmaceuticals, or ongoing specialist care.

Planning your move from New Zealand?

Our free relocation checklist walks you through every step, from visa prep to arrival week.

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Visa paperwork is only the start of a move like this. The Ultimate Relocation Guide is a paid, step-by-step guide (from AUD $59) covering what comes next: banking, housing, healthcare and your first 90 days.