EMC Australia / Subclass 103
The lower-cost permanent parent visa — with a long wait.
103 is the non-contributory parent visa, lodged from outside Australia. The wait is often many years. You usually need the balance-of-family test and an assurance of support. This is the wrong visa if you need a parent here in the next year. Compare 143, 870 and a visitor visa honestly.
Who this page is for
- A parent can wait years for permanent residence
- The family cannot or will not pay the contributory charge
- You need to know whether the balance-of-family test is met
How it works
What this visa asks of you
These are the parts of this visa, in the order they usually matter.
Before lodgement
Australia and overseas
Balance of family and sponsor
Usually at least half of the parent’s children live in Australia. A child who is a settled Australian citizen or PR sponsors.
Count the children correctly. Step-children and children in other countries are how this test fails.
AoS
Australia
Assurance of support
Someone has to give a financial undertaking. It is not a formality.
Health is also central. A parent visa is refused on health more often than families expect.
From outside Australia
The 103 visa
The parent waits in the queue. A visitor visa or 870 may be needed for visits in the meantime.
103 is not a visitor visa. Do not treat lodgement as permission to stay in Australia.
The 103 visa
How EMC works
How we help
01
103, 143 or 870
Cost, health, and how soon the parent needs to be here. We put numbers on the table, not slogans.
First conversation
What to bring
- Each child’s location and status
- Sponsor’s citizenship or PR
- The parent’s health history
- Who would give the assurance of support
Before you apply
Things that go wrong
- The queue is long. Plan visits separately.
- Health waivers are limited.
- Lodging 103 does not let the parent live in Australia while they wait.
Questions
People ask this first
Sometimes families change path. It is not a button. Get advice before you pay a second set of fees.
Start with your situation.
You do not need to memorise the subclass. Book a consultation, or send us a message.
MARN 1800335 · Level 14, 333 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000.
Related topics
This page is general information, not advice about your circumstances. Australian migration law changes. You should consult a Registered Migration Agent before you apply. EMC Australia is OMARA-registered (MARN 1800335).