Australia Parent Visa Planning Level 2026–27

If you are waiting for a Parent visa—or considering applying so that you can reunite with family in Australia—you may have seen several different figures online.

The position changed for the 2026–27 Migration Program, and older figures from the previous financial year should not be treated as current.

For families, the important questions are simpler: What is the current Parent visa planning level? How long are the current waiting-time estimates? Where are the queues currently up to? And what do the July 2026 processing-priority changes mean?

This guide explains the position as at September 2026.

If you are still comparing pathways, you can also explore Emerson Migration Law’s Family visa services.

Table of Contents

1. How many Parent visa places are available in 2026–27?
2. What happened to the older 2025–26 Parent visa figures?
3. What are the current Parent visa waiting-time estimates?
4. Where are the Parent visa queues currently up to?
5. A September 2026 development: Family visa processing priorities changed
6. How does Parent visa capping and queueing work?
7. Which Parent visa pathways are affected?
8. Is a Contributory Parent visa faster?
9. Are there alternatives while waiting for permanent Parent migration?
10. Should you lodge a Parent visa now or wait?
11. What does the 2026–27 Parent visa position mean for families?
12. Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Parent visa planning level for 2026–27?

For the 2026–27 Migration Program, the Parent visa planning level is 7,060 places.

That is lower than the 8,500-place Parent planning level in 2025–26.

The broader Family stream has a 2026–27 planning level of 52,460 places. The Department of Home Affairs also confirms planning estimates of 41,500 Partner visas and 3,500 Child visas for this program year.

The important distinction is that a planning level is not the same thing as a statutory cap.

That matters because older 2025–26 figures are still circulating online.

What happened to the older 2025–26 Parent visa figures?

You may still see older references to 6,800 Contributory Parent visas and 1,700 Parent visas.

Those figures related to the 2025–26 financial year under a legislative instrument that applied only during that period. The Federal Register of Legislation now records that instrument as “No longer in force”, with its operative period ending on 30 June 2026.

Accordingly, those figures should not be presented as the current 2026–27 Parent visa settings.

For families making decisions now, the relevant current figure is the 2026–27 Parent planning level of 7,060 places.

What are the current Parent visa waiting-time estimates?

As published by the Department of Home Affairs at the time this article was updated in September 2026, the estimated processing timeframes for new Parent visa applications are:

• 15 years for Contributory Parent visas
• 33 years for Parent and Aged Parent visas

These are estimates, not guaranteed processing times.

The Department of Home Affairs explains that Parent visa processing times can change because of factors including planning levels, application numbers, withdrawals and refusals, Administrative Review Tribunal outcomes, ministerial intervention matters and changes to processing directions.

Families should therefore avoid treating “15 years” or “33 years” as a fixed decision date for an individual application.

You can check the latest Parent visa processing estimates and queue information.

Where are the Parent visa queues currently up to?

The latest published Parent visa queue information available at the time of this update is as at 31 May 2026.

The Department of Home Affairs reported that it had released for final processing:

• Contributory Parent applications with queue dates up to November 2018
• Parent visa applications with queue dates up to February 2014
• Aged Parent visa applications with queue dates up to February 2014

The Department’s more detailed subclass table gives more granular positions:

The Department’s headline summary and subclass-specific table are therefore not expressed identically for Subclasses 103 and 804.

For applicants checking a particular visa, the subclass-specific table is the more granular source, so the dates should not be treated as interchangeable.

Because queue positions change over time, it is important to check the current Parent visa queue release dates before relying on a published figure.

A September 2026 development: Family visa processing priorities changed

A further development in July 2026 is relevant to Parent visa applicants.

Ministerial Direction 117 replaced Ministerial Direction 102 on 25 July 2026.

Under the current framework, the Department of Home Affairs gives the highest broad priority to Family visa applications made while the primary applicant was in Australia where the visa can also be granted while the applicant is in Australia.

Lower priority applies where the primary applicant was outside Australia when the application was made, or where the applicant must be outside Australia when the visa is granted.

Within those broad categories, the order of processing includes:

1. applications involving ministerial intervention;
2. Partner and dependent-child applications;
3. Orphan Relative applications;
4. Contributory Parent and Contributory Aged Parent applications;
5. Carer applications; and
6. Parent, Aged Parent, Remaining Relative and Aged Dependent Relative applications.

This does not remove Parent visa applications from the queue or mean that the queueing system has stopped.

Ministerial Direction 103 continues to specify queue-date order for Family visa applications that are subject to capping and queueing.

The practical point is that location and visa type now form part of the processing-priority framework, while capped and queued Parent visas remain subject to the applicable queue arrangements.

How does Parent visa capping and queueing work?

Parent and Other Family visas remain subject to capping and queueing.

When the Department of Home Affairs receives a valid Parent visa application, it assesses the application against the relevant core visa criteria.

Applications that meet those criteria are assigned a queue date and placed in the queue. The Department then releases applications for final processing in queue-date order as places become available.

Once the relevant Migration Program outcomes for a program year have been reached, no further queued applications are released during that program year.

In practical terms, a Parent visa application can therefore move through several stages:

lodgement → initial assessment → queue date → waiting in the queue → release for final processing → visa decision

This is why Parent visa timelines can be so different from the processing times seen in many other Australian visa categories.

Which Parent visa pathways are affected?

The main Parent visa pathways include:

• Parent Visa (Subclass 103)
• Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 804)
• Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143)
• Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 173)
• Contributory Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 864)
• Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 884)

These pathways have different eligibility requirements, costs and practical consequences.

For example, the parent’s age, whether they are in Australia or overseas, sponsorship arrangements, the balance-of-family test and their current visa status can all be relevant.

You can read more about the available pathways through Emerson Migration Law’s Australian Family visa services.

Is a Contributory Parent visa faster?

The Contributory Parent queue is currently considerably further advanced than the standard Parent visa queue.

But faster does not mean fast.

For a new application, the Department of Home Affairs currently estimates 15 years for Contributory Parent visas, compared with 33 years for Parent and Aged Parent visas.

Contributory Parent visas can also involve a significantly greater financial commitment.

For many families, the better question is therefore not simply:

“Which Parent visa is faster?”

It is:

“Which pathway makes sense for our family when we consider eligibility, cost, waiting time, current visa status and our long-term plans?”

Are there alternatives while waiting for permanent Parent migration?

For some families, a permanent Parent visa may be only one part of a broader migration strategy.

The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 870), for example, is a separate temporary pathway that may allow an eligible parent to remain in Australia for a longer temporary period, subject to the relevant requirements.

It is not a permanent Parent visa and should not be treated as a substitute for permanent migration where permanent residence is the family’s ultimate goal.

Visitor visa options may also be relevant in some circumstances.

The right strategy will depend on matters such as eligibility, sponsorship, existing visa conditions, intended length of stay and the family’s longer-term objectives.

If you would like assistance assessing a suitable pathway before lodging, Emerson Migration Law’s Application Preparation Service can help identify legal, procedural and evidentiary issues from the outset.

Should you lodge a Parent visa now or wait?

There is no single answer that is right for every family.

Future Migration Program planning levels cannot be guaranteed, so waiting in the hope that Parent visa numbers will increase carries uncertainty.

Equally, lodging an application simply to “get into the queue” should not replace a careful assessment of whether that visa is suitable.

Before making an application, it is important to consider matters including:

• which Parent visa subclass may be available;
• sponsorship requirements;
• the balance-of-family test where applicable;
• visa application charges;
• Assurance of Support requirements where applicable;
• health and character requirements;
• the applicant’s location and current visa status; and
• whether a temporary or alternative pathway should form part of the broader strategy.

What does the 2026–27 Parent visa position mean for families?

The current position is challenging, but it is important to understand it accurately rather than react to a headline number.

The 2026–27 Parent planning level is 7,060 places, lower than the 8,500-place planning level in 2025–26.

At the same time, the Department of Home Affairs currently estimates waits of 15 years for new Contributory Parent applications and 33 years for new Parent and Aged Parent applications.

The July 2026 introduction of Ministerial Direction 117 also means that an applicant’s location and visa circumstances can now affect where an application sits within the Family visa processing-priority framework.

That does not mean Parent migration has closed.

It does mean that families should approach the decision with realistic expectations and a clear understanding of both the immediate and long-term implications.

At Emerson Migration Law, we understand that Parent migration is not simply about completing forms. For many families, it involves years of separation, care responsibilities, financial planning and the hope of eventually living closer to the people who matter most.

We can assist you to understand your Australian Family visa options, assess the suitability of a proposed pathway and prepare an application with the legal and evidentiary requirements in mind.

→  If you are unsure which Parent visa pathway may be right for your family, contact Emerson Migration Law to discuss your circumstances and next steps with our team. 

Frequently Asked Questions

– What is the Parent visa planning level for Australia in 2026–27?

The 2026–27 Parent planning level is 7,060 places.

– How long does a Contributory Parent visa currently take?

As published by the Department of Home Affairs at the time of this September 2026 update, the estimated timeframe for a new Contributory Parent visa application is 15 years. This is an estimate rather than a guaranteed individual processing time.

– How long does a Parent 103 or Aged Parent 804 visa currently take?

The Department of Home Affairs currently estimates 33 years for new Parent and Aged Parent visa applications.

– What is the Subclass 143 queue currently up to?

As at 31 May 2026, Contributory Parent applications with queue dates up to November 2018 had been released for final processing.

– Did Family visa processing priorities change in 2026?

Yes. Ministerial Direction 117 replaced Direction 102 on 25 July 2026. It gives highest broad priority to certain Family visa applications made while the primary applicant was in Australia and capable of being granted while that applicant is in Australia.

– Does Direction 117 remove Parent visas from the queue?

No. Direction 103 continues to specify queue-date order for Family visa applications that are subject to capping and queueing.

– Does the lower 2026–27 planning level mean my application will definitely take longer?

Not necessarily in a way that can be calculated precisely for an individual application. Planning levels are one factor affecting processing times, alongside application volumes, withdrawals, refusals, tribunal outcomes, individual circumstances and processing directions.

About the author:

Aishwarya Somal

LLB. (UQ) GradDipLP

Aishwarya Somal is a multi award-winning Australian Immigration lawyer, recognised for delivering commercially nuanced solutions for global investors, professionals, and businesses wishing to migrate to Australia. With a reputation for precision and personalised service, Aishwarya’s unique strength lies in navigating complex migration pathways with commercial insight and global perspective.

Contact Aishwarya