The Australian Department of Home Affairs will require online lodgement for all permanent parent visas starting 22 April 2026. Applications will be submitted through ImmiAccount under a new legislative instrument.
Visas that must be filed online
- Subclass 103 – Parent visa
- Subclass 804 – Aged Parent visa
- Subclass 143 – Contributory Parent visa
- Subclass 864 – Contributory Aged Parent visa
Paper forms for these subclasses will still be accepted, but only in limited, exceptional circumstances as a redundancy measure.
Visas that remain paper‑only
- Subclass 173 – Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa
- Subclass 884 – Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa
The reason these temporary‑to‑permanent visas have not been moved online has not been disclosed.
Benefits of the online system
- Immediate confirmation that the application has been lodged.
- Automatic calculation and payment of the correct visa charges.
- Instant granting of a bridging visa where applicable.
- Elimination of costs and delays associated with certifying documents, postage, or courier services.
Processing times unchanged
The shift to online applications does not affect the already lengthy processing periods caused by capping and queuing arrangements:
- Contributory parent visas – indicative processing time of 15 years.
- Non‑contributory parent visas – indicative processing time of 33 years.
Applicants should therefore continue to plan for these extended timelines despite the new online requirement.
Source article: www.peakmigration.com.au
