Not a government site
Source: Department of Home Affairsfigures dated checked

103 Parent visa processing time and queue, November 2026

New application: about 42 years, the Department's estimate. Released for final processing: queue dates up to March 2014. Queue assessment: lodgements from February 2023.

Parent visas, 6 subclasses

14318yearsContributory ParentReleased to Nov 201817318yearsContributory Parent (Temporary)Released to Nov 201886418yearsContributory Aged ParentReleased to Nov 202088418yearsContributory Aged Parent (Temporary)Released to Nov 202010342yearsParentReleased to Mar 201480442yearsAged ParentReleased to Oct 2014All parent visasqueue and estimates

Years: the Department's estimate for a new application. Released to: queue dates released for final processing, as at 31 August 2026.

103

Home Affairs has released 103 applications queued up to March 2014

103 Parent visa processing time: about 42 years for a new application, the Department's estimate.

Official figures as at · Checked by us · Official parent visa page

New application, official estimate42yearsup from 33 yearsDepartment estimate for Parent and Aged Parent visas, based on places available each year.
Released for final processingMar 201412.7 years behind todayQueue dates up to this month have been released, as at 31 August 2026.
Queue assessment reachedFeb 2023lodgement monthStage one: checking core criteria before a queue date is given.
Acknowledging a new applicationAbout 4 weeksofficial figureTime to acknowledge a valid new application.
Your place in the 103 queuevisaprocessingtime.com.au

149 monthsbetween the release point (Mar 2014) and your queue date (Aug 2026, example: queued recently)

  • Your queue date is 149 months after the release point. Applications are released in queue date order.
  • Since July 2022 the release point has moved 41 months, from October 2010 to March 2014. That past pace is not a forecast: places are set each program year.
  • For a new application the Department estimates about 42 years. It does not publish a waiting time for any particular queue date.

What this can't tell you

  • When your own application will be released. Nobody outside the Department can see individual cases.
  • How many applications sit between the release point and your queue date. The Department does not publish it.

Your queue date is in the letter the Department sends when it places an application in the queue. Nothing you choose here leaves your device.

103 queue: released up to and queue assessment, since July 2022

Released up to (queue date)Queue assessment reached (lodgement month)
queue or lodgement monthJan 10Jan 11Jan 12Jan 13Jan 14Jan 15Jan 16Jan 17Jan 18Jan 19Jan 20Jan 21Jan 22Jan 23Jan 24Jan 23Jul 23Jan 24Jul 24Jan 25Jul 25Jan 26Jul 26

Months on the vertical axis. Before September 2023 the official table gave one release date for 103 and 804 together.

All parent visa queues, as at 31 August 2026

VisaAssessing lodgementsReleased to
143Contributory ParentApr 24Nov 18
173Contributory Parent (Temporary)Apr 24Nov 18
864Contributory Aged ParentApr 23Nov 20
884Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary)Apr 23Nov 20
103ParentFeb 23Mar 14
804Aged ParentJan 23Oct 14

Source: Department of Home Affairs, parent visa queue release dates. "Assessing lodgements" is the lodgement month reached in stage one, the queue assessment. Temporary to permanent (173 to 143, 884 to 864): May 2026.

How far has the 103 queue moved? 41 months since July 2022, now at March 2014

Each row is a copy of the official parent visa page: the lodgement month queue assessment had reached and the queue date released for final processing. Before September 2023 the official table gave one release date for 103 and 804 together.

Released up to (queue date)Queue assessment reached (lodgement month)
queue or lodgement monthJan 10Jan 11Jan 12Jan 13Jan 14Jan 15Jan 16Jan 17Jan 18Jan 19Jan 20Jan 21Jan 22Jan 23Jan 24Jan 23Jul 23Jan 24Jul 24Jan 25Jul 25Jan 26Jul 26

14 copies with a change, newest first.

How long does a new 103 application take? About 42 years, up from 29 in June 2023

The Department estimates time frames for new applications from the current number of places available each year, and generally updates them at the start of each program year.

SeenContributory Parent visasParent and Aged Parent visas
recorded by us18 years42 years
web archive15 years33 years
web archive14 years31 years
web archive12 years29 years

Processing time frame (estimate) for new applications, as printed on the official page. It first appears on copies from June 2023.

How does the 103 visa queue work? Two stages, capped places

Summarised from the official parent visa page.

  • All Parent visa applications are capped and queued. Capping means a maximum number of visas can be granted each migration program year. Applications that miss out stay in the queue for a later year.
  • Stage one is an initial assessment against core criteria, including health and character where applicable. Applications that meet them get a queue date, which the Department gives in writing. Those that do not are refused.
  • For Contributory Parent applications lodged before 1 June 2018 the queue date is the lodgement date. For all others it is the date the application was assessed as meeting the core criteria.
  • Stage two: the Department releases queued applications for final processing in queue date order through the year, until that year's places are used.
  • The Department says it will not respond to individual status enquiries, and that it contacts applicants in writing when it releases a queued application.

What do the 103 queue figures leave out? 4 things

  • How many applications hold each queue date. Without that, a gap in months cannot be turned into a waiting time.
  • When an individual application will be released. Nobody outside the Department can see individual cases.
  • The estimate for a new application is updated about once a year, at the start of each program year.
  • Dates before 13 Nov 2026 are when a web archive saved the official page, not the Department's own update date.

7 questions about the 103 visa processing time, answered from November 2026 figures

How long does a 103 visa take in 2026?

The Department of Home Affairs estimates about 42 years for a new 103 Parent application. As at 31 August 2026 it has released applications queued up to March 2014 for final processing, and queue assessment has reached applications lodged in February 2023.

What is the 103 visa queue release date now?

March 2014. Applications with a queue date up to that month have been released for final processing, as at 31 August 2026. The release date was October 2010 when the official page was archived in July 2022.

Has the 103 visa processing time got longer?

Yes, by the Department's own estimate: about 29 years for a new application in June 2023, about 42 years now. The estimate is updated about once a year.

How far did the 103 queue move in the last year?

From January 2013 (archived 11 September 2025) to March 2014: 14 months of queue dates released. Since July 2022 it has moved 41 months in total.

Does Home Affairs publish a 103 processing time in days?

No. Parent visas are not in the global visa processing times tool. The Department says it "can't give exact processing timeframes for these visas" because they are capped and queued. It publishes queue release dates and an estimate for new applications instead.

Will Home Affairs tell me where my 103 application is in the queue?

The Department says it will not respond to individual status enquiries. It tells you your queue date in writing, and contacts you in writing when it releases your application for final processing.

Is this a government website?

No. Visa Processing Time is independent and is not affiliated with the Department of Home Affairs. The figures are copied from the official parent visa page and kept with their history.