Parent Visa Queue Release Update – May 2026

Home Affairs uses a capping and queueing system for all parent visa applications. This means there is a maximum number of parent visas granted each year. Once this limit is reached, remaining applications wait in a queue until spots become available in future years.

When you lodge a parent visa application, Home Affairs assesses it against core requirements like health and character checks. If your application meets these criteria, it receives a queue date based on when you applied. Applications are then released for final processing in queue date order throughout the year.

As of 31 May 2026, Home Affairs has released: Contributory Parent visas with queue dates up to November 2018, Parent visas (subclass 103) with queue dates up to February 2014, and Aged Parent visas (subclass 804) with queue dates up to February 2014. Processing times vary by visa type – temporary to permanent conversions take approximately 4 weeks from acknowledgment.

If you have a parent visa application, check your ImmiAccount to see your queue date. Home Affairs will contact you in writing when your application is released for final processing.