Australian parent visa delays leading to applicant deaths during processing
Processing times for Australia's temporary parent visa (subclass 870) have stretched to as long as 59 months, resulting in some applicants dying before receiving their visas. Despite application costs exceeding AUD 50,000, processing times far exceed government targets.
What changed
Australia's Department of Home Affairs has announced that processing times for the temporary parent visa (subclass 870) currently range from a minimum of 44 months to a maximum of 59 months. This visa allows stays of 3 or 5 years and costs between AUD 5,735 and AUD 11,845. Total costs borne by applicants exceed AUD 50,000 when including health insurance and other expenses.
The government's processing target was to complete 75% of applications within 16 months and 90% within 24 months, but actual processing times are more than double these targets. Between July 2024 and June 2025, approximately 6,000 applications were received, but only 4,600 were approved during the same period.
According to reporting by Guardian Australia, some applicants have died before their visas were approved, and their families have not received refunds.
Why it matters
This visa was introduced in 2019 to allow parents of permanent residents or citizens to stay in Australia for extended periods. It was intended to reduce wait times compared to other parent visas that lead to permanent residency, but in practice even the temporary visa now requires years of waiting.
The Department of Home Affairs has cited increasing application volumes, complex cases, and requests for additional information as reasons for processing delays, but has not presented concrete improvement plans. Applicants must remain outside Australia during visa processing, and face financial losses as there are no refund provisions in cases of health deterioration or death.
Who it affects
This issue affects all applicants for the temporary parent visa (subclass 870). It particularly impacts Australian permanent residents and citizens seeking to sponsor their elderly parents, as well as families with aging parents in poor health.
Other parent visa categories, including the permanent visa program, also face waiting times of several decades, indicating structural problems across the entire parent visa system.
What to check
The Department of Home Affairs has not currently disclosed specific measures or timelines for reducing processing times. Applicants can check the latest processing time information on the Department's website and must respond promptly to requests for additional documentation after applying.
Visa application fees are non-refundable, so careful consideration of processing times and family health conditions is necessary before applying. Official processing times and application guidance can be found on the Australian Department of Home Affairs official page.
Sources
This article summarizes publicly available news as of its publication date. Visa and migration settings can change without notice. Confirm the latest rules through the cited sources or a consultation before acting.