Let π: X → C be a relatively minimal non-isotrivial elliptic surface over the field of complex numbers, where g(C) ≥ 2. In this article, we demonstrate an equivalence between the category of semistable parabolic Higgs bundles on C, and the category of semistable Higgs bundles on X with vanishing second Chern class, and determinant a vertical divisor. © 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.