Subclass 173/143

Contributory Parent Visa - Subclass 173/143

Subclass 143 is a permanent parent visa that enables eligible parents of an Australian citizen, Permanent Resident or Eligible New Zealand Citizen to live in Australia, indefinitely.

Subclass 143 can be applied directly, or split into two application, by initially applying for Subclass 173. 

Subclass 173 is a temporary residency application for eligible parents of an Australian citizen, Permanent Resident or Eligible New Zealand Citizen to live in Australia for two years.  Subclass 173 can be applied first to spread the costs of Subclass 143 visa across its processing time. 

Benefits of Subclass 173 / 143 - Parent Visa

Full Working Rights

Allows for travel in and out of Australia

Access to Medicare from Lodgement

Eligible for Citizenship

Sponsor Eligible Family Members to Australia

Pathway to Permanent Residency

Temporary Visa Eligibility

Subclass 173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa

To be approved for sponsorship, your sponsor must: 

 

Alternative sponsorship arrangements

You can sponsor a visa applicant on behalf of a child under 18 if you are:

 

You must be:

  • the child’s co-habiting spouse, or 
  • the child’s relative or guardian, or 
  • a relative or guardian of the child’s co-habiting spouse

 

Community Organisations

community organisation can sponsor an applicant where:

  • there is a relationship between the organisation and the applicant’s child
  • a senior representative of the organisation agrees to sponsor the applicant
  • the organisation is lawfully established in Australia
  • the organisation has been actively operating in Australia for at least one year
  • the organisation can meet its financial commitments
  •  

To be approved as a Subclass 173 visa, you must:

  • be sponsored by an eligible child who is a settled Australian citizen, Australian Permanent resident or Eligible New Zealand citizen
  • meet the balance-of-family test
  • meet all visa conditions and follow Australian law
  • not have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 870) visa when applying for this visa
  • Meet health and character requirement

Permanent Visa Eligibility

Subclass 143 - Contributory Parent (Permanent) Visa

To be approved for sponsorship, your sponsor must: 

 

Alternative sponsorship arrangements

You can sponsor a visa applicant on behalf of a child under 18 if you are:

 

You must be:

  • the child’s co-habiting spouse, or 
  • the child’s relative or guardian, or 
  • a relative or guardian of the child’s co-habiting spouse

 

Community Organisations

community organisation can sponsor an applicant where:

  • there is a relationship between the organisation and the applicant’s child
  • a senior representative of the organisation agrees to sponsor the applicant
  • the organisation is lawfully established in Australia
  • the organisation has been actively operating in Australia for at least one year
  • the organisation can meet its financial commitments
  •  

To be eligible for a Subclass 143 application, you must:

  • have an eligible sponsor child who is a settled Australian citizen, Permanent resident or Eligible New Zealand citizen, unless you are applying for the Retirement Pathway.
  • Meet the balance of family test
  • Have assurance of support
  • Meet health and character support
  • Have eligible health insurance. 

Contributory (173) visa to Permanent Residency

Getting the Permanent Subclass 173/143 visa is a three-stage process which goes as follows:

Apply for a Subclass 173 Visa

To begin your parent's permanent residency journey, you begin with by applying for a Subclass 173 Parent Visa.

Pay the Second Instalment of Subclass 173

Before the visa is granted the second instalment of $29,130 is required to be paid. 

Apply for Subclass 143 - Permanent Parent Visa

You are eligible to apply for the Permanent Parent visa after the successful grant of Subclass 173.  Once the 143 is granted, you will become a permanent resident in Australia. 

What parent visa is suitable for me?

Subclass 143 is permanent visa. The initial phase of the application cost $4,225 for the main applicant and $1,425 for spouse (of the main applicant, if included in the application). The second instalment for each applicant is approximately $43,600. This visa takes approximately 3.5 to 4.5 years to process and is a permanent visa from approval.

Given the financial commitment of Subclass 143, you can opt to apply for a Subclass 173 to begin the permanent residency pathway, and apply for Subclass 143 once Subclass 173 is granted. This enables you to split the payments between the two visa subclass instead of one. 

Subclass 173 is a temporary visa with an initial application fee of $2,850 and $1,425 for secondary applicant. Before the visa is granted the second instalment of $29,130 is required to be paid, and takes approximately 3 to 3.5 years to process. The applicants are granted a 2 year temporary visa. Before this visa expires they must pay an additional $19,420 and apply for the permanent visa subclass 143.

Something else ?

    FAQ

    We are happy to answer
    any queries you may have

    What is an assurance of support?

    An Assurance of Support is a legal agreement you make with the Department to help someone get a visa to live in Australia. It is the sponsor’s promise to pay the Department back for any income support the Department give them.

    Will I receive the Assurance of Support back?

    The bond is refunded ten years after you enter Australia as the holder of the contributory parent visa, less any debts owed to the Australian government.

    Do I have access to Medicare if I apply for Subclass 143?

    If you’ve applied for a contributory parent visa (143 visa) and already have a temporary 173 visa, you can enrol for medicare.

     
    When do I have to pay for an Assurance of Support?

    Assurance of Support is generally payable after each applicant has passed health and character tests. 

    My parent is over 65. Should I apply for Subclass 143?

    If you are over 65 years old, we recommend the Contributory Aged Parent Visa, as it allows your parent to remain with you while their application is being processed.

    Parent Visa COVID-19 Concessions

    Bridging Visa Grant

    You may be eligible for the grant of a bridging visa for  Contributory Parent Subclass 143 or Subclass 173  during the period in which the COVID-19 concessions are in place.

    You are eligible for a bridging visa if:

    • you lodged your Parent or Contributory Parent visa application before 24 March 2021
    • the visa application was lodged in Australia
    • you were in Australia on 24 March 2021
    • the visa application has not been finalised.

     

    If you held a substantive visa at the time of your visa application, you may be able to apply for and be granted a Bridging visa A.

    If you did not hold a substantive visa at the time you made your visa application, you will not be eligible for a BVA, but maybe granted a Bridging visa E.

    If you lodged a paper application for a Parent or Contributory Parent visa at an office outside Australia, you will not meet the criteria for the grant of a bridging visa in association with your visa application.