Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 143)

A parent visa is for people who have a eligible child who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident and they want to live in Australia. If you have children living in Australia as permanent residents or citizens for a minimum of 2 years, you may be eligible for one of Parent Visa sub-classes.

There are 3 different Parent Visa types.

Parent visa 143

This is a permanent visa referred to as a “Contributory” visa. This is because the initial application fee is $4,155 for the first applicant and $2,075 for additional applicant over 18 and $1,040 for additional applicant under 18. However the second instalment for each applicant is $43,600. This visa takes approximately 3.5 to 4.5 years to process and is a permanent visa from approval.

Subclass 173

This is a temporary visa with an initial Australian government fee of $2,800 and $1,400 for any additional applicant over 18 and $705 for additional applicants under 18. Before the visa is granted the second instalment of $29,130 is required to be paid. This visa 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.

Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 143)

To be eligible for partner visa, you must:

You must be sponsored by an eligible sponsor for this visa.

Usually you would be sponsored by an eligible child. If your child is under 18, you can be sponsored by an eligible relative or community organisation.

Also you must meet flowing criteria.

  • be outside Australia when we decide your application
  • have an eligible 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, unless you are applying for the Retirement Pathway
  • have an Assurance of Support, unless you are applying for the Retirement Pathway
  • not have a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 870) visa when applying for this visa

If you apply for this visa as a retiree you don’t need a sponsor.

Basic Eligibility

You don’t have to pass English test for parent visa.

143 partner visa is permanent and once you have that visa, you may stay in Australia indefinitely.

For citizenship purposes, your permanent residency starts on the day your visa is granted, if you are onshore.

If you hold a Contributory Parent (Temporary) (subclass 173) visa

You can apply for the subclass 143 visa as a two-step process by first applying for a Contributory Parent (Temporary) (subclass 173) visa. Applying for the subclass 173 visa and then the subclass 143 visa allows you to spread the cost of the visas over a number of years.

While you are waiting or you are on Partner visa 143:

You can  live, work and study in Australia while your visa is processed.
You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want
You can attend free English language classes provided by the Adult Migrant English Program
You can sponsor your family members to come to Australia
Enrol in Medicare, Australia’s scheme for health-related care and expenses

Parent visa can be lodged as one or two step process. 

143 visa is a one step visa, giving you permanent residency once its granted.

You must be sponsored by an eligible child-sponsor for this visa.

Usually you would be sponsored by an eligible child. If your child is under 18, you can be sponsored by an eligible relative or community organisation.

You must also meet the balance-of-family test. You meet the balance of family test if:

  • at least half of your children and step-children are eligible children, or
  • there are more eligible children living in Australia than in any other single country

Sponsor may be required to provide assurance of support.

If you apply for this visa as a retiree you don’t need a sponsor.

If you hold a Temporary Contributory Parent (subclass 173) visa, you might still be eligible for this visa if your sponsor dies.

Include family

You can include members of the family unit in your application when you apply.

You are required to include details of all your family members, whether they are migrating or not.

If you apply for this visa as a retiree, you:

  • can include your partner when you apply provided they are also a retiree
  • can’t include your children in your application

For partner visa, family members are:

Family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health and character requirements.

Family members who do not apply for the visa with you might also have to meet the requirements.

You can be in or outside Australia​ when you loading your 143 visa application. You can also apply for Parent visa while you are a holder of a BVA,BVB or BVC ).

How much cost visa to Australia

Parent visa can be complicated to understand.

Initial application fee is $4,155 for the first applicant and $2,075 for additional applicant over 18 and $1,040 for additional applicant under 18. However the second instalment for each applicant is $43,600. This visa takes approximately 3.5 to 4.5 years to process and is a permanent visa from approval.

The large “Contribution” of money that is called for upon the second instalment is in order to offset the rights that are awarded to the visa holder under permanent residency such as health care that they have not contributed towards throughout their lives as ordinary Australians have throughout their life by way of tax.

Subclass 173 it is temporary visa with an initial Australian government fee of $2,800 and $1,400 for any additional applicant over 18 and $705 for additional applicants under 18. Before the visa is granted the second instalment of $29,130 is required to be paid. This visa 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.

In all cases the second instalment of monies paid is only called for after each applicant has passed health and character tests and the AoS (Assurance of Support, see below for AoS details) has been lodged with the Australian government. In no case will a second instalment be paid and a visa not granted.  Second instalments are non-refundable in all cases.

As noted above if you wish to stagger the process, you can apply for the Temporary Parent Visa (subclass 173) which is granted for 2 years and then apply for the Permanent Visa. The advantage is a lower 2nd VAC fee of $29,130. At the permanent stage 2 years later a second payment of $19,420 is payable. The process takes 3 to 3.5 years for the first stage and another 12 to 18 months for the permanent stage.  However, once the first stage is approved the visa holder can live in Australia as the holder of the subclass 173 visa.

Fees for the subclass 173 > subclass 143 pathway are as follows;

SeekVisa Professional Fee –Contributory Parent Visa (Temporary-SC173)$4,500
Application Fee – Main Applicant (at time of application)*

Dependant Application Fee (Spouse)*

$4,155 + $2,075
2nd Visa Application Charge (at time of decision)* Main Applicant

2nd Visa Application Charge (at time of decision)* Spouse

$29,130

$29,130

SeekVisa Professional Fee –Contributory Parent Visa (Permanent- SC143)$2,000
Application Fee – Main Applicant (at time of application)*

Dependant Application Fee (Spouse)*

$2,540 + $1,270
2nd Visa Application Charge (at time of decision)* Main Applicant

2nd Visa Application Charge (at time of decision)* Spouse

$19,420

$19,420

Contributory Parent visa processing time may be 1-2 years however non-contributory Parent visa waiting time may be up to 30 years.