Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 173 and 143)
The Contributory Parent pathway allows an eligible parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen to pursue permanent residence directly through Subclass 143 or in two stages through temporary Subclass 173 followed by Subclass 143.
These visas are capped and queued. Contributory Parent visas generally receive different processing priority from non-contributory Parent visas, but demand still exceeds available annual places. A Subclass 173 holder must apply for Subclass 143 before the temporary visa ceases to preserve the intended two-stage pathway.
Understanding the two visa options
Subclass 173 is a temporary Contributory Parent visa that allows a stay in Australia for up to two years. It is commonly used as the first stage of the pathway and allows the substantial visa charges to be spread across two applications.
Subclass 143 is the permanent Contributory Parent visa. An applicant may apply directly for Subclass 143 or apply after receiving Subclass 173. The staged route generally costs more overall than applying directly for 143, but payments are spread over a longer period.
Key pathway benefits
Core eligibility requirements
The applicant must generally have an eligible child who is settled in Australia and is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. The applicant needs an approved sponsor, usually that eligible child, and must satisfy the Balance of Family test.
Every applicant must also meet identity, health, character, Australian Government debt and values requirements. Applicants cannot use this pathway if they have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870), subject to the current legal criteria.
The Balance of Family test
A parent passes when at least half of their children and stepchildren are eligible children in Australia, or when more eligible children live in Australia than in any other single country. The test considers the children of both the applicant and their partner under prescribed rules.
The Balance of Family test cannot be waived for compelling circumstances. A Subclass 173 holder who applies for the second-stage Subclass 143 before the temporary visa ceases will generally not need to meet the test again.
Direct 143 or staged 173 to 143?
Assess the family structure
Map every child and stepchild, their residence country and Australian immigration status.
Choose the pathway
Compare a direct permanent Subclass 143 application with the staged temporary 173 then permanent 143 route.
Prepare sponsorship and evidence
Document the relationship, sponsor eligibility, family composition, health, character and financial arrangements.
Lodge the correct application
Subclass 143 applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount, while temporary Subclass 173 applications currently use the prescribed paper process.
Queue and final assessment
After initial eligibility assessment, the application can enter the queue and is released for final processing as program places become available.
Sponsorship and Assurance of Support
The sponsor must establish their eligible Australian status, settlement, relationship to the parent and ability to meet sponsorship commitments. If the sponsoring child is under 18, another prescribed relative, guardian or community organisation may be eligible.
An Assurance of Support is generally required before the permanent Subclass 143 visa is granted. This is a separate legal commitment to repay specified recoverable government payments and may require a financial bond. The assurer and sponsor do not necessarily need to be the same person.
Visa charges and financial planning
Contributory Parent visas involve significant charges paid in instalments, plus possible costs for each included applicant, health examinations, police certificates, biometrics and the Assurance of Support. Fees change, so applicants should use the current Home Affairs visa pricing estimator rather than relying on an old quoted amount.
The two-stage option spreads payments across the 173 and 143 applications but generally costs more in total than applying directly for Subclass 143. Applicants should also plan for living costs and the long queue period.
Application and decision location
Location rules depend on the subclass and pathway. Standard applicants can generally be in or outside Australia when lodging, but must usually be outside Australia when a standard application is decided. Special rules can apply to current or recent Subclass 173 holders, substituted Visitor visa holders and eligible retirement-pathway applicants.
A standard application does not automatically provide a bridging visa. Applicants in Australia must maintain an independently valid visa and check travel and decision-location requirements before making arrangements.
Important 173 and 143 Considerations
- Have an eligible settled child and approved sponsor.
- Pass the Balance of Family test unless a specific exemption applies.
- Compare direct 143 costs with the staged 173 to 143 route.
- Apply for the permanent stage before Subclass 173 ceases.
- Plan for capped and queued processing.
- Meet the Assurance of Support requirement when requested.
- Check lodgement, bridging-visa and decision-location rules.
Including family members
Eligible members of the family unit may be included in the application. All family members must be declared, whether migrating or not, and Home Affairs may require health and character evidence for both migrating and non-migrating relatives.
Documents commonly required
Documents may include passports, birth and marriage certificates, records linking parent and children, evidence of each child's residence and immigration status, sponsor citizenship or permanent residence evidence, proof of settlement, family composition records, police certificates, health examinations, dependency documents and Assurance of Support evidence.
How Echoes Global Education can assist
Our migration team can assess sponsor and Balance of Family eligibility, compare direct and staged contributory pathways, map complex family structures, prepare a personalised checklist and assist with sponsorship, Subclass 173 and Subclass 143 applications.