From the 173 Contributory Parent Visa to the 143 Permanent Contributory Parent Visa

Why the 173 exists as a temporary first stage

The 173 grants up to two years of temporary residence, generally with full work and study rights and Medicare access, while the holder's application for the permanent 143 is being finalised. It exists because the contributory parent program's permanent visa (143) has a queue that has historically run for many years — the temporary 173 lets parents live in Australia with their family while that permanent application is processed, rather than waiting offshore for the entire period.

This is the opposite design to the 870 Sponsored Parent visa, which we cover in a separate guide: the 870 is temporary with genuinely no work rights and no permanent visa attached to it at all, while the 173 is temporary specifically because it is the acknowledged first half of a permanent outcome. Confusing the two is one of the more consequential mistakes a family can make when comparing parent visa options.

What has to be true to move from 173 to 143

The 173 holder generally needs to lodge the 143 application within the 173's validity period — up to two years — for the staged pathway to work as intended; applying after the 173 has expired changes the position materially. Because the same underlying combined application generally covers both stages when structured that way, the practical requirement is less about a fresh application and more about the applicant remaining eligible and the second visa application charge being paid within the visa's window.

The visa application charges for the contributory parent program are paid in two instalments — a first instalment at the 173 stage and a second, substantially larger instalment before the 143 can be granted. The published figures change and are worth checking directly against the current fee schedule — our dedicated 143 and contributory parent visa guides carry the current numbers rather than repeating them here, given how significant getting this wrong would be for a family budgeting around it.

What's not re-tested at the 143 stage

Unlike the partner visa's second stage, which reassesses whether the relationship is still genuine and continuing, the contributory parent program's second stage is not built around reassessing the parent-child relationship — that fact doesn't change the way a couple's relationship can. One specific concession Home Affairs applies: a 173 holder who has already met the Balance of Family Test at the temporary stage generally does not need to meet it again when the 143 application is finalised, provided it's lodged before the 173 ceases. This is a genuine, published concession worth confirming applies to your specific situation, since the Balance of Family Test itself is a separate and sometimes complex assessment about where a parent's children are settled.

What still gets checked

Health and character requirements are generally assessed again at the 143 stage, since time has passed since the original 173 assessment and circumstances can change — a health condition that has developed, or a character issue that has arisen, is relevant at whichever point the visa is actually being decided. An Assurance of Support is also generally required for the contributory parent program, committing an assurer (often the sponsoring adult child) to financially support the parent for a set period and to repay certain welfare payments if the assurance is called on — this is a substantial, binding commitment that sits alongside the visa charges rather than replacing them.

How health, character and the assurance requirements interact with a specific family's timeline and finances is not something a general guide can assess — these are exactly the kind of details worth reviewing with a migration agent before committing to the contributory parent pathway rather than the 870 or another option.

Common complications

The most consequential mistake is confusing the 173/143 pathway with the 870 sponsored parent visa and assuming either leads to the same outcome — they don't, and the financial and time commitments are very different. A second is missing the window: because the second-stage application generally needs to be lodged within the 173's validity, a family that delays risks losing the concessions attached to the staged pathway. A third is underestimating the second instalment charge, which is a substantial sum on top of everything already paid at the 173 stage, and needs to be budgeted for well in advance rather than discovered late.

A MARA-registered migration agent can walk a family through the current charges, the Balance of Family Test, the Assurance of Support obligations, and the realistic timeline for both stages before any money changes hands.

Comparing the total commitment, not just the visa charge

Families often focus on the headline visa application charges and lose sight of the other commitments layered on top: the Assurance of Support, health insurance during the 173 period (Medicare access generally applies, but not every health service is covered the same way as for a citizen or permanent resident), and the practical cost of supporting a parent's life in Australia for what can be a multi-year process across both stages. Because the second-stage charge is substantially larger than the first and needs to be paid within the 173's window, it's worth treating the two-stage total — not just the first payment — as the number to budget against from the outset, and confirming with the sponsoring family member's own finances that the Assurance of Support obligation is one they can genuinely meet if it's ever called on.

Is the 173 visa the same kind of "temporary" as the 870 sponsored parent visa?

No. The 173 is temporary specifically because it's the acknowledged first stage of a permanent pathway to the 143. The 870 is a different visa entirely, with no permanent pathway attached and no work rights — the two should not be treated as interchangeable options.

Do I need to reapply from scratch for the 143?

Where the combined application structure applies, the practical step is generally about remaining eligible and paying the second visa application charge within the 173's validity period, rather than lodging a wholly new application. Confirm the current process, since settings can change.

Will I need to meet the Balance of Family Test again at the 143 stage?

Generally no — a 173 holder who already met the Balance of Family Test at the temporary stage does not need to meet it again for the 143, provided the application is finalised before the 173 ceases. This is a specific published concession worth confirming applies to your case.

How much is the second instalment charge for the 143?

The contributory parent program's charges are paid in two instalments, with the second substantially larger than the first. The exact current figures are published on the Home Affairs fee schedule and change over time — check our 143 and contributory parent visa guides for the current numbers rather than an old figure.

What is an Assurance of Support and does it apply here?

It's a formal, binding commitment from an assurer — often the sponsoring adult child — to financially support the parent for a set period and potentially repay certain welfare payments claimed during that time. It generally applies to the contributory parent program and is a separate obligation from the visa charges themselves.

Are health and character checked again for the 143?

Generally yes — these assessments are made against the circumstances current at the time each visa is decided, so a health condition or character issue arising after the 173 was granted is relevant to the 143 decision.