Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143 and 173) Australia: Complete 2026 Guide

143 vs 173: Which Contributory Parent Visa?

There are two contributory parent visa pathways: Subclass 143 — Contributory Parent (Migrant): direct permanent residence visa, granted offshore. The applicant must be outside Australia when the visa is granted (though the application can be lodged onshore). Subclass 864 — Contributory Aged Parent (Residence): same as the 143 but for applicants who are already of eligible pensionable age at the time of application. Subclass 173 — Contributory Parent (Temporary): a two-stage pathway. The 173 is granted first (temporary, 2 years), then the applicant applies for the 143 to convert to permanent residence. The 173 costs less upfront than the direct 143. The total cost of the 173 + 143 pathway is higher than applying for the 143 directly, but it spreads the financial outlay over time. For some families, the lower initial cost of the 173 makes it more manageable. A migration agent can model the full cost comparison for your specific situation.

The Balance of Family Test

To qualify for a parent visa (contributory or standard), the applicant must pass the Balance of Family Test. This test assesses how many of the parent's children live in Australia compared to other countries. The parent qualifies if: at least half of their children permanently reside in Australia; or more of the parent's children permanently reside in Australia than in any other single country. 'Children' includes biological children, adopted children, and stepchildren — regardless of age. Children who are Australian citizens or permanent residents count toward the Australian side of the test. If the parent has 4 children, 2 in Australia and 2 in the UK, the test is tied — half qualify but not more than half live in one country, so the parent must pass the 'more in Australia than any other single country' limb. Complex family structures (divorced parents, blended families) can require careful evidence preparation for this test.

Costs: What the Contributory Parent Visa Actually Costs

The Contributory Parent visa is one of the most expensive Australian visas. The financial commitment comes in two instalments: First instalment (lodgement, from 1 July 2026): Subclass 143 — AUD 6,300. Subclass 173 — AUD 4,245. Second instalment (before visa grant): Subclass 143 — AUD 43,600 per applicant. Subclass 173 — AUD 29,130 per applicant; converting from the 173 to the 143 then costs a further AUD 555 first instalment plus AUD 19,420 second instalment. So the direct 143 totals AUD 49,900, while the 173-then-143 route totals AUD 53,350 — about AUD 3,450 more, in exchange for spreading the cost across two payments. These are the government charges only, current as at 1 July 2026 and reviewed each 1 July — check the Department's current Visa Pricing Estimator before relying on them. Additional costs include health examinations for each family member, police clearances, and — for most parent visas — an Assurance of Support, a refundable bond whose amount and holding period Services Australia sets and publishes on its Assurance of Support page. A migration agent's own fee is set case by case under a written service agreement, not at a fixed or published rate; Migratio's own consult bookings show a median initial-consultation fee of $220 (686 quotes from 57 agents, Sept 2026).

Processing Times and What to Expect

Despite the 'contributory' nature of the visa, processing times remain long. Home Affairs estimates about 15 years for new Contributory Parent applications (subclasses 143, 173, 864 and 884) as at 31 May 2026, when it had released applications with a queue date up to November 2018 for final processing. The 173 draws on the same queue as the 143, so it reaches the same release dates — it does not process any faster. These timelines reflect demand against the annual Parent-category planning level (8,500 places for 2025–26, 7,060 for 2026–27, across all six parent subclasses combined). Applications are assessed in lodgement-date order once they meet the core visa criteria, then released for final processing as places become available — lodging as early as eligibility is confirmed secures an earlier queue date. During the wait, the parent can maintain a visitor visa to spend time in Australia. A migration agent can ensure the application is complete and lodged correctly so no time is lost on technical deficiencies.

Assurance of Support: The Bond Requirement

Before most parent visas are granted, the Department requires an Assurance of Support (AoS) — a bond paid to the Australian Government by the assuring person (usually the Australian child sponsoring the parent) and held for a set period after the visa is granted. Services Australia administers the AoS scheme separately from Home Affairs and publishes the current bond amount, the holding period, and the assurer's income test on its Assurance of Support page — check the current figures there before budgeting, since this guide does not repeat specific bond amounts that can change. The bond is returned at the end of the AoS period if no claim has been made against it; a claim can be made if the parent accesses certain Australian government income support payments during that period. The AoS is lodged separately from the visa application and must be approved before the visa can be granted.

Where the Queue Is Now (2026)

Parent visa places are capped each year, so applications sit in a queue before they are processed. Home Affairs sets one Parent-category planning level across all six parent subclasses — 8,500 places for 2025–26 and 7,060 for 2026–27 — without publishing a forward split between the contributory and non-contributory streams; the most recent published outcome (2024–25) shows 6,800 places went to the contributory categories and 1,700 to the non-contributory ones. As at 31 May 2026, the Department was releasing Contributory Parent applications with a queue date up to November 2018 for final processing, and it estimates about 15 years end to end for new applications. The non-contributory Subclass 103 and 804 are dramatically slower — Home Affairs estimates about 33 years for new applications, with releases as at 31 May 2026 reaching only queue dates up to February 2014. Queue release dates move over time and are published by the Department — check the current 'Parent visas queue release dates' page on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before relying on any figure.

Is there a faster parent visa option?

The Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa can be granted much faster — often within months — and allows the parent to live in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years (10 years cumulatively). It does not lead to permanent residence, and once a parent has applied for or holds an 870 they cannot apply for another permanent or temporary parent visa — so it only sits alongside a permanent application that was already lodged first, not as a way into one. See our 870 visa guide for details.

Can the parent apply if they are already in Australia on a visitor visa?

Yes. The Subclass 143 application can be lodged onshore, but the visa is typically granted offshore — the parent must be outside Australia at time of grant. Some applicants lodge onshore and then depart to wait for the grant offshore. This should be planned with a migration agent to avoid issues with tourist visa conditions during the wait.

What happens to the parent's application if the Australian child dies?

The application can generally continue if other eligible children in Australia can substitute as the sponsoring relative. This is a sensitive and complex situation — seek immediate advice from a registered migration agent if this circumstance arises.

Does the parent need to pass a health check?

Yes. All parent visa applicants must undergo health examinations (medical and chest X-ray) through a panel physician. Health requirements are age-adjusted — older applicants may face more detailed health assessment. Health-based refusals are possible, particularly for applicants with significant health conditions that would place an unreasonable cost burden on the Australian healthcare system.