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Contributory parent visa 143-173

Parent Visas

Subclass 143 and 173 contributory parent visa.

The faster offshore route to bring your parents to Australia. You pay a substantial government contribution and, in return, wait far less than the non-contributory 103. The 143 is permanent; the 173 lets you pay in two stages.

Offshore, far shorter wait than 103143 permanent / 173 two-stageSubstantial government contribution
Book a Family Visa ConsultCompare all parent visas
Who They Suit

Two ways to pay for the same outcome.

You want your parents living with you in Australia, not waiting out a queue that can run for many years. The non-contributory parent visa 103 is the budget route, but its processing queue is famously long. The contributory parent visas are the faster alternative offshore: a much larger government contribution in exchange for a far shorter wait. The Subclass 143 Contributory Parent visa is permanent from grant; the Subclass 173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa is a two-year visa that lets you pay the contribution in two parts and move to the 143 later.

This page is the offshore contributory deep-dive. If your parent is already in Australia and old enough for the age pension, the onshore equivalent is the contributory aged parent visa 864 and 884. To qualify you generally need to:

  • be the parent of a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who can sponsor you;
  • be sponsored (usually by your child, who must be settled in Australia);
  • meet the balance of family test;
  • meet health and character requirements; and have an Assurance of Support bond provided on your behalf.

Costs and timing (current as at June 2026 - verify at homeaffairs.gov.au). These visas carry a substantial government charge, of the order of tens of thousands of dollars for each parent, far more than the 103, with most of it falling due as a second instalment before grant. A refundable Assurance of Support bond also applies; the assurance period runs 10 years for the contributory category. The amounts are set by the government and change, so confirm the current figures before you budget. We quote our own professional fee in writing before any work.

The Balance of Family Test

The gate your eligibility turns on.

The balance of family test measures where your children live. You generally meet it if at least half of your children live permanently in Australia, or more of your children live permanently in Australia than in any other single country. Stepchildren and adopted children are usually counted, and some children are treated differently depending on their circumstances. Because the count decides whether you are eligible at all, it is worth checking carefully, and we can do that with you. These are national rules under the Migration Regulations 1994 and can change.

143 or 173

Pay once, or in two stages?

Subclass 143 - permanent

Permanent residence from grant. The contribution is broadly paid as one larger amount. Suits families who can meet the full contribution now and want PR straight away.

Subclass 173 - temporary, 2 years

A two-year visa that lets you split the contribution: a smaller first part now, the balance later when you apply for the 143. Suits families who want their parent here sooner and prefer to spread the cost. It spreads the cost, it does not reduce it.

The 173 spreads the cost, it does not save money overall. The balance of the contribution falls due when you apply for the 143 to become permanent. We can model both against your circumstances so the choice is made on real numbers, not guesswork.

Common Questions

Contributory parent visa questions.

Considerably faster. The non-contributory 103 has a very long processing queue, which is the main reason families pay the contributory charge instead. We do not publish a fixed timeframe because processing times change; check the current Home Affairs estimate for both, and we can talk through whether the time saved is worth the extra cost for your family.
You generally meet it if at least half your children live permanently in Australia, or more live here than in any other single country. If you cannot meet it, the permanent parent visas are generally not open to you, and the sponsored parent temporary visa 870 may be worth looking at instead, because it does not apply the balance of family test in the same way.
Usually your child, provided they are a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. "Settled" generally means lawfully resident in Australia for a reasonable period. In some cases another person can sponsor where the child cannot, and we can check who is eligible in your situation.
It is substantial, of the order of tens of thousands of dollars for each parent, and far higher than the 103. Most of it is paid as a second instalment before the visa is granted. The amount is set by the government and changes, so confirm the current figure at homeaffairs.gov.au before you commit, rather than relying on an older number.
An Assurance of Support is a financial commitment that someone (the assurer) provides on your behalf, backed by a refundable bond lodged with the government. It is mandatory for the permanent parent visas and cannot be waived, and for the contributory category the assurance period runs for 10 years. The bond amount is set by the government, so verify the current figure before you plan around it.
The 143 is permanent from grant. The 173 is temporary for two years and exists so you can pay the contribution in two parts, then apply for the 143 (paying the balance) to become permanent. The 173 spreads the cost rather than reducing it.
The contributory parent visas are generally offshore applications, so they are usually lodged from outside Australia. Many families bridge the gap with visits on a visitor visa for parents. If your parent is already in Australia and old enough for the age pension, the onshore contributory aged parent visa 864 and 884 may be the better fit. We can map the right sequence for your circumstances.
It comes down to time against money. The 103 costs far less but the wait is very long; the contributory visas cost a great deal more but reunite families much sooner. There is no single right answer, and we will give you an honest read on which makes sense for your parents rather than steer you to the more expensive option.
Where to From Here

Compare before you commit.

OnshoreContributory Aged Parent 864/884The onshore version, for age-pension-age parents already here. Budget routeParent Visa 103Non-contributory, far cheaper, but a very long queue. No balance testSponsored Parent 870Temporary long stays without the balance of family test. Compare allParent Visas AustraliaEvery parent option by cost and wait.
Sources

Department of Home Affairs - Subclass 143 Contributory Parent visa, Subclass 173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa, and the balance of family test; Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth). Figures and rules are current as at June 2026 and verified live at publish. Confirm the current charges at homeaffairs.gov.au.

Written and reviewed by Brian Chan, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2217857)

Visa Store Australia, Perth · Last reviewed June 2026 · Verify on the MARA register · General information only, not personal migration advice.

Bring your parents over, sooner.

We can check the balance of family test, model 143 against 173, and map the right sequence for your family.

Book a Family Visa ConsultSpeak With a Registered Agent
Contributory Parent 143/173 The faster offshore parent route
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