Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143)
Permanent residency for parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens
Key Benefits
Permanent Residency
Live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely with no restrictions
Faster Processing
5-6 year processing vs 20-30+ years for non-contributory visas
Medicare Access
Enroll in Australia’s public healthcare system
5-Year Travel Facility
Travel to and from Australia freely for five years
Path to Citizenship
Eligible to apply for Australian citizenship after meeting requirements
Sponsor Family
Ability to sponsor eligible relatives for visas to Australia
Eligibility Requirements
Key criteria you must meet to qualify
Child sponsor must be Australian citizen, PR, or eligible NZ citizen, settled in Australia for 2+ years
At least half of your children must be Australian citizens/PRs, or more children in Australia than any other country
Compulsory AoS with $10,000 refundable bond per parent ($4,000 for additional parent), held 10 years
Must be outside Australia when visa is applied for and granted
Meet Australian health standards through medical examinations
Police clearances from all countries lived in 12+ months
Parents of any age can apply (unlike some onshore parent visas)
No outstanding debts to Australian government or arrangements to repay
Assurance of Support (AoS)
Compulsory financial guarantee for Subclass 143
💰 What is AoS?
- Legal commitment to financially support parents
- Repay any social security benefits they might claim
- Demonstrates parents won’t burden welfare system
- Required by law for this visa
💵 Bond Amounts
- Main applicant: AUD $10,000
- Additional parent: AUD $4,000
- Total for two parents: AUD $14,000
- Refundable after 10 years
📋 Who Can Be Assurer?
- Your child sponsor (most common)
- Another relative in Australia
- Must meet income requirements
- May need co-assurer if income insufficient
⏰ AoS Timeline
- Applied for near visa grant time
- Lodged with Services Australia
- Bond held for 10 years
- Fully refunded if no welfare claimed
Parent Visa Options Comparison
Understanding your choices for parent migration
| Feature | Subclass 143 (Contributory) | Subclass 103 (Non-Contributory) | Subclass 173 (Temp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa Type | Permanent | Permanent | Temporary (2 years) |
| Processing Time | 5-6 years | 20-30+ years | Similar to 143 |
| Government Fees | ~$43,600 second installment | Low (few thousand) | Lower initially, rest for 143 later |
| Application Location | Offshore | Offshore | Offshore |
| Balance of Family Test | Required | Required | Required |
| Assurance of Support | Yes – $10k bond (10 years) | Yes – $5k bond (2 years) | Yes – $10k bond (10 years) |
| Best For | Those wanting faster processing and can afford fees | Budget-conscious willing to wait decades | Staging payments over time |
Other Parent Visa Options
Alternative pathways depending on your circumstances
Aged Parent (Subclass 864/884)
- For parents 67+ years old
- Applied from within Australia
- Remain in Australia on bridging visa
- Similar contributory fees and requirements
- Good for elderly parents already in Australia
Sponsored Parent (Subclass 870)
- Temporary visa (not PR)
- 3 or 5 year validity (renewable to 10 years)
- No Balance of Family Test
- No pathway to permanent residency
- Good for temporary stays while 143 processes
Two-Step Pathway (173→143)
- Start with temporary 173 visa
- Lower initial payment
- Apply for 143 within 2 years
- Higher total cost overall
- Spreads payments over time
VisaTasker Can Help
- Assess which visa suits your situation
- Explain pros and cons of each option
- Consider parent’s age and location
- Balance cost vs processing time
- Develop optimal migration strategy
Application Process
Step-by-step journey to bringing your parents to Australia
Eligibility Assessment
Review family situation, confirm Balance of Family Test, verify sponsor eligibility, and assess all requirements. VisaTasker provides comprehensive eligibility assessment before proceeding.
Document Preparation
Gather identity papers, birth certificates, relationship evidence, sponsor’s citizenship/PR proof, residency documents. Prepare sponsorship application with all supporting documents.
Visa Lodgement
Submit complete Subclass 143 application with first installment payment. Parent must be outside Australia at time of lodgement. Application enters queue for processing.
Waiting Period
Application in queue (typically 5-6 years). Annual program caps affect processing times. VisaTasker provides updates on policy changes and application progress.
Health & Character Checks
Department requests medical examinations and police clearances near decision time. VisaTasker coordinates scheduling and submission of results.
Assurance of Support
Lodge AoS with Services Australia including bank guarantee ($10,000 per parent). VisaTasker guides sponsor through income requirements and bond payment process.
Second Installment Payment
Pay second visa installment (AUD $43,600 per parent) when requested by Department. This substantial contribution enables faster processing.
Visa Grant
Permanent residency granted! Parents can migrate to Australia. VisaTasker provides post-grant guidance on Medicare enrollment and settlement.
Why Choose VisaTasker?
Expert parent visa services with proven results
MARA Registered
Licensed migration agents following strict professional standards (MARN 2318017)
Comprehensive Assessment
Thorough eligibility review including Balance of Family Test calculations
Complete Documentation
Detailed guidance for all paperwork with checklists and templates
AoS Expertise
Specialized guidance through complex Assurance of Support process
Global Service
Support for offshore and onshore clients anywhere in the world
Transparent Pricing
Fixed $2,500 professional fee with no hidden costs
Investment Required
Understanding the costs for Contributory Parent Visa
Government Fees (Per Parent)
Second installment paid to Department of Home Affairs
- First installment at lodgement (smaller amount)
- Second installment ~$43,600 before grant
- Total government fees per parent
- Two parents = ~$87,200+ total
- AoS bond: $10,000 per parent (refundable)
Our Professional Service
Fixed flat fee for complete service
- Comprehensive eligibility assessment
- Balance of Family Test calculation
- Complete document preparation
- Sponsorship application assistance
- Visa lodgement and management
- AoS guidance and coordination
- DHA communication handling
- Post-grant settlement support
The contributory pathway’s higher fees enable significantly faster processing compared to decades-long wait times for non-contributory visas
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long does Subclass 143 take to process?
The Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143) typically takes approximately 5-6 years to process, though this can vary based on annual program caps and application volume.
2. What is the Balance of Family Test?
The Balance of Family Test requires that at least half of your children are Australian citizens or permanent residents (and usually living in Australia), OR you have more children living permanently in Australia than in any other single country.
How it’s calculated:
- All children of both parents are counted (biological, step, and adopted)
- Dead or missing children are generally excluded
- Calculate the total number of children
- Count how many are Australian citizens/PRs
- If 50% or more are Australian, you pass the test
3. Why are the government fees so high?
The high contributory fees (approximately $43,600 per parent for the second installment) represent a contribution to Australia’s healthcare and social services systems. This “contribution” is the trade-off for much faster processing times.
The fees help offset the costs parents may incur to Medicare and other public services, and enable the government to process contributory applications much faster than the queue-based non-contributory route.
4. Can my parents work in Australia on this visa?
Yes! The Subclass 143 is a permanent residency visa, which grants full work rights with no restrictions. Your parents can work for any employer, start a business, or choose not to work at all.
They will also have access to Medicare, can travel freely in and out of Australia for 5 years, and have a pathway to Australian citizenship after meeting residency requirements.
5. What happens if the AoS bond is used?
The Assurance of Support bond ($10,000 per parent) is held by the Australian government for 10 years. If your parents claim any recoverable social security benefits during this period, those amounts may be deducted from the bond.
6. Can I apply for both parents together?
Yes. Both parents can be included in a single application (or apply separately). When applying together, you’ll pay government fees and AoS bonds for each parent:
- Main applicant (first parent): ~$43,600 + $10,000 AoS bond
- Additional applicant (second parent): ~$43,600 + $4,000 AoS bond
- Total for two parents: ~$87,200 + $14,000 AoS bond
Our $2,500 professional service fee covers the entire family application regardless of whether it’s one or both parents.
7. What if my parent is already in Australia?
Subclass 143 requires the parent to be outside Australia when the visa is applied for and when it is granted. If your parent is currently in Australia:
- If aged 67+: Consider the onshore Contributory Aged Parent visa (Subclass 864)
- If under 67: They must leave Australia to apply for Subclass 143, or wait until they reach the age threshold for onshore options
- Temporary option: They could remain on a visitor visa or Subclass 870 (Sponsored Parent Temporary) while considering options
VisaTasker will assess your specific situation and recommend the best pathway.
Understanding Program Caps
Why processing times vary
The Australian government sets annual caps on parent visa grants. For 2024-25, the total parent visa program was capped at approximately 8,500 places for the year.
This means applications are processed in queue order, and the number granted each year is limited. This is why even contributory parent visas (which have priority over non-contributory) still take several years to process.
Reunite Your Family in Australia
The Contributory Parent Visa offers the most practical pathway to bring your parents to Australia permanently. Don’t navigate this complex process alone – let VisaTasker’s experienced migration agents guide you every step of the way.
Book Your Consultation
Reviewed by VisaTasker Migration Services
MARA Registered Migration Agent · MARN 2318017
This page is written and reviewed by VisaTasker Migration Services, a MARA-registered migration agency based in Australia. As registered agents, we are bound by the Migration Agents Code of Conduct and required to provide accurate, up-to-date advice based on Australian migration legislation. Information is reviewed against the latest Department of Home Affairs policy.