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Subclass 173/143 Contributory Parent visa
Your new life in Australia starts here
The Contributory Parent visa varies from other parent visas available as it requires a higher financial contribution in the application process. The benefits are that it has a comparatively expedited processing time allowing you to be with family members sooner.
The complexities of this visa type can require oversight of a migration lawyer to ensure expectations are met. At Australian Migration Lawyers, we're here to do that for you.
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The Australian Migration Lawyers difference
Fixed price
There are no hidden costs for our services. Our fees are clearly set out in a fee agreement.
Deal direct with a lawyer
From the first same-day response to the granting of your visa, you’ll have direct access to a lawyer.
Clear communication
Our experienced lawyers will give you regular updates and clear explanations of visa pathways.
Satisfaction guarantee
We offer a client satisfaction guarantee in relation to our visa application services.
Installments available
3 - 6 months installment options available on some visa types.
What is the Contributory Parent visa (subclass 173/143)
If you are a parent of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, you may be eligible to apply for a Contributory Parent visa.
Contributory Parent visas contain two subclasses. Subclass 173 is a temporary visa allowing you to live in Australia for up to 2 years and Subclass 143 is a permanent visa. There are two stages to the Contributory Parent visa – the subclass 173 (temporary) stage and the subclass 143 (permanent stage).
Eligibility requirements for a Contributory Parent visa
In general terms, an eligible subclasses 173 and 143 the visa sponsor or applicant must meet the following requirements:
Sponsor
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen who is settled in Australia
- Agree to provide accommodation and financial support for the applicant for their first two years in Australia
- And more
Applicant
- Be sponsored by an eligible sponsor
- Have not already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa
- Meet the balance of family test
- And more
Benefits of a Contributory Parent visa
The key benefit of Contributory Parent visas is that you can reunite and live with your children in Australia. Additionally, if you are granted a Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143), you are able to permanently reside in Australia and access benefits such as travel and health like many other Australians.
Your Australian Migration Lawyer will provide you with a summary of benefits you will be eligible for should you choose this visa pathway.
As a subclass 173 visa-holder, you can:
- Work without restrictions and be guaranteed minimum wage under Australian law
- Study without restrictions
- Travel in and out Australia for 2 years
As a subclass 143 visa-holder, you can:
- Work and study without restrictions
- Travel in and out Australia for 5 years
- Apply for citizenship once you become eligible
- Access Medicare
- Sponsor your family members to come to Australia under relevant programs.
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Subclass 173/143 Contributory Parent visa checklist
Subclass 173/143 Parent visa requires a significant amount of evidence to satisfy the Australian Government that the sponsor and applicant meet all criteria of this visa. Your Australian Migration Lawyer will provide advice and assurance of your eligibility.
Australian Migration Lawyers has developed two comprehensive checklists (one for sponsor and one for visa applicant) of documents that will be provided to you upon engagement. It is critical that a comprehensive package of information is provided to support your application.
We will also review and provide feedback to ensure the compliance and completeness of the evidence so you are putting forward the best possible case to the Department of Home Affairs.
- Personal documents - Identity and visa documentation
- Relationship documents - Evidence of relationships
- Eligible community organisation documents (If a community organisation is sponsoring the applicant which may occur where there is a relationship between the child and the organisation and the organisation meets the eligibility criteria)
Registration certificate, Authorisation from the board or management committee, Evidence regarding financial support the applicant after they arrive in Australia, ABN and company extract, Evidence of organisation’s relationship with the applicant’s child
- Personal documents - Identity and personal documentation
- Sponsor documents - Financial documentation and evidence, Evidence of how you are related to each child, Evidence that your child should not be included in the balance-of-family test (e.g., death certificate), Assurance of support (only applicable for subclass 143 application)
- Character documents - Police and military documentation and reports
How the subclass 173/143 Contributory Parent visas work
There are two stages to the contributory parent visa – the subclass 173 (temporary) stage and the subclass 143 (permanent) stage.
Stage 1: Temporary contributory parent visa (subclass 173) - Before applying for the subclass 143 permanent contributory parent visa, parents must apply for the Temporary contributory parent visa (subclass 173). Fortunately, at time of posting, the Department is not asking Family visa applicants to travel offshore at this time. A temporary concession to allow visas to be granted in Australia is available to eligible Parent visa applicants from 24 March 2021.
Stage 2: Permanent contributory parent visa (subclass 143) - Once a parent is granted the subclass 173 visa, they may be eligible to apply for the Permanent Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143). An applicant can be in or outside of Australia when they apply for this visa and as the name suggests, obtaining the visa grants the applicant to stay in Australia permanently.
AML is here to help you at whatever stage you’re at on your journey to a contributory parent visa (sublcass 173/143). To ensure you have the best chance of success, get in touch with us for a consultation.
Future visa pathways
Once you have been granted the subclass 143 visa, you are considered an Australian Permanent Resident by the Australian Government and that allows you to access a range of benefits in areas such as health, travel and other services. You may also consider applying to become an Australian Citizen if you wish.
Australian Citizens are entitled to:
- Consular services and support whilst overseas
- Visa-free travel to over 100 countries on an Australian passport
- Access to Australian government employment opportunities
If you choose to remain a Permanent Resident, a 5-year travel facility is available on the subclass 143 visa. This allows you to travel in and out of Australia for up to 5 years on the subclass 143 visa. If you wish to travel internationally after the initial 5 years, you will need to apply for a Resident Return Visa (subclass 155), and you must renew this visa every 5 years, thereafter.
Benefits of using Australian Migration Lawyers for your Contributory Parent visa
We assist individuals in reuniting with their family members regularly. We recognise that the process can be highly emotional and so we strive to simplify it for you and your family, making it easier to achieve your migration goals.
Our team of highly qualified Australian lawyers have experience with Contributory Parent visas and offer expert guidance to ensure that your application complies with relevant laws and precedents.
Our team will assess the eligibility of the matter and discuss the migration options available to you. As legal professionals, we are committed to working with you so that your Parent visa application meets all of the legislative requirements, thereby improving the likelihood of a positive outcome.
- Our team of qualified Australian lawyers draw on their knowledge of relevant legislation and case law in advising you on your Parent visa application and other migration options and strategies available to you
- We assist you with preparing your application all the way through to the grant of your visa, including working with you to action any additional requests from the Department of Home Affairs
- We offer a client satisfaction guarantee in relation to our Parent visa application services
Subclass 173/143 Contributory Parent visa costs
There are two main costs associated with a subclass 173/143 Contributory Parent visa
1. Professional fees payable to Australian Migration Lawyers to prepare your primary application
Our fees will vary depending on the circumstances of your application, looking at the complexity and other factors involved. In most cases, we offer a fixed-fee for our services so that our clients have some certainty about the costs associated with their Contributory Parent visa.
Book a consultation with one of our qualified lawyers to get a quote today.
2. Department of Home Affairs fees
There is currently no fee associated with sponsoring a Contributory Parent visa application. However, Sponsors must ensure they fulfill their financial and other responsibilities to support the applicant in their first 2 years in Australia.
As of 1 July 2023, subclass 173 (temporary) visa costs $32,340 to the Department of Home Affairs which is divided into two installments:
- $3,210 must be paid at the time of lodgement, and
- $29,130 is payable before the visa grant.
The the Department of Home Affairs fee for the subclass 143 (permanent) visa is currently $48,365, also divided into two installments:
- $4,765 must be paid at the time of lodgement, and
- $43,600 is payable before the visa grant.
However, the second installment is only requested when the Department of Home Affairs intends to grant you the visa. They won’t ask for the second installment if you cannot meet the visa eligibility requirements.
Visa application process
Applying for a visa to Australia can be complex. With help from an Australian Migration Lawyer, we can untangle this complexity, and help you apply for the right visa.
1. Consultation and engagement
Organise a consultation time to speak with one of our lawyers. You can meet with us in person, via Zoom or telephone. Following this, we will send you paperwork that confirms our engagement to represent you.
2. Preparation and support
We will prepare written submissions in support of your visa application. This will be based on your individual circumstances, and supported by evidence where appropriate.
3. Submission and communication
We submit your application to the relevant body (Department of Home Affairs, courts or tribunal). We will continue to update you concerning the status of your application.
4. Representation and success
We will keep you informed about your application, and notify you of the outcome. If you receive an unfavourable outcome and we can reapply, we will!
Visa processing times
The processing times can vary by the Department of Home Affairs but we will keep you updated throughout the process. At the time of publication, both subclass 173 and subclass 143 visa applications may take a minimum of 12 years to process due to its high demand. The processing times for an application may also be impacted by the completeness and complexity of the matter. If you do not fill in your application correctly, not include all required or outstanding documents, or your information takes a long time to verify, your application might take longer to process. That is why it is recommended you work with migration practitioners.
There are two main stages in assessing subclass 173/143 visa applications:
- First, the Department will check your eligibility and either add the application to the queue or refuse it
- If the application is added to the queue, the Department continues assessing the application when a place becomes available and makes a decision.
Considerations
Your Australian Migration Lawyer will discuss your migration strategy and options available to you. We can also assist you regardless of where you are in the Parent visa process.
Please be aware that there is no guarantee regarding the granting of a Parent visa, as the final decision rests with the Department of Home Affairs. However, we care about your circumstances and are committed to ensuring you consistently receive the necessary support and advice.
As lawyers, we always work to make ourselves as accessible to our clients as much as possible:
- Most initial consultations are free and recurring services will incur a fixed-fee that we will discuss with you
- You can have a consultation with us from anywhere in Australia as our consultations are online
- We can assist you regardless of where you are in the Partner visa process
Meet your Australian Migration Lawyer
We’re a diverse team of professionals with decades of combined experience. We care about your situation and will make sure you always get the support and advice you need.
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Australia-wide services
We offer professional migration advice and support, no matter where you are based. Those located in Australia have the choice of meeting with us at one of our offices or online, and for those offshore, we are available to you online.
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Learn moreFrequently asked questions
Read our most commonly asked questions about the subclass 173/143 Contributory Parent visas.
Can I include my spouse in my Contributory Parent visa (subclass 173/143) application?
Yes. You can include them in your application when you apply, however, to be eligible secondary applicants, they must meet health and character requirements.
Please also keep in mind that you may also be required to disclose details of all family members who are not coming to Australia with you. Your Australian Migration Lawyer will provide advice on your specific circumstance.
Can I access Medicare if I hold subclass 173?
Subclass 173 visa holders are not eligible for Medicare as subclass 173 is a temporary visa. You may be entitled to access Medicare once you have subclass 143 (permanent) visa granted.
If you are unsure whether you are entitled to Medicare, we recommend you contacting Medicare to verify your eligibility. Also, our legal team is here to provide any information and support you need.
Once my subclass 173 visa expires, is there any way to stay longer?
Unfortunately, the Department does not allow subclass 173 visa holders to extend or reapply for this visa. If you are looking for other temporary visa options, subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa or Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) can be considered. Please seek professional advice specific to you circumstances.
If you want to stay in Australia indefinitely, there may be other options such as the Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent) visa (subclass 864), Parent visa (subclass 103), and Aged Parent visa (subclass 804). Each of them comes with different eligibility requirements, so it is recommended that you seek legal advice based on your circumstances.
About the content author
Jenny is an Australian Legal Executive who holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree from Deakin University. She is a passionate individual with vast practical experience in Australian migration law. Prior to joining Australian Migration Lawyers, Jenny worked for a registered migration agent and focused on work and business visas.
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