Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143): cost, rules and the temporary 173 first stage

The Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) costs from AUD49,900 over two instalments for a single applicant, and the Department's estimate for a new Contributory Parent application is 18 years.

For comparison with other Australian parent visas, Home Affairs’ estimate page was last updated on 6 October 2026; the 18-year figure is an estimate for new applications, not a promised decision date. Usually, an eligible child sponsors the applicant. Check the balance of family test and whether to apply directly for 143 or first apply for 173.

Fees below are as at 19 October 2026. Queue information is as at 31 August 2026, from the page updated 6 October 2026.

Who can apply for the 143

Subclass 143 is a contributory parent route, usually sponsored by an eligible child. Applicants and accompanying family members can apply in or outside Australia, but not while in immigration clearance.

The eligibility checks include:

• An eligible child sponsor.
• The balance of family test.
• Ability to obtain an Assurance of Support, unless applying as a retiree.

The balance of family test for parent visas requires either at least half the applicant’s children and stepchildren to be eligible children, or more eligible children than children living in any other single country. Eligible children include Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents usually resident in Australia, and eligible New Zealand citizens usually resident in Australia.

What the 143 costs: two instalments

The standard published starting charge is AUD49,900 for a single applicant, paid in two instalments.

These amounts come from Home Affairs’ current visa pricing. An Assurance of Support bond is a separate cost; the cost of a parent visa page covers broader cost considerations.

From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid application.

The temporary stage: Contributory Parent (Temporary) 173

Subclass 173 provides a two-year temporary stay and can be the first step towards subclass 143. Among temporary parent visas, this is the contributory two-step route.

The Home Affairs subclass 173 page confirms the temporary stay. Fee amounts are as at 19 October 2026; do not subtract the 173 charge from the standard 143 total.

Home Affairs instructs 173 holders to apply for 143 before their visa expires. The 143 criteria also address applicants who held 173 within the preceding 28 days, and later applications involving compelling and compassionate circumstances.

A 173 holder has already met the balance of family test. A holder whose sponsor dies might still qualify for 143.

Assurance of Support and the sponsor

An Assurance of Support is a legal commitment to repay the Australian Government welfare payments made to the visa holder or accompanying family members. Sponsorship and this repayment commitment are distinct obligations.

For Contributory Parent visas, the assurance period is 10 years, starting on arrival or visa grant, whichever happens later. Read the assurance of support obligations before committing; an assurance cannot be cancelled after Home Affairs grants the visa.

Queue position: released up to November 2018

As at 31 August 2026, Contributory Parent applications with queue dates up to November 2018 had been released for final processing.

Home Affairs assesses applications in lodgement-date order and assigns a queue date after core criteria are met. For Contributory Parent applications lodged before 1 June 2018, the queue date is the lodgement date.

Release for final processing is not a grant. The category estimate is not an individual forecast; parent visa processing times explains that distinction.

143 or 103: the trade-off

The published category estimates differ substantially, but neither promises an individual decision date.

The Aged Parent visa (subclass 804) is another parent route within the Parent and Aged Parent estimate category.

Before you lodge

For a different family relationship, compare family visa types.

An application prepared by an Australian migration lawyer is more likely to succeed because the lawyer can check core queue criteria, the applicable instalments and any 173-to-143 timing issues before lodgement. Enquiries from this site go to Australian Migration Lawyers.