Are you hoping to live permanently in Australia and be closer to your children and grandchildren? The Contributory Parent Visa (143 visa) may provide a pathway to permanent residency, allowing parents of settled Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia indefinitely.
Although this visa involves substantial government charges and lengthy processing times, it offers the security of permanent residence and the opportunity to enjoy family life in Australia with your loved ones.
Key Takeaways
- The Contributory Parent Visa (143 visa) is a permanent visa that allows eligible parents to live in Australia indefinitely.
- Visa holders can live, work and study in Australia permanently and enrol in Medicare.
- Applicants must satisfy the Balance of Family Test and meet sponsorship, health and character requirements.
- Most applicants must obtain an Assurance of Support (AoS) and provide a financial bond before a visa grant.
- Visa application charges are payable in two instalments and are among the highest government visa charges in Australia’s migration programme.
- Processing times are lengthy due to annual migration programme planning levels and significant application queues.
What is the Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143)?
The Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143) is a permanent visa designed to reunite parents with their children who are settled in Australia.
Once granted, this visa allows you to:
- Live in Australia permanently
- Work and study without restrictions
- Sponsor eligible relatives for certain visas
- Travel to and from Australia for five years from the date of grant
- Apply for Australian citizenship if eligible
For many families, the Subclass 143 visa provides an opportunity to remain close to loved ones and enjoy long-term security in Australia.
Benefits of the Subclass 143 Visa
Permanent Residence
You can live in Australia indefinitely as an Australian permanent resident.
Work and Study Rights
You may work and study in Australia without restrictions.
Access to Medicare
Once granted, you can enrol in Australia’s public healthcare system, Medicare.
Family Reunification
The visa enables parents to live close to their children and grandchildren and actively participate in family life.
Pathway to Australian Citizenship
If you satisfy the residence and eligibility requirements, you may later apply for Australian citizenship.
Eligibility Requirements for the Subclass 143 Visa
To qualify for this visa, you must satisfy several legislative requirements.
Sponsorship Requirement
You must be sponsored by:
- An Australian permanent resident; or
- An eligible New Zealand citizen who is settled in Australia.
In certain circumstances, sponsorship may also be provided by:
- The child’s spouse or de facto partner;
- A close relative or guardian; or
- An eligible community organisation.
Generally, the sponsoring child must be:
- Aged 18 years or over; and
- Usually settled in Australia, meaning they have ordinarily resided lawfully in Australia for a reasonable period, generally at least two years.
Sponsors must also agree to comply with sponsorship obligations under Australian migration legislation.
Most applicants must satisfy the Balance of Family Test.
You satisfy this test if:
- At least half of your children are eligible children who are usually resident in Australia; or
- More of your eligible children live permanently in Australia than in any other single country.
The Balance of Family Test is a strict legislative requirement and cannot be waived.
Relationship Evidence
You must provide evidence of your relationship with your sponsoring child, which may include:
- Family registration documents
- Household registration records, where applicable
Providing complete and consistent evidence can help minimise delays.
Health Requirements
All applicants and dependent family members included in the application must satisfy Australia’s health requirements.
You may be required to undergo:
- Additional specialist assessments where necessary
Australia assesses whether applicants are likely to:
- Pose a public health risk; or
- Result in significant costs to Australia’s healthcare and community service systems.
Character Requirements
Applicants aged 16 years and over must satisfy character requirements.
This generally includes providing:
- Police clearances from countries where you have lived for a total of 12 months or more during the previous 10 years since turning 16;
- Information regarding military service, where applicable; and
- Details of any criminal convictions or legal proceedings.
Providing false or misleading information may result in visa refusal and may affect future applications.
Assurance of Support (AoS)
Most applicants are required to obtain an Assurance of Support before the visa can be granted.
An Assurance of Support is a legal commitment by an assurer to provide financial assistance if required, reducing the likelihood that visa holders will rely on certain Australian welfare payments.
The assurer must:
- Be at least 18 years of age;
- Meet financial income requirements set by Services Australia; and
- Lodge a financial bond with the Australian Government.
As of 2026, the Assurance of Support bond is generally:
- AUD $10,000 for the primary applicant; and
- AUD $4,000 for each additional adult applicant.
The bond is generally held for 10 years and may be refunded at the end of the Assurance period if no recoverable social security debts arise.
Australian Values Statement
Applicants aged 18 years and over must sign an Australian Values Statement confirming that they:
- Respect Australia’s laws;
- Understand Australia’s democratic values; and
- Agree to obey Australian laws while living in Australia.
Debts to the Australian Government
You and any family members included in the application must:
- Have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government; or
- Have arrangements in place to repay any debts owed.
Outstanding government debts may prevent the visa from being granted.
Including Family Members in Your Application
You may include certain family members in your application.
Partner
Your spouse or de facto partner may be included.
Dependent Children
Dependent children may also be included if they:
- Are under 18 years of age;
- Are aged between 18 and 23 and financially dependent on you; or
- Are over 23 and unable to support themselves due to a disability.
All family members included in the application must satisfy health and character requirements.
Applying for the Subclass 143 Visa
The application process generally involves the following steps.
Step 1 – Confirm Eligibility
Review the visa requirements and determine whether you satisfy:
- Sponsorship requirements;
- The Balance of Family Test;
- Health and character requirements; and
- Assurance of Support requirements.
Step 2 – Prepare Supporting Documents
Gather documents, including:
- Family composition documents
Step 3 – Lodge the Application
Submit your visa application and pay the first instalment of the Visa Application Charge.
Applications are generally lodged online through ImmiAccount.
Step 4 – Wait for Processing
The Department of Home Affairs will assess:
- Assurance of Support requirements
Because Parent visas are subject to annual planning levels, applications are generally placed in a queue for processing.
Visa Costs (2026)
The Contributory Parent Visa is one of Australia’s most expensive family visas due to the significant government contribution required.
As of 2026, the Visa Application Charges are generally:
First Instalment
- Primary applicant: AUD $4,990
- Additional applicant aged 18 years or over: AUD $1,675
- Additional applicant under 18 years: AUD $835
Second Instalment (before visa grant)
- Primary applicant: AUD $43,600
- Additional applicant aged 18 years or over: AUD $43,600
Additional expenses may include:
- Assurance of Support bond
- Professional migration advice and assistance
Government charges are reviewed periodically and should always be confirmed immediately before lodgement.
Processing Times
Processing times for newly lodged Subclass 143 visa applications are extremely lengthy due to:
- Annual migration programme planning levels;
- High demand for parent migration places; and
- Significant application queues.
Current waiting periods for newly lodged applications may exceed a decade.
Applicants should regularly monitor Department announcements for updated processing information.
Work Rights and Government Benefits
As a permanent resident under the Subclass 143 visa, you may:
- Work in Australia without restrictions
- Access certain government services if eligible and after satisfying applicable waiting periods
Eligibility for social security payments is governed by separate legislation, and waiting periods may apply.
Travel Rights
Once granted, the visa provides a five-year travel facility, allowing you to:
- Leave and re-enter Australia as often as you wish during this period.
After the travel facility expires, you may:
- Apply for a Resident Return Visa (Subclass 155 or 157); or
- Apply for Australian citizenship if eligible.
| Feature | Subclass 173 (Temporary) | Subclass 143 (Permanent) |
| Visa Type | Temporary | Permanent |
| Length of Stay | Up to 2 years | Indefinite |
| Medicare Access | Limited eligibility | Full Medicare eligibility |
| Work Rights | Yes | Yes |
| Pathway to Citizenship | No | Yes |
| Government Charges | Paid in stages | Higher overall contribution |
| Purpose | Transitional pathway to Subclass 143 | Permanent settlement |
How Can CJMigration Assist?
Parent visa applications can be highly complex and often involve extensive documentation, sponsorship requirements and long-term planning considerations.
At CJMigration, our Registered Migration Agents can assist by:
- Assessing your eligibility for a Parent Visa;
- Determining whether you satisfy the Balance of Family Test;
- Advising on sponsorship and Assurance of Support requirements;
- Reviewing family composition and relationship evidence;
- Preparing and lodging your visa application;
- Assisting with health and character documentation;
- Advising on family members who may be included;
- Monitoring your application throughout the lengthy processing period;
- Providing strategic advice regarding temporary and permanent parent visa options; and
- Assisting with complex cases, refusals and review options where appropriate.
Professional migration advice can help minimise delays, reduce the risk of errors and provide peace of mind throughout the application process.
Final Thoughts
The Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143) allows parents to permanently reunite with their family in Australia and enjoy the security of permanent residency.
Although the application process involves substantial government charges and lengthy waiting periods, the benefits of permanent residence, Medicare access, unrestricted work rights and the possibility of Australian citizenship make this visa an attractive option for many families.
Because migration legislation, government charges and processing arrangements can change, applicants should always seek personalised advice and obtain current information before lodging an application.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this guide is general only and does not constitute legal or migration advice. Australian migration legislation, government charges and policy settings may change without notice. You should seek personalised advice from a Registered Migration Agent before making decisions regarding your immigration matters.