143 Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143)

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143)
Visa type	Permanent
Stay	Indefinite
Cost	From AUD49,900, two instalments
Apply online	From 22 April 2026
Eligibility	Eligible child, sponsor, family test
Work rights	Work permitted
Study	Study permitted
Medicare	Can enrol
Travel facility	Multiple travel for five years
Citizenship	May apply if eligible
Family sponsorship	May sponsor eligible relatives
Visa record	Digitally linked to passport
Processing	Capped, queued, long processing
Decision location	Usually outside Australia

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Purpose

This permanent visa lets a parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen move to Australia.

Eligibility

You must:

• Have an eligible child who is a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Have an eligible sponsor, unless applying under the Retirement visa pathway.
• Meet the balance of family test, unless exempt.
• Obtain an Assurance of Support when requested, unless applying as a retiree.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Repay Australian Government debts, or have an approved repayment arrangement.
• Sign the Australian Values Statement if aged 18 or over.
• Meet all visa conditions and obey Australian law.
• Not have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870).

The Department considers previous visa refusals or cancellations when deciding eligibility.

Balance of Family Test

You meet the test if either:

• At least half of your children and step-children are eligible children; or
• More eligible children live in Australia than in any other single country.

You do not need to meet this test if you apply as:

• A retiree under the Retirement visa pathway; or
• A Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173) holder.

Sponsor

Usually, your eligible child sponsors you. If the child is under 18, an eligible relative or community organisation may sponsor you.

The sponsorship must be approved. Your sponsor must complete Form 40 Sponsorship for migration to Australia.

Assurance of Support

An Assurance of Support is required unless you apply as a retiree. It guarantees that you and accompanying family members will not rely on government assistance during the Assurance of Support period.

It may be provided by an individual, multiple people, or an organisation; it does not have to be provided by your sponsor or family member.

Retirement Visa Pathway

You may apply as a retiree if:

• On 8 May 2018, you held or previously held a Retirement visa (subclass 410) or Investor Retirement visa (subclass 405);
• You held no other substantive visa between 8 May 2018 and application; and
• You are in Australia when applying.

Retiree applicants do not need a sponsor, Assurance of Support, or balance of family test. They must maintain adequate health insurance until the Parent visa is granted.

Stay and Rights

This is a permanent visa. You can:

• Stay in Australia indefinitely.
• Work and study in Australia.
• Enrol in Medicare.
• Travel to and from Australia multiple times for five years.
• Sponsor eligible family members.
• Attend free Adult Migrant English Program classes, if eligible.
• Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.

Newly arrived residents may need to wait before accessing certain Australian Government payments and benefits.

Family Members

You can include eligible family members in your application. You must declare all family members, including those not migrating.

Applicants and, in some cases, non-migrating family members must meet health and character requirements.

Dependent Children

A dependent child may be included if they are:

• Under 18; or
• Aged 18 to under 23 and dependent; or
• Aged 23 or over, dependent because of physical or cognitive limitations.

For dependants aged 18 or over, financial dependency must generally have existed for at least 12 months before application.

Retiree-pathway applicants may include an eligible partner who also holds a Retirement or Investor Retirement visa, but cannot include children.

Cost

The visa costs from AUD49,900 for one applicant, paid in two instalments.

• Pay the first instalment when applying.
• Pay the second instalment when requested.
• The visa cannot be granted until the second instalment is paid.
• Additional charges apply for family members.
• Health checks, police certificates, and biometrics may also cost extra.
• Limited concessions apply.

Costs may be lower for holders of a Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173) or substituted Visitor visa (subclass 600).

From 1 July 2026, eligible citizens of specified Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste may receive a lower visa cost when applying with a valid eligible passport. Eligible accompanying family members receive the concession based on the primary applicant’s passport.

Applying From and Decision Location

You and accompanying family members may be in or outside Australia when applying, but not in immigration clearance.

If applying as a retiree, you must be in Australia when applying.

At decision:

• Retiree applicants may be in or outside Australia.
• Current or recent subclass 173 holders, and certain substituted Visitor visa holders, may be in or outside Australia.
• Other applicants must be outside Australia.

Processing

Parent visa demand exceeds available places. Applications are subject to capping and queueing and are generally processed in order received.

Assessment occurs in two stages:

1. Initial assessment for queue placement or refusal.
2. Final assessment when a place becomes available.

Processing may take longer if the application is incomplete, documents are missing, information requires verification, or the correct charge is not paid.

Do not arrange permanent relocation until the visa is granted in writing.

Documents

Prepare documents for yourself, all applying family members, and your sponsor. Documents may include:

• Current passport identity pages.
• National identity card, if available.
• Name-change evidence, if applicable.
• Form 40 from the sponsor.
• Evidence of relationship to each child.
• Evidence of children’s citizenship or permanent residence.
• Balance of family evidence.
• Partner relationship evidence.
• Dependant relationship and dependency evidence.
• Four recent passport-sized photographs for each applicant.
• Health examination results, when requested.
• Police certificates, when requested.
• Assurance of Support, when requested.
• Child-consent evidence for applicants under 18.

For a child under 18, provide Form 1229 or other required parental consent or court evidence.

For dependent applicants aged 18 or over, provide Form 47A and dependency evidence.

Translate non-English documents into English. Provide original police certificates and certified copies of other documents.

How to Apply

From 22 April 2026, lodge online through ImmiAccount:

1. Create or log in to ImmiAccount.
2. Complete the application.
3. Attach supporting documents.
4. Pay the first instalment.

If a technical issue prevents online lodgement, submit an ImmiAccount Technical Support Form. A paper application may be allowed only if technical support does not resolve the issue.

If you have an undecided application for another Parent visa, you must withdraw it when applying for this visa.

After Applying

You may need to:

• Complete health examinations when requested.
• Provide biometrics when requested.
• Provide further information or documents.
• Pay the second instalment when invoiced.
• Tell the Department about changes to contact details, passport, relationship status, or family composition.
• Notify the Department of application mistakes using Form 1023.
• Use Form 1436 to request adding a family member after lodgement.

If you are in Australia, remain lawful by holding a valid visa. A bridging visa is generally unavailable unless you apply under the Retirement pathway, hold a subclass 173 visa, or are a family member of a subclass 173 holder.

Travel

You may travel to and from Australia as often as you wish for five years from grant, while the travel facility remains valid.

After the five-year travel facility ends, you need a Resident Return visa to return as a permanent resident, unless you become an Australian citizen.

If outside Australia when granted the visa, enter before the initial arrival date in your grant letter.

Obligations and Important Warnings

• Enter Australia before the date in your grant letter.
• Comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.
• Keep your passport valid.
• Protect your ImmiAccount and email credentials.
• Provide accurate and complete information.
• Failure to prove identity may result in refusal and possible future visa consequences.
• Failure to pay the second instalment results in refusal.
• Application charges are not refunded if the application is refused.
• Use VEVO to check visa details, conditions, and travel facility dates.