Last updated: 30 March 2026

Contributory Parent Visa 143: Cost, Processing and Requirements

The subclass 143 is the visa most families choose when they want their parent to move to Australia permanently within a realistic timeframe. It costs more than any other parent visa — substantially more — but it actually moves through the queue. For families who have done the calculation and decided that being together matters more than the cost, the 143 is the standard pathway.

This page covers what the 143 costs, how long it takes, what eligibility requirements apply, how the two-instalment payment structure works, and how it compares to the standard parent visa (subclass 103).

What Is the Subclass 143?

The Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143) is a permanent visa that allows the parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia permanently. It is the contributory variant of the parent visa — meaning it attracts a higher government fee in exchange for a significantly shorter processing queue.

“Contributory” refers to the fact that the parent (or their sponsoring child) makes a larger financial contribution to the migration program through the second instalment visa application charge. This charge, which runs to tens of thousands of dollars, funds the Australian government’s projected healthcare and social services costs for the parent over their lifetime.

Cost: The Two-Instalment Structure

The subclass 143 is paid in two instalments. This structure is important to understand before you lodge.

First instalment — payable at lodgement

The first instalment covers the processing of your application up to the point the Department is ready to grant the visa.

Second instalment — payable before the visa is granted

This is the contributory charge. It is significantly larger and is requested by the Department when it is ready to grant the visa.

When the Department contacts you to request the second instalment, you typically have a set time to pay it. Failing to pay within that window can result in the application being finalised without a grant.

Total visa application charges — examples:

Additional costs (all applicants):

• Assurance of Support bond: $10,000 for the primary applicant + $4,000 for each additional adult applicant (refundable after 10 years if no welfare claimed)
• Health examinations: $350–$500 per person
• Police clearances: $40–$120 per country
• Document translation (NAATI, if applicable): $100–$500+
• Migration agent fees: $3,000–$8,000+ (optional but common)

Total out-of-pocket cost for a single parent, including AoS bond and typical disbursements, commonly reaches $60,000–$65,000 or more. For a couple, the total frequently exceeds $90,000.

Processing Time

The subclass 143 sits in a managed queue. The Department of Home Affairs allocates a fixed number of places to contributory parent visas in each migration program year. When applications exceed available places, the queue extends.

Current approximate processing times (as of early 2026):

These figures move based on annual allocations and the number of applications in the queue. Unlike some other visa categories, you cannot pay to prioritise processing or jump the queue.

The subclass 173 bridge:

Some families use the subclass 173 (Contributory Parent Temporary Visa) as an interim step. The 173 is lodged as a separate application before or alongside the 143, and provides a two-year temporary visa that allows the parent to be in Australia while waiting for the 143 to be decided. The 173 does not replace the 143 — the parent still needs the full 143 process — but it allows them to live in Australia during the wait.

The 173 has its own first instalment cost (approximately $4,640) and requires a separate AoS bond. When transitioning from the 173 to the 143, the full second instalment is payable.

Eligibility Requirements

Balance of Family Test

The parent must pass the balance of family test. At least half of the parent’s children must be lawfully settled in Australia, or more children must be settled in Australia than in any other single country.

“Children” includes biological children, legally adopted children, and stepchildren. The calculation uses children who are themselves lawfully settled — not just temporarily present — in each country.

Example: A parent with two children in Australia and one in the Philippines passes the test. A parent with one child in Australia, two in India, and one in the UK does not (India has the largest concentration).

Sponsor Requirements

The visa must be sponsored by the parent’s child who is:

• An Australian citizen, or
• An Australian permanent resident, or
• An eligible New Zealand citizen

The sponsoring child must be settled in Australia and at least 18 years old. They must also be willing to take on the Assurance of Support obligation.

Assurance of Support

The sponsoring child (and in some cases a secondary AoS supporter) must provide an Assurance of Support. For the subclass 143:

• AoS period: 10 years from the date the parent visa is granted
• Bond amount: $10,000 for the primary applicant + $4,000 for each additional adult applicant
• Bond holder: Department of Social Services (Services Australia)

The AoS is separate from the visa application itself. The sponsoring child applies through Services Australia, which assesses whether they have sufficient income to meet the AoS obligation. This assessment is income-based, and if the sponsor’s income is insufficient, a secondary supporter can be added.

The AoS bond is refundable at the end of the 10-year period if the parent has not claimed recoverable welfare payments. It is not a fee — it is a bond, similar to a rental security deposit. However, the liquidity requirement is real: $10,000+ must be paid and held for a decade.

Health Requirements

All applicants must complete immigration health examinations with an approved Panel Physician. For parents, this includes:

• Full physical examination
• Chest X-ray (for applicants aged 11+)
• Blood tests and TB screening if indicated

Parent visa health examinations sometimes identify findings that require specialist follow-up or trigger the significant cost health criterion. The health requirement can be one of the more variable aspects of a parent visa application for older applicants. Where a health condition is identified, discuss the implications with a migration agent before assuming it is disqualifying — waivers and particular circumstances can affect outcomes.

Character Requirements

Police clearances are required from all countries the parent has lived in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. For parents, this history can be extensive. Allow time for international police clearances, which can take weeks or months.

Subclass 143 vs Subclass 103: Which to Choose?

The subclass 103 is almost never a viable primary strategy for families with parents who want to migrate within their lifetime. The 30+ year queue reflects the structural imbalance between demand and annual places allocated to the non-contributory category.

Some families lodge a 103 as a secondary application alongside the 143, on the theory that if the 103 queue ever shortens dramatically, it provides a lower-cost alternative. However, this requires meeting the AoS requirements for both applications simultaneously, which adds complexity and cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the contributory parent visa subclass 143 cost?

The main application charge for the subclass 143 is paid in two instalments. The first instalment at lodgement is approximately $4,640 for the primary applicant. The second instalment (the contributory charge) is approximately $43,600 for the primary applicant and is paid before the permanent visa is granted. The total visa application charge alone is around $48,240 for a single parent. Additional costs include the Assurance of Support bond, health examinations, police clearances, and migration agent fees.

How long does the contributory parent visa 143 take to process?

The subclass 143 currently takes approximately 3–7 years for most applications at the 75th percentile. This reflects the annual cap on places in the contributory parent visa category. The processing time is significantly shorter than the non-contributory parent visa (subclass 103), which has a queue exceeding 30 years. Some families use the subclass 173 (contributory parent temporary visa) as a bridge to allow the parent to be in Australia while the 143 is being processed.

Can both parents apply together on the same subclass 143 application?

Yes. Where both parents are migrating together, they can be included on the same application. The first and second instalment charges for each additional applicant aged 18 or over are approximately $4,640 and $24,120 respectively. Including both parents on one application simplifies the process but increases the total cost significantly — the total visa charge for two parents across both instalments can reach around $72,000 or more.

Planning Your Application

Key steps before lodging a subclass 143:

1. Confirm the balance of family test — count the parent’s children by country of settled residence
2. Assess the AoS sponsor’s capacity — Services Australia will conduct an income assessment; confirm the sponsoring child meets the threshold
3. Budget for the full cost — first instalment, second instalment, AoS bond, health, police, translation, and agent fees
4. Complete health examinations before lodgement — this avoids delays after lodgement; results are valid for 12 months
5. Order police clearances early — international clearances from some countries can take 4–8 weeks
6. Consider the subclass 173 pathway — if you want the parent in Australia before the 143 is decided, the 173 can provide that while the main application progresses

For full parent visa comparisons and options, see the parent visa Australia overview. For current processing timelines, see parent visa processing time. For parents already in Australia who are of pension age, the aged parent visa 804 may apply.

The subclass 143 leads directly to permanent residency in Australia — the first step toward the parent becoming a permanent part of your life here.