The 143 visa, formally known as the Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 143), allows eligible parents to move permanently to Australia to join their children.
It is available to eligible parents of settled Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens. Unlike temporary parent pathways, Subclass 143 provides permanent residence.
Applicants need to consider several important requirements before applying. These include sponsorship, the Balance of Family Test, an Assurance of Support and potentially lengthy processing because Parent visas are capped and queued.
What Is a 143 Visa in Australia?
The Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 143) is a permanent Parent visa.
A successful applicant can live in Australia as a permanent resident. The pathway is intended for eligible parents whose child is settled in Australia and can sponsor their application.
The process generally involves:
- Checking that you meet the eligibility requirements.
- Confirming that you can pass the Balance of Family Test.
- Arranging an eligible sponsor.
- Preparing and lodging the application.
- Meeting applicable health and character requirements.
- Waiting for the application to progress through the Parent visa queue.
- Meeting the Assurance of Support and other outstanding requirements when requested.
- Paying any required second instalment of the visa application charge before grant.
Subclass 143 is one of several Australian parent visas, so parents should compare the different options before deciding which pathway best matches their circumstances.
Who Can Apply for a 143 Visa?
The pathway is for eligible parents of a settled:
- Australian citizen
- Australian permanent resident
- eligible New Zealand citizen
Applicants generally need an eligible sponsor and must meet the requirements that apply to the visa.
These can include:
- having an eligible child in Australia
- meeting sponsorship requirements
- passing the Balance of Family Test
- meeting health requirements
- meeting character requirements
- arranging an Assurance of Support when required
- paying the applicable visa charges
Being the parent of an Australian citizen or permanent resident does not automatically qualify someone for the visa.
Who Can Sponsor a Contributory Parent Visa?
An applicant generally needs sponsorship from an eligible person in Australia.
In many cases, the sponsor is the applicant’s child. The sponsor must meet the relevant requirements, including requirements concerning their status and settlement in Australia.
Sponsorship is separate from the Assurance of Support. Although the same person may sometimes fulfil different roles, applicants should not assume that sponsoring a parent and providing an Assurance of Support are the same requirement.
Families looking more broadly at family reunification in Australia should check the specific sponsorship and eligibility rules for the visa route that applies to their circumstances.
What Is the Balance of Family Test for a 143 Visa?
The Balance of Family Test measures a Parent visa applicant’s family links to Australia.
A parent meets the test if:
- at least half of their children and stepchildren are eligible children, or
- they have more eligible children in Australia than children living in any other single country.
Home Affairs counts relevant children and stepchildren when applying the test.
The Department does not waive the Balance of Family Test because of compelling or exceptional circumstances.
This makes the test one of the most important eligibility checks to complete before applying.
Having one child in Australia does not automatically mean a parent passes. The result depends on the number and circumstances of the applicant’s other children and stepchildren.
What Is the Assurance of Support?
An Assurance of Support, commonly called an AoS, is a commitment intended to reduce the risk that certain migrants will need to rely on Australian income support after arriving.
Services Australia assesses Assurance of Support applications. Where an AoS is mandatory, the assurer may also need to provide a refundable bond.
The AoS can cover the main applicant and other eligible family members included in the application.
Applicants should not try to arrange this requirement too early without checking the instructions for their case. Parent visa processing can take many years, and Home Affairs will advise applicants when outstanding requirements need to be completed.
What Are the 143 Visa Requirements?
The exact requirements depend on the applicant’s circumstances, but the process can involve evidence relating to:
- identity
- relationship to the sponsoring child
- the sponsor’s status in Australia
- the sponsor’s settlement in Australia
- the Balance of Family Test
- health
- character
- Assurance of Support
- family members included in the application
- applicable visa charges
Applicants should make sure their information remains accurate and notify Home Affairs if relevant circumstances change during processing.
Preparing complete supporting documents is particularly important because Parent visa applications can remain in the system for many years.
How Do You Apply for a 143 Visa?
The process differs from temporary visas that Home Affairs may finalise relatively quickly because Contributory Parent applications are subject to capping and queueing.
1. Check Your Eligibility
Before applying, check the main requirements, particularly sponsorship and the Balance of Family Test.
2. Prepare the Application
Gather the required forms and evidence for the applicant, sponsor and any eligible family members included in the application.
3. Lodge the Application
Submit the application according to the current Home Affairs instructions and pay the required first instalment of the visa application charge.
4. Complete the Initial Assessment
Home Affairs assesses Parent visa applications against the relevant criteria. Applications that meet the requirements for queueing can receive a queue date.
5. Wait in the Parent Visa Queue
Home Affairs releases applications for final processing according to their queue date and the number of places available under the Migration Program.
6. Complete Outstanding Requirements
When the application reaches the appropriate stage, Home Affairs may request updated information or outstanding requirements, including an Assurance of Support.
7. Pay the Required Second Instalment
Where a second instalment applies, Home Affairs will notify the applicant when payment becomes due before visa grant.
What Documents Are Required for a 143 Visa?
The documents required depend on the applicant’s family structure and circumstances.
Evidence may include:
- passports and identity documents
- birth certificates
- documents establishing the parent-child relationship
- evidence of the sponsor’s Australian status
- documents relating to the Balance of Family Test
- sponsorship documents
- health information when requested
- character documents
- documents for a partner or other eligible family members included in the application
Home Affairs may require police clearance certificates as part of the character assessment, depending on the applicant’s circumstances and the Department’s instructions.
Because processing can extend over a long period, Home Affairs may also request updated documents before making a final decision.
Applicants should respond carefully to requests and keep their contact and family information up to date throughout the process.
How Much Does a 143 Visa Cost?
The Contributory Parent pathway can involve substantial visa charges.
Visa application charges can include a first instalment when the applicant lodges the application and a second instalment before grant. Home Affairs notifies applicants when a required second instalment becomes payable.
Applicants may also face additional expenses for:
- Assurance of Support requirements
- health examinations
- police certificates
- document translations
- obtaining official records
- professional assistance, where used
Visa charges can change, and the amount can depend on the circumstances of the application. Applicants should check current Home Affairs pricing information rather than relying on figures quoted in older articles.
How Long Does a 143 Visa Take to Process?
Applicants should expect a lengthy process.
Subclass 143 is subject to capping and queueing. This means the Australian Government limits the number of Parent visas it can grant in each migration program year. Applications that cannot receive a place remain in the queue for a future year.
Home Affairs publishes information showing which Contributory Parent queue dates have reached final processing and which applications are being assessed for queueing.
These dates help illustrate the size of the queue but do not provide a guaranteed processing timeframe for a new applicant.
Home Affairs does not provide an exact processing time for capped and queued Parent visas, so applicants should check the latest Parent visa queue information instead of relying on an old estimate.
Why Does the 143 Visa Take So Long?
Demand for Parent visas exceeds the number of places available.
Home Affairs assesses applications for queueing and assigns a queue date when an application meets the relevant requirements.
It then releases queued applications for final processing as places become available.
Reaching the final processing stage does not automatically guarantee a visa grant. Applicants must still satisfy any outstanding requirements.
The higher charges associated with a contributory pathway therefore do not mean Home Affairs will process the application immediately.
What Is the Difference Between Subclass 143 and Subclass 173?
Subclass 143 and Subclass 173 are separate visas.
The Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 173) allows an eligible parent to stay temporarily in Australia, while Subclass 143 provides permanent residence.
Some parents use a two-stage pathway by obtaining Subclass 173 first and later applying for Subclass 143.
Eligible Subclass 173 holders who proceed to the permanent visa can receive certain concessions under the Parent visa framework.
Parents do not need to obtain Subclass 173 before applying for Subclass 143 in every case. The temporary visa is a separate pathway rather than another name for the permanent visa.
143 Visa vs 870 Sponsored Parent Visa
Both pathways can help parents join children living in Australia, but they serve different purposes.
Subclass 143 provides permanent residence, requires the Balance of Family Test and forms part of the capped and queued Parent visa program.
The 870 visa is temporary and can allow eligible sponsored parents to spend extended periods with their family in Australia without entering the standard Parent visa queue.
The better fit depends partly on whether the family’s objective is temporary reunification or permanent migration.
Can You Include Family Members in the Application?
Some eligible family members may form part of a Parent visa application, depending on the relevant requirements and their circumstances.
Applicants need to provide accurate information about their family composition, including children and stepchildren where relevant.
Family composition is particularly important because it can affect the Balance of Family Test.
Is the 143 Visa Permanent Residency?
Yes. Subclass 143 is a permanent visa.
A successful applicant can move to Australia as a permanent resident.
Permanent residence provides a different status from temporary Parent pathways, but applicants should still consider the long processing period, costs and eligibility requirements before choosing this option.
How Is the 143 Visa Different From Other Temporary Pathways?
The Contributory Parent visa exists specifically for permanent parent migration.
Other Australian visa programs may serve completely different purposes. The MATES visa, for example, is a temporary mobility pathway for eligible Indian graduates and early-career professionals and is unrelated to Parent migration.
Understanding the purpose of each visa can help applicants avoid comparing pathways that address entirely different immigration needs.
Common 143 Visa Mistakes
Common problems and misunderstandings include:
- assuming that having a child in Australia automatically makes a parent eligible
- failing to check the Balance of Family Test before applying
- confusing Subclass 143 with temporary Subclass 173
- confusing sponsorship with the Assurance of Support
- assuming the higher contributory visa charges mean a short processing time
- relying on outdated processing estimates
- failing to account for the second visa charge instalment
- overlooking changes in family circumstances while waiting
- failing to provide updated documents when Home Affairs requests them
- assuming temporary and permanent Parent visas have the same requirements
Applicants should understand both the eligibility requirements and the queueing system before committing to a Contributory Parent application.
Where to Go Next
If you’re considering the Contributory Parent visa or another pathway for joining family in Australia, these IC Australia resources can help:
FAQs
The 143 visa is the Contributory Parent visa. It allows eligible parents of settled Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens to move permanently to Australia.
Yes. Applicants need to meet the Balance of Family Test. This generally means that at least half of their children and stepchildren are eligible children, or that they have more eligible children in Australia than in any other single country.
There is no single fixed processing time because Contributory Parent visas are capped and queued. Applicants should check Home Affairs’ current Parent visa queue information to see which queue dates are progressing.
No. Subclass 173 is a temporary Contributory Parent visa, while Subclass 143 is permanent. Some eligible parents use Subclass 173 as the first stage before later applying for Subclass 143.
Yes, an Assurance of Support forms part of the process for eligible Contributory Parent applicants. Services Australia assesses the AoS when Home Affairs requests it.
Yes. The Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 143) grants permanent residence to successful applicants.
Conclusion
The 143 visa provides a permanent migration pathway for eligible parents who want to join their children in Australia.
Applicants need to consider more than their relationship with a child in Australia. The Balance of Family Test, sponsorship, Assurance of Support, health and character requirements, visa charges and the Parent visa queue can all affect the application.
Processing is a particularly important consideration because Contributory Parent applications are capped and queued. Applicants should use current Home Affairs queue information rather than assuming that the higher contributory visa charges will result in a quick decision.
If you’re unsure whether the Contributory Parent visa or another Australian Parent visa suits your family’s circumstances, book a consultation with IC Australia to discuss your options.
Claire Dawson
Australian visa content specialist focused on skilled migration, employer sponsorship, partner visas, student pathways, and long-term options for moving to Australia.
