Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143)

You apply for the Subclass 143 visa on paper by post or courier. You can be in or outside Australia when you submit your application, but not in immigration clearance. Your application will be assessed in stages: first, the Department checks whether it's valid and whether you meet basic eligibility; then, if you pass, your application enters a queue and waits for a visa place to become available; finally, once a place is available, the Department conducts final assessment and makes a decision.

Before You Apply

Check that your passport is valid—the visa will not be granted without one. If you currently hold a Parent visa application under Subclass 103 or 804, you must withdraw it before applying for the Subclass 143.

Determine whether you need help. Only registered migration agents, legal practitioners, or exempt persons can provide immigration assistance in Australia. If you use an agent, ensure they are registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA).

Gather Your Documents

Collect all required documents for yourself (the applicant), your sponsor, and any family members applying with you. Ensure all documents are accurate, complete, and consistent across all materials.

For yourself (the applicant):

• Pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details, and issue and expiry dates
• National identity card (if available)
• Proof of any name changes (marriage certificate, divorce certificate, or official change of name documents)
• Evidence of how you are related to each of your children, evidence of where each child lives, and evidence that any deceased children should not be counted (death certificates)
• Character documents if the Department requests them (police certificates from all countries where you have lived for more than 12 months in the past 10 years)
• Four recent photographs (45mm × 35mm, colour, full-face, plain light background, less than 6 months old)

For your sponsor (usually your child):

• Birth certificate, marriage certificate, or adoption certificate proving relationship to you
• Proof of Australian citizenship (citizenship certificate or passport) or permanent residency (visa grant letter or passport) or eligible New Zealand citizen status (Special Category Visa or equivalent)
• Evidence that they have been settled in Australia for at least 2 years (employment letters, lease agreements, utility bills, or tax returns)
• Completed Form 40 — Sponsorship for migration to Australia

For family members applying with you:

• Identity documents
• Character documents (if applicable)
• Proof of relationship to you
• For partners: current marriage certificate or documents proving 12+ months de facto relationship (joint bank statements, joint leases, shared address evidence)
• For dependent children under 18: parental consent from anyone with legal right to decide where the child lives and who is not coming to Australia (Form 1229 or statutory declaration)
• For dependent children aged 18–23 (if financially dependent): Form 47A and evidence of 12+ months financial dependence
• For dependent children over 23 (if unable to earn a living due to disability): Form 47A and proof of dependency and disability

Translation and certification: All non-English documents must be translated into English. Translators in Australia should be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). Translators outside Australia do not need to be accredited but must include their full name, address, telephone number, and qualifications on each translation.

All documents (except original police certificates) must be submitted as certified copies. Original police certificates must be sent as originals, not certified copies.

Complete the Application Forms

All forms must be completed in English.

Choose the correct application form based on your situation:

If you currently hold or recently held a Subclass 173 visa (ended within 28 days of applying), complete Form 47PT — Application for migration to Australia by a Contributory Parent (Temporary) or Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa holder.

If you do not hold or have never held a Subclass 173 visa, complete Form 47PA — Application for a parent to migrate to Australia.

Your sponsor must complete: Form 40 — Sponsorship for migration to Australia

Each family member aged 18 or over (whether migrating or not) must complete Form 47A — Details of child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over.

Pay the First Instalment

You must pay the first instalment when you apply. The first instalment is approximately AUD $5,040 for a single applicant, AUD $1,700 for an additional spouse aged 18 or older, or AUD $855 for an additional applicant under 18 years.

Payment options include credit card, bank transfer, or other methods specified by the Department. Include proof of payment with your application.

Submit Your Application by Post

Send your completed application, all required documents, and proof of payment by post or courier to the address shown on the application form. Do not send original documents; send only certified copies (except original police certificates). Keep a copy of your completed application for your own records.

If any steps are incomplete, your application may be invalid. The Department will notify you and may return your application without processing it.

After Lodgement: Initial Assessment

The Department will notify you when your application and documents have been received. This acknowledgement typically arrives within 4 weeks.

If you applied in Australia while holding a Subclass 173 visa (or certain other visas), you received a bridging visa at lodgement. It activates if your current visa expires before the 143 decision is made.

The Department will check whether your application is valid and whether you meet basic eligibility. If your application is invalid or you do not meet basic eligibility, the Department will refuse it without adding it to the queue.

Import Your Application into ImmiAccount (Optional but Recommended)

From 2 April 2025, after receiving your acknowledgement letter, you can import your paper application into ImmiAccount. This gives you online access to:

• Attach supporting documents
• View messages from the Department
• Update your details
• View your application status

To import, log into ImmiAccount and enter your application ID, date of birth, and identity document number.

Queue Assessment and Release

Once your application passes initial assessment, it enters a queue and waits for a visa place to become available. Applications are released from the queue in lodgement date order. As of 28 February 2026, the Department has released Contributory Parent visa applications with a queue date up to November 2018 for final processing. This represents approximately 7 years of queue backlog.

The Department cannot provide updates on your application's progress within normal processing times. They will contact you only if you need to provide further information.

Health and Character Checks

The Department will notify you if you need health examinations. Do not arrange a health check until the Department requests one. You are personally liable for all healthcare costs during processing.

The Department may request biometrics (fingerprints and photo). You will be notified if this is required.

Pay the Second Instalment

You must pay the second instalment before the Department will grant the visa. The second instalment is approximately AUD $43,600 per applicant. The Department will send you an invoice when it is due. If you do not pay, the Department will refuse your application.

Notify the Department of Changes

You must notify the Department immediately of changes to your phone number, email, address, passport, relationship status, family composition (including births), or if you wish to withdraw your application. Complete Form 1022 — Notification of changes in circumstances and submit it to the processing office.

You may be able to add family members to your application before a decision is made. Complete Form 1436 — Adding an additional applicant after lodgement.

Visa Decision

If the Department grants your visa, you will be notified in writing with your visa grant number, the date your visa starts, and your visa conditions. Keep a copy of the grant letter.

If the Department refuses your visa, you will be notified in writing with the reasons for refusal and whether you have a right to review the decision. Application fees are not refunded if your application is refused.

Item	Cost
First instalment (main applicant)	AUD $5,040
First instalment (additional applicant, 18+ years)	AUD $1,700
First instalment (additional applicant, under 18 years)	AUD $855
Second instalment (main applicant)	AUD $43,600
Second instalment (additional applicant, 18+ years)	AUD $43,600
Second instalment (additional applicant, under 18 years)	AUD $43,600

Total for a single applicant: Approximately AUD $48,640

Total for a couple: Approximately AUD $96,280

Fees increased by approximately 3% from 1 July 2025.

Additional costs (not included in visa fees):

• Health checks: approximately AUD $300–$500 per person
• Police certificates: varies by country (typically AUD $20–$100 per certificate)
• Document translation: varies depending on language and document length
• Certified copy preparation: varies
• Assurance of Support (AoS) bond: typically AUD $10,000 for a single parent or AUD $14,000 for a couple (held by Centrelink for 10 years)
• Migration agent fees (optional): typically AUD $2,000–$8,000

Total cost estimate: For a single applicant, total costs (including visa fees, health checks, police certificates, AoS bond, and translation) can exceed AUD $60,000. For a couple, total costs can exceed AUD $100,000.

Current Estimated Processing Time

The estimated processing time for new Contributory Parent visa applications is approximately 12–15 years. This is an estimate based on current planning levels and can vary.

Queue Release Status

As of 28 February 2026, Contributory Parent visa applications with a queue date up to November 2018 have been released for final processing. This represents approximately 7 years of queue backlog from the current date.

Two-Stage Assessment Timeline

Your application is assessed in two stages:

Stage 1 — Initial Assessment (Acknowledge New Application): Approximately 4 weeks. The Department checks whether your application is valid and whether you meet basic eligibility. If you pass, your application is added to the queue. If you fail, your application is refused.

Stage 2 — Queue Assessment and Release: Applications are released from the queue in lodgement date order as visa places become available. The time from lodgement to queue release can be several years (currently approximately 7 years based on the November 2018 queue release date).

Stage 3 — Final Assessment: Once released from the queue, final assessment typically takes approximately 4 weeks.

Factors That May Extend Processing Time

Your application might take longer to process if:

• You do not fill the form in correctly
• You do not include all required documents or the Department needs more information
• Your information takes a long time to verify
• External agencies (health, character, national security) require additional time for checks
• The number of visa places available in the migration program is limited
• Changes in processing directions or policy occur

Comparison to Other Parent Visas

• Subclass 143 (Contributory Parent): 12–15 years
• Subclass 173 (Contributory Parent Temporary): 12–15 years to queue release; then 2-year temporary visa validity
• Subclass 103 (Non-Contributory Parent): 30–33 years
• Subclass 870 (Sponsored Parent Temporary): 3–6 months

Document Validity Periods

Police certificates are typically valid for 12 months from the date of issue. If your police certificate expires before the Department requests it, you may need to obtain a new one. Health examination results are typically valid for 12 months.