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SUBCLASS 143 VISA
Subclass 143 Contributory Parent Visa Australia
Bring your parents to Australia permanently with the streamlined contributory migration pathway. We evaluate subclass 143 eligibility, audit your Balance of Family test, manage Assurance of Support (AoS) bond lodgements, and submit decision-ready applications with clear guidance on the latest processing times and costs.
96%
Agency Approval Rate
12–15 Yrs
Estimated Queue Wait Time
$43,600
2nd VAC Contribution / Adult
PR
Permanent Residency Outcome
CORE CRITERIA
Subclass 143 Eligibility Requirements
Who is eligible for subclass 143 visa? The Contributory Parent Visa is a permanent residency pathway for parents of settled Australian children. To qualify, both the sponsoring child and applicant parents must meet strict statutory criteria.
Settled Australian Child Sponsor
You must be sponsored by an eligible biological, adoptive, or step-child who is a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen living lawfully in Australia for 2+ years.
Balance of Family (BoF) Test
At least half of your parents' children must live permanently in Australia, or more of their children must reside permanently in Australia than in any other single overseas country.
Assurance of Support (AoS) Bond
An approved assurer (typically your sponsoring child) must provide a legal commitment and lodge a 10-year bank guarantee bond with Services Australia before the visa can be granted.
Second VAC Contribution
You must be prepared to pay the mandatory second instalment government contribution of AUD $43,600 per adult applicant when requested prior to final visa grant.
No Age Restriction
Unlike aged parent visas (Subclass 804 or 864), there is no minimum age requirement to apply for the Subclass 143 contributory parent visa.
Health & Character Clearances
All applicants and dependent family members must pass mandatory Australian medical examinations and international police character checks.
Avoid Common Disqualifying Mistakes: Miscalculating the Balance of Family test by incorrectly counting children on temporary student visas as permanent residents, failing the sponsor household taxable income test required for Assurance of Support approval, or lodging onshore while holding a visa stamped with Condition 8503 ('No Further Stay') without a waiver can cause immediate refusal.
STEP-BY-STEP
How We Handle Your 143 Visa Application
Our end-to-end agency management ensures your application is decision-ready, securing your place in the contributory processing queue without administrative delays.
01
Balance of Family & Sponsor Audit
We review your family tree across all biological, step, and adopted children to confirm strict compliance with statutory Balance of Family ratios.
02
Sponsorship & Application Lodgement
We prepare and submit your official Subclass 143 visa application alongside Form 40 sponsorship documentation and identity records.
03
Queue Assessment & Allocation
Your application is formally assessed by the Department and placed into the contributory parent visa processing queue until a spot opens.
04
AoS Bond & Medical Checks
When queue processing reaches your date, we guide sponsors through Assurance of Support bond lodgement and coordinate Bupa medical checks.
05
Second Instalment & PR Grant
We coordinate the final AUD $43,600 second instalment contribution payment per adult applicant to secure your Australian Permanent Residency grant.
EVIDENCE CHECKLIST
Documents Required for Subclass 143
A successful Contributory Parent Visa application requires structured evidence from both parents and their sponsoring children. Below are the core document categories.
Identity & Relationship Records
- Valid passport bio-data pages for all applicant parents
- Birth certificates of sponsoring child showing parents' names
- Family books, adoption papers, or step-parent documentation
- Marriage certificates or de facto relationship evidence
Sponsor Residence & Finances
- Sponsor's Australian passport, citizenship certificate, or PR grant
- Proof of sponsor residing in Australia lawfully for 2+ years
- Birth certificates of all children worldwide (for BoF test)
- ATO tax assessments, payslips, and income proofs for AoS
Health, Character & AoS Records
- Police clearances from any country lived in for 12+ months
- Mandatory Australian Bupa medical examination completion records
- Assurance of Support (AoS) bond lodgement confirmation
- Form 80 & Form 1221 personal character declarations
INVESTMENT & TIMELINES
Costs & Processing Schedule (Updated 1 July 2026)
We believe in transparent budgeting so you know exactly what government application charges, second instalments, and professional representation fees to plan for.
Department of Home Affairs Fees
AUD $6,300
How much does subclass 143 visa cost? As of 1 July 2026, the primary applicant first instalment fee is AUD $6,300. Additional first instalment fees apply (partner ~$2,520) plus a mandatory second instalment charge of AUD $43,600 per adult before visa grant.
* An Assurance of Support 10-year bank bond ($10,000 primary, $4,000 secondary adult) is also required. Fees are set by the Department and subject to change.
Our Agency Service Fee
Case-Dependent
Our professional service fees are tailored to the specific complexity of your case. We evaluate your unique family structure, Balance of Family calculation, and Assurance of Support obligations before providing a clear, fixed-quote quotation without hourly billing.
* Our fee covers sponsorship forms, BoF audits, AoS guidance, and full visa representation.
Typical Processing Timelines
12 – 15 Years Queue
How long does subclass 143 visa take? What is 143 visa processing time? Due to annual migration program caps, the subclass 143 waiting time currently averages 12 to 15 years for new lodgements—significantly faster than the 30+ year non-contributory queue.
* Processing times depend on annual government planning levels and queue allocations.
MARN 2619225
Why Work With a MARA Registered Agent for Subclass 143?
What is subclass 143 contributory parent visa? It is one of the most financially significant visa categories administered by the Department of Home Affairs. Because the visa requires contributing over $87,200 in government second instalments for a couple alongside a 10-year Assurance of Support bank guarantee bond, any administrative error can cause years of delay or substantial financial loss.
A frequent cause of parent visa refusal is failing the Balance of Family test—such as miscalculating dependent children abroad, incorrectly assuming step-children do not count, or failing to substantiate where siblings reside permanently. Furthermore, sponsors often underestimate the strict taxable income thresholds required by Services Australia to approve the Assurance of Support.
As your MARA registered agent contributory parent visa team in Melbourne, we represent both sponsoring children and migrating parents. We conduct thorough pre-lodgement audits of family trees, statutory BoF ratios, and sponsor taxable income levels—ensuring complete compliance with Australian Migration Regulations across the entire contributory journey.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear, direct answers regarding the Subclass 143 Contributory Parent Visa, costs, wait times, and eligibility.
What is subclass 143 contributory parent visa?
The Subclass 143 Contributory Parent Visa is a permanent residency visa that allows parents of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live permanently in Australia. It requires a substantial second instalment government contribution to offset healthcare and welfare costs, which significantly reduces the processing queue compared to non-contributory parent visas.
Who is eligible for subclass 143 visa?
To be eligible for the Subclass 143 visa, you must be sponsored by an eligible child who is settled in Australia, pass the Balance of Family (BoF) test, obtain an approved Assurance of Support (AoS) from Services Australia, and meet all Australian health and character requirements.
How much does subclass 143 visa cost?
As of 1 July 2026, the Department of Home Affairs primary applicant first instalment application fee is AUD $6,300. Additional first instalment fees apply for secondary family members (~$2,520 for a partner). Before visa grant, applicants must pay a mandatory second instalment charge of AUD $43,600 per adult applicant, plus lodge a 10-year Assurance of Support bank guarantee bond ($10,000 for primary applicant, $4,000 for secondary adult).
How long does subclass 143 visa take?
Due to annual migration program planning caps set by the Australian Government, the subclass 143 waiting time currently averages 12 to 15 years for newly lodged applications. While substantial, this is much faster than the non-contributory parent visa queue, which currently exceeds 30 years.
What is the Balance of Family (BoF) test?
The Balance of Family test is a statutory requirement where at least half of the parents' children must live permanently in Australia, or more of their children must live permanently in Australia than in any other single overseas country.
Can I apply for subclass 143 visa while in Australia?
You can lodge a Subclass 143 application while physically in Australia only if your current entry visa does not contain Condition 8503 ('No Further Stay'). However, unlike aged parent visas (Subclass 804 or 864), lodging a Subclass 143 visa onshore generally does not grant a Bridging Visa A (BVA) to remain in Australia during the multi-year processing queue.
Ready to Sponsor Your Parents for PR?
Speak directly with registered MARN migration agents in Melbourne. Send us a message on WhatsApp to discuss Subclass 143 eligibility, Balance of Family rules, and Assurance of Support obligations.