143 Visa: Contributory Parent

The subclass 143 visa (Contributory Parent visa) is a permanent residence visa that allows parents to live in Australia if their child is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or New Zealand citizen who is settled in Australia. The cost of this visa is significantly higher in exchange for faster processing (around four years).

Who Is Eligible For The 143 Visa?

This visa allows parents to live permanently in Australia if they have a child who is:

An Australian citizen
A permanent resident
An eligible New Zealand citizen

Most applicants need to be sponsored by their child, as long as that child has lived lawfully in Australia for the two years immediately preceding the application.

This visa application can be lodged in or outside of Australia. If the applicant is in Australia, they can apply only if the conditions of their visa allow them to apply for another visa while they are in Australia.

What Are The Other Requirements Of The 143 Visa?

The applicant can be in Australia (but do not have to be) when the visa is decided if they are one of the following:

The holder of a Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173)
The holder of a Tourist visa (subclass 676) or Visitor visa (subclass 600) granted through ministerial intervention
A member of the family unit of a Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173) holder

In all other cases, they must be outside Australia when the visa is decided. The applicant must also:

Gain an assurance of support from either the sponsor or any other person
Pass the balance-of-family test
Meet health and character requirements
Have a sponsor (in the case that your child is under 18, the sponsor can be your child’s spouse or relative, or the relative of the spouse)
Not have any debt to the Australian government

What Are The Benefits?

This is a permanent residence visa that allows the parent to:

Stay in Australia indefinitely
Work and study in Australia
Enroll in Medicare
Apply for Australian citizenship when eligible
Sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence

The Parent visa also allows for the visa applicant to include dependent children and other dependent relatives on the application, if they fulfill the requirements of being a member of the family unit.