Bringing your parents to Australia in 2026: what the Subclass 143 really costs you
If you’ve been researching the Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143), you already know the feeling. A mix of hope, sticker shock, and quiet panic about whether your parents will actually live long enough to see the grant. You’re not being dramatic. You’re being realistic.
The Subclass 143 is the faster, more expensive route to permanent residency for parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens. “Faster” is doing heavy lifting in that sentence, because as at 28 February 2026, only applications lodged up to November 2018 were being released from the queue for final processing.
This guide walks you through the 2026 fee structure, the actual wait, the balance of family test, the Assurance of Support bond, and how the 143 stacks up against the 173, 103 and aged parent subclasses. We’ll be specific with numbers where the Department of Home Affairs and Services Australia have published them, and honest where figures change each July.
What is the Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143)?
The Subclass 143 is a permanent visa that lets a parent of a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen live in Australia for the rest of their life. “Contributory” means the family pays a much larger second Visa Application Charge in exchange for meaningfully shorter processing than the non-contributory Subclass 103.
It’s applied for from outside Australia. Parents already onshore usually look at the Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent visa instead, which has different lodgement rules but similar cost structure.
Two points people miss when they start. First, the 143 can be granted directly, or reached through the Subclass 173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) two-year visa, which splits the second instalment across two payments. Second, granting is capped. The annual parent visa program is 8,500 places across all subclasses, and most of those go to contributory applications. That cap is why the “queue” exists at all.
If permanent residency through family is your broader goal, our guide to PR eligibility in Australia walks through who qualifies and under which streams.
2026 Subclass 143 costs: the numbers that actually matter
There are two Visa Application Charges (VAC) for the 143. They’re paid at different times and they are not small.
First VAC (paid at lodgement)
- Main applicant: around $5,040
- Additional applicant 18 or over: approximately $1,700 to $2,525 depending on indexation
- Additional applicant under 18: approximately $850 to $1,270
These fees are indexed annually, typically on 1 July, and the Department of Home Affairs has increased most visa charges each recent year. Check the official 143 visa page immediately before you lodge to confirm the current first VAC.
Second VAC (paid only after the Department signals grant is imminent)
- Main applicant: approximately $43,600 per adult applicant (current published figure)
- Additional adult applicant: approximately $43,600
Yes, both adults each pay around $43,600 at current rates. For a couple, that is roughly $87,200 in second instalment alone, on top of the first VAC. This is the “contribution” that buys you out of the 30-year non-contributory queue. Second VAC figures are reviewed periodically and change without long lead times, so always confirm the current amount on the Home Affairs Subclass 143 page before paying.
Total outlay for a couple applying together
Expect roughly $94,000 to $96,000 just in Commonwealth charges for two parents. Then you add medicals (roughly $300 to $500 per person, often more for cardiac or respiratory reviews), police clearances from every country lived in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years, certified translations, and legal fees if you’re using a registered Australian immigration lawyer.
On top of that sits the Assurance of Support bond, which we’ll get to below. It isn’t a fee, but it’s money your family has to lock away for a decade.
How long does a Subclass 143 really take in 2026?
Here’s where published “processing times” lie to you, politely. The figure quoted on older pages (3 to 5 years) referred to processing after release from the queue. The queue itself is the problem.
As at 28 February 2026, the Department of Home Affairs confirmed Contributory Parent applications lodged up to November 2018 had been released for final processing. That’s roughly a seven-year wait to reach the “being processed” stage, and applications from 2019 onward are still waiting their turn.
If you lodge a new Subclass 143 today, the realistic end-to-end expectation based on current queue movement is 12 to 15 years before grant. That estimate assumes the annual parent cap stays around 8,500 places and that migration policy doesn’t shift further. Both are reasonable assumptions today, neither is guaranteed.
The Department’s wait data is updated regularly and is worth checking alongside our visa processing times in Australia overview, which covers other subclasses your family may be weighing in parallel.
143 vs 173 vs 103 vs 864: which parent visa actually fits?
Parent visas look similar on a brochure. They are not. The differences in cost, wait, and onshore status change outcomes for real families.
| Visa | Type | Apply from | First VAC (main applicant, indicative) | Second VAC (per adult) | Indicative total wait |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subclass 143 Contributory Parent | Permanent | Offshore | ~$5,040 (indicative) | ~$43,600 (indicative) | 12 to 15 years |
| Subclass 173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) | Temporary, 2 years | Offshore | ~$4,765 (indicative) | ~$29,130 (indicative; plus top-up when moving to 143) | Similar queue to 143 for initial grant |
| Subclass 103 Parent | Permanent, non-contributory | Offshore | Much lower (approx $5,125 indicative) | Approx $2,065 per adult (indicative) | 30+ years (queue released to July 2013 as at 28 Feb 2026) |
| Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent | Permanent | Onshore, must be aged pension eligible age | ~$5,040 (indicative) | ~$43,600 (indicative) | Similar to 143, onshore bridging available |
| Subclass 884 Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) | Temporary, 2 years | Onshore, aged pension age | ~$4,765 (indicative) | ~$29,130 (indicative; plus top-up to 864) | Similar queue, onshore bridging |
All VAC figures are indicative and reviewed periodically by the Department of Home Affairs. Always confirm the current charge on the Department’s schedule before lodging.
The 173 appeals to families who can’t hand over $87,200 in one go for a couple. You split the second instalment: less at the 173 stage, then a top-up when you later apply for the 143. Total cost is slightly higher across both stages, but cash flow works better. Worth noting: recent aged-parent policy changes have shifted some onshore timelines, and we’ve covered those updates in our migration law update on aged parent visa changes.
The balance of family test, explained with real examples
The balance of family test is the threshold eligibility rule for every parent visa. It isn’t negotiable and it can’t be waived for compassionate reasons, no matter how compelling.
What is the balance of family test?
A parent passes if at least half of their children are “eligible children,” or more of their children live in Australia than in any single other country. The rule sits at Regulation 1.05 of the Migration Regulations 1994 on the Federal Register of Legislation.
Who counts as an eligible child?
- Australian citizens usually resident in Australia
- Australian permanent residents usually resident in Australia
- Eligible New Zealand citizens usually resident in Australia
Children holding temporary visas in Australia do not count as eligible. They’re treated as resident overseas for the purposes of this test.
Three worked examples
Example 1. Anita has three children. One is an Australian citizen living in Sydney, one is a British citizen living in London, one is an Indian citizen living in Mumbai. Eligible children: 1. Ineligible children: 2. She fails the half test but passes the “greater than any single other country” test (1 in Australia vs 1 in the UK and 1 in India). Anita passes.
Example 2. Wei has two children. One is an Australian permanent resident in Melbourne, one is a Canadian permanent resident in Toronto. One eligible, one ineligible. Wei passes under the half test (exactly half are eligible).
Example 3. Maria has four children. One is an Australian citizen in Perth, three live in the Philippines (two citizens, one permanent resident there). Eligible: 1. Ineligible: 3, all in one country. Maria fails. The test isn’t close, and it won’t be waived.
Step-children and adopted children count. Estranged children count. Deceased children generally do not count. If your family structure is complicated (divorces, estrangements, children in detention or with unknown whereabouts), get proper advice before lodging. The test is where most parent applications die quietly.
Assurance of Support: the other $14,000 nobody mentions upfront
On top of the VACs, every contributory parent visa requires an Assurance of Support (AoS), administered by Services Australia. It’s a legal commitment from an Australian resident (often the sponsoring child, sometimes a joint assurer) to repay certain social security payments the parent might receive, backed by a cash bond.
Bond amounts for Subclass 143 and 864
- Main applicant: $10,000
- Each additional adult applicant: $4,000
So a couple applying together on a 143 needs a $14,000 bond, locked away for 10 years. The bond is held through a term deposit or bank guarantee via the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, as set out by Services Australia’s Assurance of Support guidance.
When the 10 years starts
The 10-year clock begins when the parent first enters Australia as a permanent resident, if the visa was granted offshore. If the visa was granted onshore (for example a 864), it starts on the grant date.
What the assurer is on the hook for
If the parent claims recoverable income support payments during the 10 years, Services Australia can recover those from the bond. If they don’t claim anything, the bond is returned in full at the end of the period, subject to Services Australia’s usual checks.
Assurers also need to meet minimum income thresholds. This is assessed on recent ATO income records, and the threshold lifts when there are multiple assurees or existing dependants. If your income is borderline, a joint Assurance of Support with another eligible assurer is often the workable fix.
Health and character for older applicants: the nuances
Every parent applicant has to meet Australia’s health and character requirements. For applicants in their 70s and 80s, the health requirement is where real decisions happen.
What the Department is actually assessing
Migration medicals aren’t a pass-fail on whether someone is healthy. They assess whether a condition is likely to generate “significant cost to the Australian community,” which is measured against a threshold reviewed periodically. Heart conditions, advanced diabetes, cancer history, renal disease, cognitive decline, and mobility needs all get scrutinised because they affect projected public health system costs.
Health waivers for the 143
Some visa subclasses allow a health waiver. The Subclass 143 is one of them, meaning if a parent fails the health threshold, the Department can still grant the visa if the family can show the costs are offset or manageable. This isn’t automatic. You have to argue it, with medical evidence, cost projections, and often a statement of private medical insurance.
Character for elderly applicants
Character issues are rarer for parent applicants but still possible. Historical criminal convictions, immigration breaches, or adverse security findings need to be declared early. Failure to disclose is worse than the original issue.
Families with other elderly dependants or caring relationships may also want to read our explainer on the dependent visa options in Australia to understand adjacent pathways.
Step-by-step: how a Subclass 143 actually moves through the system
- Check the balance of family test. If the parent fails, stop. Nothing else matters.
- Confirm sponsor eligibility. Sponsor must be a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, usually 18 or over and resident in Australia.
- Gather documents. Birth certificates for every child (to prove the test), passports, marriage certificates, sponsor evidence, police clearances.
- Lodge Form 47PA and the sponsor’s Form 40. Pay the first VAC at this point.
- Receive acknowledgment and initial assessment. The Department checks basic eligibility. If met, the application goes into the queue.
- Wait. This is the long bit. Current lodgements can expect 12 to 15 years.
- Queue release. The Department starts final processing. You’ll be asked for updated medicals, police checks, and the Assurance of Support.
- AoS lodged and second VAC paid. Only at this stage does the $43,600 per applicant come due.
- Grant. Parent enters Australia (if offshore) within the travel window set by the grant letter.
Once the 143 is granted, parents become permanent residents and can apply for Australian permanent residency entitlements like Medicare and, after meeting the residency requirement, citizenship.
Common mistakes that kill parent visa applications
- Miscounting children. People forget step-children, children from previous relationships, or adopted children. The Department will find them.
- Assuming a child on a student visa counts as eligible. They don’t. Temporary visa holders count as overseas for the balance of family test.
- Underestimating the AoS income requirement. The sponsor’s income may not be enough alone. Plan for a joint assurer early.
- Waiting too long to start. Every year you delay is a year added to the queue. Lodging now at 65 is very different to lodging at 72.
- Treating medicals as formality. Pre-existing conditions should be reviewed with a migration lawyer before lodgement so the health-waiver case is built in, not bolted on.
- Paying the second VAC too early. You only pay when the Department invites it. Paying before invite creates refund complications.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay the Subclass 143 second instalment over time?
No. The second VAC (around $43,600 per adult at current published rates) is due as a single lump sum after the Department invites payment. Families who need to stage the cost use the 173 temporary visa first, which splits the contribution across two stages.
Can the balance of family test ever be waived?
No. Unlike some discretionary criteria, the balance of family test under Regulation 1.05 has no compassionate or compelling waiver. If a parent fails, other family visa options need to be considered.
Do both parents have to apply together?
No, but it’s usually cheaper and simpler. A spouse can be added as a secondary applicant. If only one parent applies, the other parent can apply later as a secondary visa holder only in limited circumstances, so joint application is usually the plan.
What happens if a parent dies while in the queue?
The application typically ends. If a couple applied together and one passes away, the surviving parent’s application can usually continue. This is why families should not delay lodgement for older parents.
Can a 143 holder sponsor their own parents later?
Not for several years. To sponsor another parent, the 143 holder generally needs to be “settled,” which usually means holding permanent residence or citizenship for around two years, and they have to meet the standard sponsor criteria themselves.
Does the Subclass 143 give access to Medicare straight away?
Yes. Once the 143 is granted and the parent enters Australia, they can enrol in Medicare as a permanent resident. The catch is social security payments, which mostly have a 10-year Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period, aligned with the AoS window.
Is the Contributory Parent Visa worth the money in 2026?
Honestly, it depends on your family’s cash position and your parents’ ages. Paying $94,000-plus in charges plus a $14,000 bond to cut a 30-year wait to a 12 to 15 year wait is still a long time for a parent in their late 60s or 70s. Families often pair a 143 lodgement with visitor visas so parents can actually spend time in Australia while they wait.
Can an immigration lawyer actually speed this up?
No lawyer can move you up the queue. What a good lawyer does is stop your application from being kicked out, catch balance-of-family-test problems before you pay $5,000, build the health waiver case properly, and handle the AoS sequencing cleanly. On a visa this expensive, getting it right matters more than getting it cheap.
What to do next
If you’re reading this because you’re weighing up whether to lodge, three practical steps help:
- List every child your parent has had. Every one. Work out the balance of family test yourself before anything else.
- Stress-test the money. Can your family find ~$94,000 in VACs and $14,000 in bond when the Department calls for it, plus legals and medicals? If not now, when?
- Consider whether the 173 then 143 pathway works better for cash flow, or whether a direct 143 is simpler.
Then get specific advice on your family’s situation. Parent visas are technically straightforward on paper and punishingly detailed in practice. The team at One Planet Migration Law works with families in Sydney and Melbourne every week on these exact decisions, including complex balance-of-family scenarios, AoS planning, and health waiver cases for older parents.
This article is general information current as at 24 April 2026. It does not constitute legal or migration advice. Visa fees, queue positions and regulations change regularly. For advice tailored to your family’s circumstances, please speak to a registered Australian migration lawyer or migration agent.
