173Temporary
Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173)
Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173)
Visa Cost
AUD 3,395
2025-26 first-instalment base VAC (primary applicant) AUD 3,395. This is the first step of the contributory two-step path: apply for the 173 temporary visa first (valid 2 years), then for 143 permanent. Before the 173 is granted a second-instalment VAC of about AUD 29,130 per person is also required; on moving to 143 the second instalment is a further about AUD 19,420 per person. Credit cards add a surcharge of about 1.4%.
Processing Time
About 12-24 months (the contributory type is significantly faster than the queued type)
Eligibility
- The applicant is the parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen settled in Australia
- There must be an eligible sponsoring child (usually settled in Australia for about 2 years)
- Pass the balance-of-family test: at least half the children are in Australia, or more children are in Australia than in any other single country
- No need to reach pension age (unlike 884/864); parents of any age can apply
- A sponsor/another party must provide an Assurance of Support (AoS) and pay a bond
- Meet health and character requirements
- Lodged offshore and must be granted offshore; after grant, come to Australia on 173 and apply for 143 within 2 years
Key Information
Validity / Stay / Residence
Temporary visa, allowing 2 years of residence in Australia with multiple entries; non-renewable and non-extendable.
Eligible Dependants
Can include family unit members such as dependent children in the application (children usually need to be under 18; dependent children aged 23 and over are very hard to have granted as secondary applicants).
PR / Permanent Residence Pathway
This visa is a temporary visa (valid 2 years) and does not grant PR directly; you must apply for the Contributory Parent (permanent) visa 143 before 173 expires to move to permanent residence, after which you can reside indefinitely.
View provisional-to-permanent transition overview →Application Steps
1
Confirm contributory two-step pathway
Confirm contributory two-step pathway
Decide to apply for the 173 temporary visa first, then move to 143 permanent
- Check the balance-of-family test and sponsoring child eligibility
- Assess the funds: first instalment + 173 second instalment (about AUD 29,130) + later 143 second instalment (about AUD 19,420)
- If funds allow, you can also consider applying for 143 permanent directly in one step (without applying for 173 first)
2
Lodge subclass 173 online
Lodge subclass 173 online
Lodge via ImmiAccount and pay the first-instalment VAC
- Complete the online parent visa application form, with the sponsoring child completing the sponsorship form (Form 40)
- Upload identity, parent-child relationship, and children's residence distribution materials
- Pay the first-instalment VAC (primary applicant AUD 3,395)
3
Health, character and AoS
Health, character and AoS
Complete the pre-grant requirements as notified
- Obtain a HAP ID and complete the immigration health examination
- Submit police clearances from each relevant country
- The assurer lodges the AoS with Centrelink and pays the bond
4
Pay second instalment and get 173
Pay second instalment and get 173
Receive the temporary visa after paying the contribution
- Pay the second-instalment VAC as required by the Department (about AUD 29,130 per person)
- 173 is an offshore visa and must be granted while you are outside Australia
- After grant, enter Australia and reside for up to 2 years
5
Apply for subclass 143 within validity
Apply for subclass 143 within validity
Lodge 143 to move to permanent residence while holding 173
- Apply for the 143 contributory parent permanent visa before 173 expires
- The 143 second-instalment VAC is a concessional rate of about AUD 19,420 per person for 173 holders
- Permanent residence is obtained once 143 is granted
Required Documents
| Document Name | English Name | Required | Description | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contributory parent visa application form | Contributory parent visa application form | The main application form, setting out personal, family and children's country-of-residence information | Complete online; you must accurately list all children (including step/adopted) and their usual countries of residence for the balance-of-family test | |
| Sponsorship for migration to Australia (Form 40) | Sponsorship for migration to Australia (Form 40) | Completed by the sponsoring child, with proof of their Australian status | Attach citizenship/PR evidence and about 2 years of settlement proof (such as utility bills, leases, tax records) | |
| Passport (applicant) | Passport (applicant) | Prove identity and nationality; 173 must be granted offshore | Ensure sufficient validity; update the application details if the passport is renewed | |
| Notarised parent-child relationship certificate | Notarised parent-child relationship certificate | Prove the parent-child relationship with the sponsoring child | Chinese applicants use the birth certificate, one-child certificate and household register plus a notarial 'kinship certificate', all requiring NAATI English translation | |
| Evidence of all children's country of residence | Evidence of all children's country of residence | Core balance-of-family test materials | Onshore children attach Australian identity proof and offshore children attach local residence proof; this is key to grant | |
| Marriage certificate / partner evidence | Marriage certificate / partner evidence | If the spouse applies together, prove the marital relationship | Marriage certificate, notarised and translated; a de facto relationship needs cohabitation and shared-finance evidence | |
| Assurance of Support | Assurance of Support | The assurer undertakes financial support and pays the bond | For the contributory parent visa, the AoS period is usually 10 years; the bond is per the current Services Australia rates (around the AUD 10,000 level for one person; check with Centrelink for specifics) | |
| Health examination | Health examination | Meet health requirements | Obtain a HAP ID and have the health examination at a designated panel clinic, including chest X-ray and blood tests | |
| Police clearance certificates | Police clearance certificates | Police clearances from each country where you have lived for a cumulative 12 months after age 16 | Chinese police clearance, notarised and translated, covering China and other countries of long-term residence | |
| Second instalment VAC payment | Second instalment VAC payment | The visa is granted only after the contribution is paid | About AUD 29,130 per person, paid after the Department's notice; be sure to set aside this large sum | |
| Passport-style photographs | Passport-style photographs | A compliant passport photo | White background, taken within the last 6 months |
FAQ
How are 173 and 143 related? Which should I apply for first?
173 is the 'temporary version' (valid 2 years) of the contributory parent visa, and 143 is the 'permanent version'. The two-step path is to apply for 173 first (first instalment + about AUD 29,130), then apply for 143 within 2 years (concessional second instalment of about AUD 19,420); alternatively, if funds allow, apply for 143 directly in one step. The two-step path splits the roughly AUD 48,000 total contribution into two payments, easing the pressure of a lump sum.
How much faster is the contributory type than the 103 queued type?
Much faster. The 103 queued type takes about 29-31 years, while the contributory 173/143 are usually processed in about 12-24 months. The difference is that high second-instalment 'contribution', effectively buying time with money.
Can 173 holders work and use Medicare in Australia?
173 is a temporary visa allowing 2 years of residence in Australia with work rights; but as a temporary visa holder you generally do not enjoy the full benefits of permanent residents. Medicare access depends on reciprocal agreements with your home country; China and Australia have no Medicare reciprocity, so private health insurance is recommended.
Can the sponsoring child be a newly granted PR during the application?
The sponsoring child must be a settled Australian citizen/PR/eligible New Zealand citizen, and is usually 'settled' for about 2 years. A newly granted PR may be regarded as not settled long enough; provide settlement evidence such as a lease, employment and tax records, and if necessary wait about 2 years before sponsoring to be safer.
Common Refusal Reasons
- Failing the balance-of-family test
- The sponsor is ineligible (not a settled Australian citizen/PR/eligible New Zealand citizen, or under 18)
- No Assurance of Support was provided or it was not approved
- The applicant failed the health or character requirement
- Holding or having applied for the 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa at application (you cannot pursue both at once)
- The second-instalment contribution was not paid
Can you appeal after a refusal? See the Visa Refusal & Review (ART) Guide.