Offshore Contributory Parent Pathway — Stage Two
Subclass 143 Visa – Contributory Parent (Permanent) Visa Australia
Permanent Residency for Parents of Australians — The Final Destination of the Offshore Contributory Parent Journey
After years of waiting, significant financial commitment, and the patience that only families separated by oceans truly understand — the Subclass 143 Contributory Parent (Permanent) Visa is the outcome that makes it all worthwhile. It is the permanent visa that completes the offshore contributory parent pathway — the moment a parent stops being a temporary resident and becomes a permanent one.
With full Medicare access, unrestricted work rights, a pathway to Australian citizenship, and the unconditional right to live in Australia alongside their children and grandchildren for the rest of their life — the Subclass 143 is the destination that families on this pathway have been working toward.
At Migration Republic, our MARA-registered migration agents manage the full offshore contributory parent pathway — from the initial Subclass 173 application through to the Subclass 143 permanent visa grant — with the thoroughness and care that a process of this significance demands.
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Visa Overview
What is the Subclass 143 Contributory Parent (Permanent) Visa?
The Subclass 143 Contributory Parent (Permanent) Visa is a permanent onshore visa that grants full permanent residency in Australia to eligible parents of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. It is the permanent stage of the offshore contributory parent pathway — completing what the Subclass 173 temporary visa began.
Like all contributory parent visas, the Subclass 143 involves significantly higher visa application charges than the non-contributory pathway. The reward for that greater contribution is substantially faster processing times — years rather than the decades associated with the non-contributory pathway.
Subclass 173
Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa — applied for offshore. Allows the parent to come to Australia while the permanent stage is processed.
Subclass 143
Contributory Parent (Permanent) Visa — full permanent residency, Medicare, unrestricted work rights, pathway to citizenship.
Key Features of the Subclass 143 Visa
- Permanent onshore visa — Stage Two of the offshore contributory parent pathway
- Available to parents of any age — not restricted to aged pension age
- Applied for from within Australia — typically by Subclass 173 holders
- Can also be applied for directly without a prior Subclass 173 in some circumstances
- Grants full permanent residency in Australia
- Subject to the Balance of Family Test
- Subject to an assurance of support requirement
- Full Medicare access upon grant
- Full unrestricted work rights
- Pathway to Australian citizenship after meeting residency requirements
- Ability to sponsor eligible family members after grant
- Five-year travel facility from date of grant
Eligibility Requirements
Who Can Apply for the Subclass 143 Visa?
The Subclass 143 eligibility requirements are broadly consistent with those of the Subclass 173, with the key requirement that the parent must be in Australia at the time of application.
The Parent Requirement
The applicant must be a parent of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. Parent includes biological parent, adoptive parent, and step-parent — provided the step-parent relationship meets the requirements of Australian migration law. Unlike the aged parent stream, there is no minimum age requirement — the Subclass 143 is open to parents of any age.
The Sponsor Requirement
The parent must be sponsored by an eligible sponsor — an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen who is a child of the parent applicant and who is settled in Australia. The same child who sponsored the Subclass 173 at Stage One will typically continue as the sponsor for the Subclass 143 Stage Two application — though the sponsorship must be formally renewed and confirmed for the permanent stage.
The Balance of Family Test
The Balance of Family Test applies to the Subclass 143 and is assessed at the time the permanent visa is decided — not at the time the Subclass 173 was decided or the time the Subclass 143 was lodged. This means changes in family structure between Stage One and Stage Two can affect whether the test is met — even if it was clearly met at the time of the original Subclass 173 application.
All children — biological, adopted, and step-children — are counted. The test requires that at least half of the applicant's children live lawfully and permanently in Australia — or that more children live in Australia than in any other single country.
The Assurance of Support Requirement
A new, separate assurance of support is required for the Subclass 143 permanent stage. The Stage One bond lodged for the Subclass 173 applies only to the temporary stage — a separate bond must be lodged for the permanent stage. The assurance of support for the permanent stage runs for ten years from the date the Subclass 143 is granted.
Must Be in Australia at Time of Application
The Subclass 143 is an onshore visa — the parent must be physically in Australia when they lodge the application. Parents who came to Australia on the Subclass 173 will naturally be in Australia. Parents who wish to apply for the Subclass 143 directly — without having previously held a Subclass 173 — must also be in Australia at the time of lodging.
Health and Character Requirements
Health and character requirements apply. A medical examination with an approved panel physician is required — completed at an approved facility in Australia. Police clearance certificates are required for all countries where the applicant has lived for twelve months or more in the past ten years. Health examinations and police clearances completed for Stage One will almost certainly have expired — new ones are required for the Subclass 143.
Permanent Residency Benefits
Key Benefits of the Subclass 143 Visa
Full Permanent Residency — Unconditional
Not a temporary arrangement. Not employer-dependent. Permanent residency — unconditional and indefinite — giving the parent the right to live in Australia for the rest of their life.
Full Medicare Access
Permanent residents are eligible for full Medicare access. For aged parents with ongoing healthcare needs, access to Australia's world-class public healthcare system is genuinely life-changing.
Pathway to Australian Citizenship
After four years of lawful residence including at least twelve months as a permanent resident, eligible holders can apply for Australian citizenship — an Australian passport and unconditional right to remain.
Full Unrestricted Work Rights
No conditions, no employer restrictions, no hour limits. For parents who wish to remain professionally active in Australia, the permanent visa provides complete work freedom.
Five-Year Travel Facility
The Subclass 143 comes with a five-year travel facility from the date of grant — allowing travel outside Australia and re-entry as a permanent resident during that period.
Sponsor Eligible Family Members
Permanent residents can sponsor certain eligible family members for Australian visas — potentially opening further family reunion pathways after the Subclass 143 grant.
Alternative Pathway
Direct Subclass 143 Application — Without a Prior Subclass 173
While the most common pathway to the Subclass 143 is through the Subclass 173 temporary visa, it is also possible in some circumstances to apply for the Subclass 143 directly — without having previously held a Subclass 173 — provided the parent is in Australia at the time of the application.
When a Direct Application May Be Considered
A parent who is in Australia on a visitor visa, student visa, work visa, or any other substantive visa may be able to apply for the Subclass 143 directly if they meet all eligibility requirements — including the Balance of Family Test, sponsor and assurance of support requirements, and health and character requirements.
Important Considerations for Direct Applications
A direct Subclass 143 application does not mean a faster outcome — the same processing queue applies. The advantage of the two-stage pathway is that the parent can be in Australia on the Subclass 173 while the permanent application is processed. We assess whether a direct application or the two-stage pathway is more appropriate for each family situation.
Document Checklist
Subclass 143 Visa Australia Documents Checklist
The documentation for a Subclass 143 application must be fresh and current — documents prepared for the Subclass 173 Stage One application will have expired and cannot simply be resubmitted. Every category of documentation needs to be updated and in some cases entirely re-gathered.
Identity & Personal Documents (Parent)
- Current valid passport — renewed if the Stage One passport has expired
- Birth certificate
- Evidence of any name changes since the Subclass 173 application
- Subclass 173 visa grant documentation confirming Stage One status
- Full Australian immigration history since the Subclass 173
Sponsor Documentation
- Evidence of sponsoring child's continued Australian citizenship or permanent residency
- Confirmation of continued settlement and usual residence in Australia
- Evidence of any changes in the sponsor's circumstances since Stage One
- Birth certificate or relationship evidence establishing parent-child relationship
Balance of Family Test Documents
- Updated details of all children in every country — biological, adopted, step-children
- Current documentary evidence of nationality, citizenship, and permanent residence of every child
- Current evidence of where each child permanently lives — utility bills, lease agreements, employment letters
- Documentation of any family structure changes since the Subclass 173 application
Health, Character & Assurance of Support
- New health examination results from approved panel physician in Australia
- Chest X-ray results where required
- Updated police clearance certificates — Stage One clearances are not acceptable
- New assurance of support bond documentation — separate Stage Two bond
- Updated evidence of the assurer's financial capacity
Visa Fees & Costs
Subclass 143 Visa Cost Australia
The Subclass 143 is the second major financial instalment in the contributory parent pathway — substantial in its own right and compounding the already significant Stage One investment.
| Fee Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Subclass 143 — Primary Applicant Visa Charge | AUD $47,495 * |
| Subclass 143 — Additional Applicant 18+ | Additional charges apply |
| Subclass 143 — Additional Applicant Under 18 | Reduced charges apply |
| Assurance of Support Bond — Stage Two | ~AUD $10,000 |
| Health Examinations — Stage Two (per person) | AUD $300 – $450 |
| Police Clearances — Updated (per country) | AUD $50 – $150 |
| Migration Republic Professional Fee | Contact Us |
| Combined Two-Stage Visa Charge (173 + 143) | ~AUD $83,105 |
Important: The Subclass 143 visa application charge is significantly higher than the Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent) Visa charge. Families on the non-aged contributory pathway — Subclass 173 leading to Subclass 143 — face higher combined charges than families on the aged parent contributory pathway — Subclass 884 leading to Subclass 864. This is an important distinction that families need to understand when comparing pathway options.
Processing Timeframes
Subclass 143 Visa Processing Time Australia
The Subclass 143 processes substantially faster than the non-contributory Subclass 103 offshore parent visa — which currently has estimated processing times of thirty or more years. The contributory pathway delivers the same permanent outcome within a timeframe that is actually plannable and foreseeable for most families.
Subclass 143 Processing — 2026 Guide
- 75% of applications processed within approximately 5 to 8 years from lodgement
- 90% of applications processed within approximately 8 to 11 years from lodgement
Full Pathway Timeline (173 → 143)
- Combined timeline from Subclass 173 lodgement to Subclass 143 grant: typically 8 to 14 years
- Substantially faster than 30+ years for the non-contributory Subclass 103
- During processing, parent lives in Australia on Subclass 173 then Bridging Visa A
Key Factors That Affect Subclass 143 Processing Time
- Completeness and quality of the Stage Two application at lodgement — thorough, complete applications move more efficiently
- Whether health examinations are completed and linked to the application in a timely way
- Whether the assurance of support bond for Stage Two is arranged and confirmed before it is needed
- Changes in family circumstances — Balance of Family Test changes, sponsor circumstances, personal circumstances — that need to be notified to the Department during processing
- The Department's current processing workload and annual visa program allocation for the contributory parent category
How We Help
Our Visa Process — Subclass 143 Stage Two
Stage Two Assessment and Preparation Planning
For clients who have come through the Subclass 173 with us, Stage Two begins with a structured review — Balance of Family Test position since Stage One, passport validity, health examination expiry, assurance of support bond requirements, and sponsor's continued eligibility. For new clients at the Stage Two point, we conduct a thorough review of the existing case before taking on the Stage Two management.
Updated Balance of Family Test Analysis
We conduct a fresh and comprehensive Balance of Family Test analysis at the Stage Two point — covering every child in every country and comparing the current family structure to the position at the time of the Subclass 173 application. Years may have passed since Stage One and family circumstances change — children relocate, new children are born or adopted, step-children arrangements evolve. Every change must be identified, assessed, and properly documented for the Subclass 143 application.
Health Examination Coordination — Stage Two in Australia
New health examinations must be completed in Australia through an approved panel physician for the Subclass 143 application. We coordinate the timing of these examinations — identifying appropriate panel physicians, confirming the full examination requirements, and ensuring the results are properly completed and linked to the Stage Two application before they expire.
Assurance of Support Coordination for Stage Two
A new assurance of support bond must be arranged for the permanent stage — separate from and in addition to the Stage One bond. We work with the sponsoring child to confirm the required Stage Two bond amount, assist with the financial evidence required by the relevant state or territory authority, and manage the bond lodgement process. We also advise the sponsoring child on their ten-year obligations under the permanent stage assurance arrangement.
Subclass 143 Application Preparation and Lodgement
We prepare the complete Subclass 143 application — all updated identity, sponsor, Balance of Family Test, health, and character documentation — review every document carefully before lodgement, and lodge with the Department of Home Affairs. The application is prepared to the highest standard — because after the financial commitment and years of waiting, there is no room for error.
Active Management Through to Permanent Visa Grant
We actively manage the Subclass 143 application from lodgement through to grant — monitoring Subclass 173 expiry dates and Bridging Visa A arrangements, responding promptly to any Department requests, updating the Department when circumstances change, and maintaining regular communication with the family throughout the multi-year process until the permanent visa is granted.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Migration Republic
Why Choose Migration Republic?
The offshore contributory parent pathway — the Subclass 173 leading to the Subclass 143 — is one of the most financially significant and personally important visa journeys in the Australian migration system. With combined visa charges that can exceed AUD $83,000 for a single parent applicant, a total timeline measured in nearly a decade or more, and documentation requirements that span multiple stages and multiple years, this pathway demands professional management that is thorough, ongoing, and genuinely expert.
The Balance of Family Test must be freshly and comprehensively assessed at the Stage Two point. Health examinations and police clearances from Stage One are expired and must be entirely renewed. The assurance of support bond for the permanent stage is a separate, new arrangement. The transition from the Subclass 173 to the Bridging Visa A to the permanent Subclass 143 grant must be actively managed to ensure no gaps in lawful status or travel entitlements.
Our MARA-registered agents bring the expertise, the thoroughness, and the ongoing commitment that the full offshore contributory parent pathway demands. We manage this journey from Stage One through to Stage Two grant — actively, carefully, and with a genuine understanding of what this process means to the families who have chosen it.
Thorough Stage Two Balance of Family Test Analysis
Every child in every country freshly assessed — changes since Stage One identified and properly documented.
Complete Stage Two Application Management
Health, character, assurance of support, and lodgement — every element of the Stage Two application prepared to the highest standard.
Active Monitoring Through to Permanent Visa Grant
From Stage Two lodgement through to the day permanent residency is granted — we stay involved, respond to the Department, and keep the family informed throughout.
Ready to Complete Your Subclass 143 Contributory Parent Visa Journey?
The Subclass 143 Contributory Parent (Permanent) Visa is the permanent outcome that the entire offshore contributory parent pathway has been building toward. It is where the temporary arrangements end, the waiting ends, and permanent family life in Australia begins — with full Medicare, unrestricted work rights, a pathway to citizenship, and the unconditional security of permanent residency.
At Migration Republic, our MARA-registered agents are here to manage every aspect of the Subclass 143 Stage Two application — from initial Stage Two assessment through to the day permanent residency is granted — with the expertise, care, and ongoing commitment that this stage of the journey demands.
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