Apply for
Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa
Live in Australia for up to two years with full work, study rights, and access to Medicare while preparing for permanent residency through the Subclass 143 visa.
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Contributory Parent Visa – Subclass 173
Temporary pathway to join your family in Australia
The Subclass 173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa lets eligible parents of settled Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens live in Australia for up to two years with their children and grandchildren.
Designed for parents planning long-term settlement
This visa is ideal for parents who are serious about eventually settling in Australia but want to manage cash flow, health, and family commitments carefully while they transition to permanent residency through Subclass 143.
Live, work and study while you test life in Australia
On this visa you can live, work and study in Australia, enrol in Medicare, and travel in and out of the country for the length of the visa, giving you a real sense of everyday life here before you commit to permanent migration.
Spread the cost of permanent parent migration
Many families use the 173 as a stepping stone to the Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 143). By starting with the temporary visa first, you can split the higher “contributory” visa charges over two stages, rather than paying everything upfront for a 143 application.
Contributory Parent Visa – Subclass 173
ANY – applicants can be citizens of any country. You must be the parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who usually lives in Australia.
You must be formally sponsored by an eligible child living in Australia. If your child is under 18, an eligible relative, your child’s partner or an approved community organisation can sponsor you. The sponsorship must be approved by the Department.
You must meet the Balance of Family Test – usually this means at least half of your children (including step-children) live permanently in Australia, or more of your children live in Australia than in any other single country.
Applicants under 18 must have adequate welfare arrangements for the period in Australia.You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for the Subclass 173 visa, provided your current visa allows an onshore application if you are in Australia.
You must usually be outside Australia when the Subclass 173 visa is decided and granted. After grant, you can travel to and from Australia while the visa is valid.
All applicants must meet health and character requirements, sign the Australian Values Statement (if required), have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government or have a formal repayment plan in place, and must not have had a previous visa cancelled or refused in certain circumstances.
You must meet all applicable visa conditions and must not already hold or have applied for a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) 870 visa when lodging the 173 application.
We’re in Our Clients’ Hearts
Excellence speaks for itself—our clients’ emotions tell the story.
Aleeha and Nirav at Knowbal Migration demonstrated outstanding guidance, persistence, and professionalism in securing a Visitor Visa Family Stream for a sister, successfully navigating earlier difficulties to achieve the outcome. Their dedication and genuine care throughout the process were truly appreciated.
Very good experience with Knowbal Migration. Nirav and Aleeha provided great support throughout my visa process and helped achieve a positive outcome. Thank you to the team for their assistance.
The Knowbal Visa Application Process
We start by reviewing your study history, current visa status, and eligibility for the Temporary Graduate Visa. This personalised consultation helps us understand your situation and plan the best application approach for you.
Once we assess your case, you’ll be assigned a dedicated migration expert. This professional will be your main point of contact, guiding you through each step and answering your questions promptly.
Gathering and organising your documents correctly is critical. Knowbal helps you prepare all necessary paperwork, including your Confirmation of Enrolment, academic transcripts, proof of completion, health insurance, and identity documents to avoid delays or errors.
We lodge your visa application on your behalf with the Department of Home Affairs, ensuring everything complies with visa requirements and your information is accurately presented.
Throughout the processing period, Knowbal monitors your application and keeps you informed. Should the Department request additional information, we will assist you promptly to ensure a smooth process.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on cash flow, timing and risk. A 173 lets parents join you sooner and split government fees over two stages, which is easier if you’ve only just started working. Going straight to 143 is simpler and slightly cheaper overall, but with a big upfront payment. In consults we usually model both options with real numbers (visa charges, AoS, travel, insurance) so you and your parents can see which pathway is actually sustainable.
If they don’t move to the 143 before the 173 expires, they won’t have an automatic ongoing visa and may need to leave Australia or switch to a different visa (if eligible). That’s why we treat the 173 as part of a two-step financial plan, not a stand-alone visa: we map out when you’ll likely lodge the 143, what savings or AoS support you’ll need, and build a timeline around your job, mortgage or other big expenses.
Yes, but it needs planning. Many parents on 173 visas keep property, pensions or small businesses overseas for a while. The key is to be honest about where they are actually living and who is financially responsible for them. When we prepare the 143 stage, we help you show a clear picture of where your parents now “call home”, so offshore ties don’t look like they’re only visiting you temporarily.
Mixing parent visa types can get messy. For example, you generally can’t hold or apply for some other parent visas at the same time as a 173/143 pathway. We normally choose one long-term strategy, then design any Visitor visas around it, explaining to the Department why your parents will keep following GTE while a contributory application is in the system. This avoids refusals for “conflicting intentions”.
For higher-cost visas like 173/143, a health refusal is painful. Before you spend that money, it can be worth getting detailed specialist reports, checking likely treatment costs in Australia and doing a risk review with a migration professional who understands the health rules. If the risk looks high, we’ll be upfront and talk through softer options (structured visitor stays, shorter-term visas) so you don’t gamble family savings.
Many sponsors are ex-students just getting established. We look at:
- your income trajectory over the next few years,
- whether a co-assurer (e.g. sibling) should help, and
- how a future AoS bond and day-to-day costs fit with your goals (buying a home, further study, kids).
That way, the 173/143 plan supports your life in Australia rather than becoming a constant financial stress.
Think long-game from the moment you lodge the 173:
- keep copies of all entry/exit stamps and flight bookings,
- hold onto Medicare enrolment letters, rental agreements, bank statements and GP registrations showing your parents are genuinely settling, and
- note any major health or address changes.
When it’s time to lodge the 143, we use this history to show the Department a clear, consistent story – which can reduce back-and-forth and help your parents move to PR with less stress.
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We will provide you full PR pathway, does not matter how complex your case is. Just fill out the enquiry form here!
