Parent visas - Contributory

The Contributory Parent visas allow parents to migrate to Australia to join their children. This Parent visa category has more visa places available each Migration Program year. As such, applying under this category carries the benefit of avoiding the long waiting period applicable to Parent Visa (non contributory) applicants. However, you must be willing to make substantially higher contribution to health and welfare costs in Australia.

Common criteria for Contributory Parent Visa Category

You must:

  1. Have a child who is settled in Australia as a Citizen, Permanent resident or an Eligible New Zealand Citizen.
  2. Be sponsored by an eligible sponsor. Usually your child will sponsor you. However, if your child is under 18 years old you may be sponsored by one of the following:
    • Your child’s spouse/partner (if they are at least 18 years old and an Australian citizen or permanent resident or an eligible NZ citizen)
    • A close family relative or guardian of your child or your child's spouse
    • A community organisation that has an established relationship with your child.
  3. Pass a Balance of the Family Test, proving that:
    • Half your children are permanently resident in Australia, or
    • You have more children permanently in Australia than any other overseas single country. See the table below to check whether you meet the balance of family test.
      Total number of children Number of children usually resident in Australia Number of children usually resident in countries other than Australia Passes balance of family test?
      1 1 Yes
      2 1 1 Yes
      3 1 2 No
      3 1 1 1 No
      4 2 2 Yes
      4 1 1 1 1 No
      4 1 2 1 No
      5 1 1 1 1 1 No
      5 2 1 1 1 Yes
      5 3 2 Yes
      6 2 2 2 No
  4. Meet health and character requirements.

    There are four different types of Contributory Parent visas:
    • Contributory Parent (Migrant) Subclass 143 (permanent visa)
    • Contributory Parent (Temporary) Subclass 173 (temporary visa)
    • Contributory Aged Parent (Residence) Subclass 864 (permanent visa)
    • Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Subclass 884 (temporary visa)


    The difference between these subclasses is essentially that some are temporary and some are permanent, some are for ‘aged’ parents, and some are for parents who are not aged. The benefit of the temporary visas is that payment of the large visa application charges and Assurance of Support can be staggered between the time of application for the temporary visa, to the time just prior to grant of the permanent visa.

Contributory Parent (Temporary)- Subclass 173

This temporary visa can be granted to parents who have children living in Australia. This visa allows you to live in Australia for up to two years. This visa cannot be extended or renewed. If you wish to apply for permanent residency, you must lodge your Contributory Parent Visa Subclass 143 before your Subclass 173 Visa expires. By choosing the Subclass 173 Visa option first and later applying for the Subclass 143 Visa, you could spread the costs of the Contributory Parent Visa over those two years

This visa allows you to:

  1. Live in Australia for two years
  2. Work and study in Australia
  3. Enroll in Medicare Australia's scheme for health-related care and expenses
  4. Travel to and from Australia for two years from the date the visa is granted.

This visa cannot be extended or renewed.

Contributory Parent (Migrant) – Subclass 143

This is a permanent visa for parents with children living in Australia who wish to settle indefinitely with their child in Australia.

To apply for this visa, you need to be sponsored by your child or another eligible sponsor in Australia. With the permanent contributory parent visa, you can:.

  1. Work and study in Australia
  2. Receive subsidised healthcare through Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
  3. Access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods)
  4. Be eligible to apply for Australia citizenship (subject to the residency eligibility criteria)
  5. Sponsor people for permanent residence (subject to waiting periods)

Aged Contributory Parent (Temporary) – Subclass 884

This is a temporary visa is available for older parents.

It allows you to live in Australia for up to two years. This visa cannot be extended or renewed. If you wish to apply for permanent residency in Australia you must apply for a permanent visa Contributory Aged Parent Visa Subclass (Permanent) 864 before your temporary visa expires. By choosing the Subclass 884 option first and then applying for the Subclass 864 Visa option later, you could spread the costs of the Contributory Aged Parent Visa over those two years.

Men must be older than 65 years of age to apply for Subclass Visas 884.

The age requirement for women varies, depending on when you were born:

  • If you were born before 30th June 1947 you can apply at the age of 64
  • If you were born between 1st July 1947 and 31st December 1948 you can apply when you are 64.5 years of age
  • If you were born after 1st January 1949 you can apply when you turn 65.

Aged Contributory Parent (Permanent) – Subclass 864

This permanent resident visa is available for older parents.

Men must be older than 65 years of age to apply for Subclass Visas 884.

The age requirement for women varies, depending on when you were born:

  • If you were born before 30th June 1947 you can apply at the age of 64
  • If you were born between 1st July 1947 and 31st December 1948 you can apply when you are 64.5 years of age
  • If you were born after 1st January 1949 you can apply when you turn 65.

What is the difference between Contributory Visa and Aged Contributory Visas?

You can apply for the Aged Contributory Visa Categories whilst you are in Australia, as long as your Australian visa does not have the "No further stay" condition.

If your age qualifies you for the Aged Contributory Parent visas, the benefit of applying for this visa instead of the Contributory Parent visa, is that if you apply whilst you are in Australia, you will be granted a bridging visa to stay in Australia until a decision is made.

Why Choose Seek Migration

Seek Migration specializes in Employer Sponsored visas, as it is the core of our practice. We have significant amount of experience in assisting employers and employees throughout the whole process of obtaining Permanent Residency.

Please contact us for more information.

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Want to know if you are eligible to apply for Skilled Migration? Click on the link below to complete our online form or send in your resume to info@seekmigration.com.au This email address is being protected from spambots. Our team will conduct an assessment and provide you with a recommendation letter outlining the visa pathway, fees, our terms and processing times at no cost.

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