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Contributory parent (Temporary) visa
(subclass 173)
The Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 173) allows parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to temporarily live in Australia. This visa provides an opportunity to reunite with family members while working towards permanent residency through the Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143).
Key Features
Key features of this visa include:
- Duration of Stay: Parents can live in Australia for up to 2 years under this visa.
- Work and Study: Holders of this visa are permitted to work and study in Australia, although they will not be eligible for government financial support.
- Pathway to Permanent Residence: Individuals holding this visa have the option to apply for a permanent Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) visa.
- Healthcare: Enrol in Australia’s public healthcare system, Medicare, for health-related care and expenses.
This visa serves as a temporary solution for parents wishing to reunite with their families in Australia, providing opportunities for work, study, and potential pathways to permanent residency.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 173), you must meet the following criteria:
- Sponsor: You must be sponsored by an eligible child who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. In some cases, you may also be sponsored by a relative or community organization if your child is under 18.
- Balance-of-Family Test: At least half of your children must live in Australia or more of your children must live in Australia than any other single country.
- Health Requirement: You and any family members applying with you must meet the health requirement set by Australian immigration authorities.
- Character Requirement: All applicants and their family members must meet the character requirement.
- Debt to Government: You or your family members must not have any outstanding debts to the Australian Government, or if any debts exist, they must be repaid or an approved arrangement must be in place.
- Visa History: You should not have had any visas canceled or previous applications refused unless certain conditions apply.
Costs
The Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 173) involves several fees. Here’s a breakdown:
Visa Application Fee (at time of application):
- Main Applicant: AUD $3,300
- Spouse: AUD $1,650
Second Instalment (due when the visa decision is made):
- Main Applicant: AUD $29,130
- Spouse: AUD $29,130
You can ease the financial burden by spreading the costs over time with a two-step process: first, apply for the temporary Contributory Parent (subclass 173) visa, then apply for the permanent Contributory Parent (subclass 143) visa.
How long you can stay on subclass 173
The subclass 173 visa you’re obtaining is temporary in nature, affording you a two-year stay in Australia.
Upon entry into Australia following the visa grant, the visa period commences.
This visa is endowed with multiple entries, granting you the flexibility to travel in and out of Australia as frequently as desired within the two-year timeframe.
Stay longer
How to Apply
You can apply for this visa inside or outside Australia, but the visa decision must be made when you are outside Australia. The application involves two key steps:
- Submit the Application: Pay the initial application fee for the temporary visa. Ensure you meet all eligibility criteria, including sponsorship and the balance-of-family test.
- Second Instalment: If eligible, you will need to pay the second instalment before the visa decision is made. This is required after passing health and character checks, and once the Assurance of Support (AoS) has been lodged.
Once the visa is granted, you will have 2 years to stay in Australia, with the possibility of applying for the permanent Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143) before the temporary visa expires.
It’s important to note that if you’re applying for this visa within Australia while holding a temporary visa with a “no further stay” condition, your application will be deemed invalid unless you request a waiver of this condition.
Visa Conditions
Upon receiving the Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 173), it is important to understand the conditions you and your family members must adhere to:
- Compliance with Australian Laws: All visa holders must follow Australian laws during their stay.
- Health and Character Requirements: If you or your family members have health or character concerns, this may impact your visa grant.
- No Extension of Stay: This visa cannot be extended or re-applied for beyond the initial 2-year period. To stay longer, you must transition to a permanent visa (subclass 143).
Subclass 173 processing time
Due to the high demand for these visas surpassing the available quota each year, the processing times for applications can be notably lengthy.
Applicants should expect processing times of 12+ years before their application is considered for final processing.
For more detailed insights into Migration Program outcomes and planning for each migration program year, you can refer to the Reports on Migration Programs. Additionally, understanding the Parent visa queue and processing priorities can provide further clarity on the application process.
Important Considerations
- Sponsor Responsibility: Your sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen, and they must meet the financial and legal responsibilities to support your application.
- Balance of Family Test: To meet the balance-of-family test, at least half of your children or more must live in Australia.
- Health and Character Requirements: These are key to your eligibility for the visa and the subsequent permanent residency application.
Consider another visa
In addition to the subclass 173 visa discussed, there are other Parent visa options available:
- Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143): This is a permanent visa option that entails a higher cost.
- Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 173) and Subclass 143: This pathway involves a two-step visa process, with the temporary visa leading to permanent residency. While it incurs a higher cost compared to the Subclass 103 visa, the expenses are spread across the two visas over an extended period.
- Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 870): This sponsored temporary visa offers temporary residency, allowing parents to visit their children in Australia for up to three or five years at a time, with a cumulative maximum period of 10 years.
Each visa option caters to different needs and circumstances. For a comprehensive overview of all available visa options, you can refer to our Visa list page.
Eligibility
Not have this visa
If you’ve already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa, you are ineligible to apply for the visa in question.
Have a sponsor
To apply for this visa, sponsorship is a mandatory requirement. Typically, the sponsorship is provided by an eligible child. However, if your child is under 18 years old, sponsorship by an eligible relative or community organization is permissible.
It’s crucial to note that sponsorship must be approved by the relevant authorities.
Meet the balance-of-family test
To meet the requirements for this visa, you must satisfy the balance-of-family test. This test is considered met if:
1. At least half of your children and step-children are deemed eligible children, or
2. There are more eligible children residing in Australia than in any other single country.
Meet the health requirement
Both you and any accompanying family members applying for the visa must fulfil the health requirement set by Australian immigration authorities.
Meet the character requirement
It is imperative that both you and any accompanying family members applying for the visa meet the character requirement outlined by Australian immigration authorities.
Have paid back your debt to the Australian Government
If you or any of your family members owe money to the Australian Government, it’s a prerequisite that the outstanding amount must either be fully repaid or an approved arrangement must be in place to facilitate repayment.
Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused
Your immigration history will be taken into account during the assessment of your application. If you have experienced a visa cancellation or refusal in the past, it may impact your eligibility for this visa.
However, in certain situations, you may still be able to apply for a permanent visa despite previous visa cancellations or refusals. For further details, refer to Department Form 1026i Limitations on applications in Australia.
Sign the Australian Values Statement
If you are 18 years of age or older, you must fulfill the following requirements:
1. Read the Life in Australia book or have its contents explained to you.
2. Sign the Australian Values Statement to confirm your commitment to respecting the Australian way of life and adhering to Australian laws.
Best interests of the child
This visa will not be granted if it is determined to be against the best interests of an applicant who is under 18 years of age.
Extending or reapplying for the current visa won’t prolong your stay in Australia beyond its designated timeframe. However, you do have the opportunity to explore alternative visa options.
Take the time to investigate and consider various visa pathways available to you to ensure continuity of your stay in Australia beyond the current visa’s expiration.