Contributory parent (Temporary) visa
(subclass 173)
Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa Subclass 173 is designed for parents of settled Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens, allowing them to stay temporarily in Australia.
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.
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.
With subclass 173 visa you can
Residing Down Under for a span of two years is an option available to you.
Engage in both employment and educational pursuits within Australia; however, bear in mind that government assistance won’t be accessible.
Enroll yourself in Australia’s public healthcare system, Medicare, ensuring access to necessary medical services.
Explore the opportunity to apply for a permanent Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143), a pathway towards establishing a lasting presence in the country.
Apply for a Contributory Parent (subclass 143) visa
To alleviate the financial burden associated with the permanent visa, you have the option to stagger the expenses over time through a two-step application process:
Initially, submit an application for the temporary Contributory Parent (Temporary) (subclass 173) visa. Subsequently, proceed to apply for the permanent Contributory Parent (subclass 143) visa, thus facilitating a more manageable spread of costs across multiple years.
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
Include family
When submitting your application, you have the option to include members of your family unit.
It’s mandatory to provide information about all family members, irrespective of their intention to migrate, during the application process.
Even if your partner isn’t applying for the visa alongside you, it’s necessary to include their details in your application.
It’s crucial to note that family members seeking the visa must fulfill the health and character prerequisites outlined by Australian authorities. Additionally, family members who aren’t planning to relocate to Australia may also need to meet these health and character standards.
Cost of subclass 173 visa
The cost of Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa Subclass 173 is AUD32,340, with an additional charge for each accompanying family member included in your application.
Payment for the visa is divided into two instalments:
1. The first instalment is due at the time of application.
2. The second instalment is payable upon request from immigration authorities.
In addition to the visa fee, you may also incur other expenses for health assessments, police certificates, and biometrics.
To calculate the total cost of your visa, you can use the Visa Pricing Estimator. However, please note that this tool only provides an estimate of the visa fee and does not include other associated costs.
Apply from
You have the flexibility to apply for the visa from either inside or outside Australia.
If you choose to apply within Australia, it’s necessary for all accompanying family members to also be present within the country, albeit not in immigration clearance, at the time of application. Conversely, if you opt to apply from outside Australia, the same condition applies—family members must also be outside Australia during the application process.
However, 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.
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 extended.
To get an estimate of processing times for this visa, you can utilize the visa processing time guide tool, which provides an overview of recently decided applications. However, please note that this tool serves as a general guide and may not directly reflect the processing time for your specific application.
Several factors may contribute to extended processing times, including incomplete applications, missing documents, or the need for additional information from you. Additionally, if there are delays in verifying your provided information, it can further prolong the processing period.
It’s crucial to ensure that you accurately complete your application, include all required documents, and respond promptly to any requests for further information to avoid unnecessary delays.
If the correct visa application charge isn’t paid, we won’t be able to process your application. In such cases, we’ll notify you accordingly and, if necessary, return your application.
Please be aware that applications for this visa are subject to capping and queueing, which may impact the processing timeline.
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.
Assessment
The assessment process for this visa occurs in two stages:
- Eligibility Check: Initially, we review your application to assess eligibility. If eligible, your application is either added to the queue for further processing or refused.
- Ongoing Assessment: Subsequently, as places become available, we continue assessing the application. Upon completion of this assessment, a decision regarding the visa application is made.
It’s important not to make arrangements to permanently stay in Australia until the visa is officially granted. We will notify you in writing once your visa application is approved.
For additional information regarding the Parent visa queue and processing priorities, further resources are available for reference.
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 parent 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.
Your obligations
Upon receiving your grant letter, it’s imperative to note the specified entry date into Australia, typically set at 12 months from the visa grant date.
Ensuring compliance with all visa conditions and adhering to Australian laws is mandatory for both you and your accompanying family members.
For details regarding the specific conditions attached to this visa, you can refer to our visa conditions page.
Visa label
Your visa will be electronically linked to your passport, eliminating the need for a physical label in your passport.
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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.
For further clarification and examples illustrating how the balance-of-family test is applied, you can refer to relevant resources outlining specific scenarios.
Meet the health requirement
Both you and any accompanying family members applying for the visa must fulfill the health requirement set by Australian immigration authorities.
Furthermore, we may also request that other family members who are not planning to migrate meet the same health requirement.
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.
Additionally, we reserve the right to request that other family members who are not applying for the visa also meet this character requirement.
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 the section on Limitations on applications in Australia.
If you are applying for a visa from outside Australia, you can refer to the information provided in the section titled Can I go to Australia.
For assistance with your visa application, you may seek immigration assistance. Details on who can provide help are available in the section titled Who can help with your visa application.
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.
Conditions
8502 - Not arrive before person specified in the visa
It’s essential not to enter Australia before the specified individual mentioned in the visa has done so. Typically, this refers to the primary visa holder or another relevant person, such as your sponsor in the case of a Partner visa.
8515 - Must not marry or enter into a de facto relationship before entry
Prior to entering Australia, it’s imperative that you refrain from marrying or entering into a de facto relationship.
In the event that your contact details change, it’s important to take appropriate action to update them.
Failure to disclose any engagement, marriage, or de facto relationship that existed before the visa was granted may result in visa cancellation upon discovery by immigration authorities.
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.