What can you do with the Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143)?
On this permanent visa, you can:
- stay in Australia indefinitely
- work and study in Australia
- enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare
- sponsor your family members to come to Australia
- travel to and enter Australia for 5 years
- if eligible, apply for Australian citizenship.
Traveling to and from Australia
You can travel to and from Australia (as much as you want) for 5 years from the date that the Department of Home Affairs grants your visa.
If you want to travel to and from Australia after the initial 5-year travel facility:
- you will need to apply for and be granted a Resident Return (RRV) so that you can re-enter Australia as a permanent resident
- you might also want to consider Australian citizenship. If you become an Australian citizen, you don’t require a visa to enter Australia in the future. You will need to apply for an Australian passport and use it to leave and re-enter Australia.
If you hold a Contributory Parent (Temporary) (subclass 173) visa
You can apply for the Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) as a two-step process by first applying for a Contributory Parent (Temporary) (subclass 173) visa.
Apply for a Parent visa (subclass 143) as a retiree
If you apply for the subclass 143 visa as a retiree, you don’t have to:
- meet the balance of family test, or
- have a sponsor or an assurance of support
How long you can stay in Australia?
The Contributory Parent visa is a permanent visa. It lets you stay in Australia indefinitely.
For citizenship purposes, your permanent residency starts on the day:
- the Department of Home Affairs grant the visa if you are in Australia
- you enter Australia on this visa if you are outside Australia
What family can be included on this visa?
You can include members of the family unit in your application when you apply.
You are required to include details of all your family members, whether they are migrating or not.
If you did include family members on your application, they must meet the Department of Home Affairs health and character requirements. Family members who aren’t coming to Australia may need to also meet the health and character requirements.
If you apply for this visa as a retiree, you:
- can include your partner when you apply provided, they are also a retiree
- can’t include your children in your application
Where can you apply for this visa?
When applying for this visa, you can be in or outside of Australia.
If you apply in Australia, any family members who apply with you must also be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when you apply. If you apply outside Australia, any family members who apply for the visa with you must also be outside Australia when you apply.
If you are applying as a retiree you must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when you apply. You can be in or outside Australia when the Department of Home Affairs makes a decision on your application.
Visa Assessment
The Department of Home Affairs assess applications for this visa in 2 stages.
- Check eligibility and either add the application to the queue or refuse it.
- Continue assessing the application when a place becomes available and make a decision.
Don’t arrange to move to Australia until the Department of Home Affairs grant the visa. Our team of registered migration agents will notify you in writing if your visa has been granted.
Your obligations
You and your family members must meet all visa conditions and obey all Australian laws.
Visa label
Once you have been granted your visa, it will be digitally linked to your passport by the Department of Home Affairs. There is no physical visa label so you will not get a label in the passport.
What are the eligibility criteria for the Contributory Parent visa?
Not have this visa
You cannot apply for this visa if you have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa.
Apply as a retiree
You can apply for a Parent visa (subclass 143) as a retiree if:
- on 8 May 2018, you held or had previously held an Investor Retirement (subclass 405) visa or Retirement (subclass 410), and
- you have not held any other substantive visa between 8 May 2018 and the date you applied for the Parent visa
If you apply for this visa as a retiree:
- you don’t need to meet the balance-of-family test
- you don’t need to have an assurance of support
- you don’t need a sponsor
Have a sponsor
You must be sponsored by an eligible sponsor for this visa.
Usually, you would be sponsored by an eligible child. If your child is under 18, you can be sponsored by an eligible relative or community organisation.
The Department of Home Affairs must approve the sponsorship.
If you apply for this visa as a retiree, you don’t need a sponsor.
If your sponsor dies
If you hold a Temporary Contributory Parent (subclass 173) visa, you might still be eligible for this visa if your sponsor dies.
Balance of family test
You must meet the balance of family test. You meet the balance of family test if:
- at least half of your children and stepchildren are eligible children, or
- there are more eligible children living in Australia than in any other single country
Have assurance of support
You must be able to obtain an assurance of support.
An assurance of support assures us that you will not have to rely on government assistance after you enter Australia on this visa. The assurance is for you and any family members who come to Australia with you on this visa.
If you apply for the visa as a retiree, you do not need an assurance of support.
Health requirement
You and any family members who apply for the visa with you, must meet the Department of Home Affairs health requirement.
We might also ask that other non-migrating family members meet the health requirement.
Character requirement
You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet the Department of Home Affairs character requirement.
We might also ask that other non-migrating family members meet the requirement.
Debt to the Australian Government
If you or any family members owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or have an approved arrangement in place to pay it back.
Have you had a previous application refused or visa cancelled?
If you have previously had an application refused or visa cancelled whilst you were in Australia, you may not be eligible for this visa.
Health insurance
If you apply for this visa as a retiree, you must maintain adequate health insurance until you are granted a Parent visa. Your insurance should cover you for medically necessary treatment, including transport.
What happens once the Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) is granted?
Working in Australia
Once this visa is granted, you become a permanent resident. This means you can work and study within Australia.
Whilst you are working within Australia, you are protected by Australian workplace law.
Do you want to become an Australian citizen?
After a certain time, you might be eligible for Australian citizenship.
For citizenship purposes, become a permanent resident at a particular time:
- when you enter Australia on this visa, or
- if you have been in Australia before and held a permanent visa immediately before last leaving Australia, when the Department of Home Affairs grant this visa
Our team of registered migration agents and immigration lawyers have assisted visa applicants become Australia citizens for over 25 years.
Contact our team today to discuss your migration options.
Do you wish to apply for the Contributory Parent visa?
If you have read through the above information and requirements for the Contributory Parent visa, contact our team of registered migration agents and immigration lawyers today.