Subclass 173 — Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa — immi.wiki

The Subclass 173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa is a 2-year temporary visa designed as the first stage of a two-step pathway to permanent residence via the Subclass 143 Contributory Parent (Permanent) visa. By lodging the Subclass 173 first, applicants pay a lower first instalment charge and can then transition to the Subclass 143 after arrival in Australia. The total cost across both stages is comparable to applying for the Subclass 143 directly, but the two-stage approach spreads the cost over time.

The Subclass 173 grants the holder 2 years of temporary residence with full work and study rights. Before the 173 expires, the holder (or their sponsor) must lodge the Subclass 143 application and pay the second instalment charge to obtain permanent residence.

• The applicant must be the parent of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
• Balance of family test: at least half of the applicant's children must be Australian citizens, PRs, or eligible NZ citizens settled in Australia
• The sponsoring child must be an Australian citizen or PR who meets sponsorship requirements
• Health and character requirements must be satisfied

Applications for the Subclass 173 are lodged via ImmiAccount. Processing times are similar to those for the Subclass 143 queue. After the Subclass 173 is granted and the holder has entered Australia, they may lodge the Subclass 143 application from onshore. The first instalment for the Subclass 143 is paid at that point, and the second instalment (the large contributory charge) is paid before the grant of the 143.

The Subclass 173 is a temporary visa valid for 2 years from grant. The holder has full work and study rights. The holder may travel in and out of Australia during the 2-year period. To obtain permanent residence, the holder must apply for and be granted the Subclass 143 before the 173 expires.