Can your parents spend two years in Australia before applying for permanent residency? Subclass 173 is a temporary contributory Parent visa that can form the first stage of a permanent subclass 143 pathway. This guide explains the eligibility criteria, 2026 government charges, processing queues, offshore grant requirement, work rights, Medicare and the critical timing of the second-stage application.
By Sunil Choudhary | Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2418425) | A2MS – Aussie Academics and Migration Services®
Updated: 26 October 2026
Bringing your parents closer: what is the subclass 173 visa?
For families separated by borders, the goal is often simple: spending ordinary days together rather than relying on occasional short holidays. Australia’s Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173) can help eligible parents begin that journey through a temporary residence stage, followed by an application for permanent residence under subclass 143.
However, the word temporary matters. Subclass 173 permits up to two years in Australia after grant; it does not let applicants live in Australia for two years immediately after lodging an application, and a standard pending subclass 173 application does not ordinarily provide a bridging visa. Both stages require careful immigration and financial planning.
1. Subclass 173 at a glance
| Feature | Subclass 173 |
|---|---|
| Visa name | Contributory Parent (Temporary) |
| Stay once granted | Up to 2 years |
| Standard primary-applicant charge | From AUD $33,375, over two instalments |
| Apply from | Inside or outside Australia, subject to validity requirements |
| Where applicant must be at decision | Outside Australia |
| Work and study | Permitted after subclass 173 grant, subject to the visa |
| Bridging Visa A from ordinary application | Not ordinarily available |
| Permanent pathway | Separate subclass 143 application under the two-stage pathway |
| Processing queue | Contributory Parent category; long wait before initial grant |
| Lodgement method | Paper application, not standard online visa lodgement |
2. Who is eligible to apply?
Ordinary applicants must have an eligible sponsor—usually a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen child—and meet the relevant Balance of Family Test, health, character and other requirements. Where the sponsoring child is under 18, alternative sponsorship arrangements may be available under the regulations.
The Balance of Family Test
Broadly, parents meet this test when at least half of their children and relevant stepchildren are eligible children, or when the number of eligible children in Australia exceeds the number in any other single country. Family composition, citizenship or permanent residence and usual-residence rules all matter. The test cannot ordinarily be waived merely because family circumstances are compassionate.
Parents must also satisfy the applicable immigration history, identity, Australian Government debt and other eligibility criteria. Applicants who have already applied for or hold a subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa generally cannot make a new subclass 173 application.
3. Subclass 173 fees in 2026: what will the family pay?
As at October 2026, Home Affairs publishes a standard starting visa charge of AUD $33,375 for one primary subclass 173 applicant, payable in two instalments. Separate additional applicant charges and limited concessions may apply, including reduced costs for certain eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens from 1 July 2026.
The future permanent subclass 143 application has its own charge. Families should not mistake the $33,375 subclass 173 figure for the combined cost of both visas. The total two-stage pathway generally costs more than applying directly for permanent subclass 143, but allows the contributions to be spread over separate visa applications.
Other costs may include medical and police checks, document translation, travel, private healthcare and professional assistance. An Assurance of Support is not ordinarily required at the initial subclass 173 stage; it is normally relevant to the later permanent subclass 143 stage.
4. Processing times: the two-year stay does not mean a two-year wait
Subclass 173 applications are subject to capping and queueing. A valid application generally undergoes initial assessment against core criteria before a queue date is assigned. It is then released for final processing as places become available. An acknowledgement letter is not the same as a queue-date notification.
Home Affairs’ published planning estimate for new contributory Parent applications is approximately 18 years, rather than two years. As at 31 August 2026, subclass 173 queue assessments were addressing applications lodged around April 2024, and contributory Parent applications with queue dates up to November 2018 had been released for final processing. These are category planning data, not individual guarantees.
After the subclass 173 is actually granted, its temporary residence period is up to two years. This is a separate concept from the time spent waiting for the first decision.
5. Can you lodge subclass 173 while visiting Australia?
Generally, subclass 173 applicants may be inside or outside Australia when applying, but not in immigration clearance. However, a current visa containing condition 8503 (No Further Stay) may prevent a valid onshore substantive visa application unless the restriction is waived or an exception applies. Section 48 or other restrictions may also affect an individual’s circumstances.
Crucially, lodging a standard subclass 173 application in Australia does not ordinarily entitle a parent to a Bridging Visa A. A parent visiting Australia must independently maintain lawful visa status or depart before the permitted stay ends. Ordinary subclass 173 applicants must be outside Australia when Home Affairs makes the visa decision.
Read our Parent visa bridging visa guide for the differences between an application, a Bridging Visa A and a Bridging Visa B.
6. Rights after the temporary subclass 173 is granted
Once granted, subclass 173 allows the holder to live in Australia for up to two years, to work and study, and to travel out of and back into Australia while the visa remains valid. Employment is subject to Australian workplace laws. The visa does not grant permanent residence, and its validity cannot simply be extended.
Medicare: Services Australia identifies qualifying temporary contributory Parent visa holders among the categories covered by relevant Ministerial Orders. Eligibility is not identical for everyone; enrolment should be confirmed with Services Australia using the actual grant and personal circumstances.
Temporary status also does not provide an automatic entitlement to income support or government benefits. Parents should consider healthcare and retirement financing independently.
7. Transitioning from subclass 173 to permanent subclass 143
The intended second stage is a separate application for Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143). Home Affairs strongly encourages subclass 173 holders who want permanent residence to apply promptly after the temporary visa is granted, and before the subclass 173 expires, to preserve the normal two-stage eligibility arrangements.
Home Affairs states that certain former 173 holders who apply within 28 days of expiry may also qualify under specified rules; still later applications rely on much narrower compelling and compassionate provisions. These are not reasons to delay. Timing affects the availability of the transitional pathway, and the appropriate bridging visa rules should be checked separately.
For a qualifying permanent-stage subclass 143 applicant who applied while holding 173, certain previous core criteria—including the Balance of Family Test—may not need to be repeated under the specific rules. Different government charges and Medicare arrangements can also apply to eligible 173-to-143 applicants. Families should not assume the direct-subclass-143 pricing and bridging rules apply identically to the second stage.
8. Subclass 173 versus direct subclass 143
| Question | Subclass 173 then 143 | Direct subclass 143 |
|---|---|---|
| Initial result | Temporary stay of up to 2 years after initial grant | Permanent residence after grant |
| Applications | Two separate applications | One permanent application |
| Upfront government contribution | Spread between temporary and permanent stages | Direct permanent visa instalment structure |
| Combined charge | Generally higher overall | Generally lower than the two-stage combination |
| Parent queue for initial application | Contributory queue | Contributory queue |
| Bridging status | Special arrangements can apply at stage two | No ordinary BVA merely from initial lodgement |
Neither pathway should be described as a shortcut around the contributory Parent queue. The family must evaluate the timing and financial consequences of each option.
9. How to apply in 2026: paper lodgement still applies
Although subclasses 103, 143, 804 and 864 now ordinarily use online ImmiAccount lodgement, subclass 173 continues to be lodged by paper application, using the current Home Affairs process. The applicant ordinarily completes Form 47PA, the sponsor completes Form 40, and relevant family members may need additional forms such as Form 47A. The initial instalment and supporting evidence must accompany a valid application.
After receiving an acknowledgement, the paper application may be imported into ImmiAccount for easier correspondence, document uploads and updates. Applicants should promptly report changes to passports, addresses, family composition and relationships.
10. Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming subclass 173 is a two-year processing program instead of a temporary visa granted after queue processing.
- Assuming an onshore subclass 173 lodgement automatically provides a bridging visa.
- Confusing the visa’s temporary two-year validity with permission to remain on a Visitor visa while waiting.
- Forgetting that an ordinary applicant must be outside Australia at subclass 173 decision.
- Failing to budget for the separate permanent subclass 143 application.
- Delaying the subclass 143 second-stage application until after the temporary visa expires.
- Assuming an earlier subclass 870 application is compatible with lodging a new subclass 173.
- Assuming Medicare or income-support entitlements without checking the actual legal category.
11. Frequently asked questions
Is subclass 173 a permanent visa?
No. It is a temporary contributory Parent visa with a potential two-stage pathway to permanent subclass 143.
How long can parents stay once subclass 173 is granted?
Up to two years under the visa, subject to the grant and conditions.
What does subclass 173 cost in 2026?
Home Affairs publishes a standard starting charge of AUD $33,375 for one primary applicant over two instalments. The subsequent permanent subclass 143 stage costs extra.
Can parents work on granted subclass 173?
Yes. Home Affairs states that a granted subclass 173 permits work and study, subject to its terms and Australian law.
Can parents apply for subclass 173 while on a Visitor visa?
Potentially, if the application is valid and current conditions such as 8503 do not prohibit it. This does not ordinarily provide associated bridging status.
Must parents be overseas when subclass 173 is decided?
Yes, ordinary subclass 173 applicants must be outside Australia at decision.
Can parents get Medicare on subclass 173?
Qualifying temporary contributory Parent visa holders may enrol under the applicable Ministerial Order. Confirm personal eligibility with Services Australia.
Can we apply for permanent subclass 143 after subclass 173?
Yes, if the transitional requirements are met. Home Affairs advises applying before the temporary visa expires.
12. How A2MS can assist your family
At A2MS – Aussie Academics and Migration Services®, we assist families with Parent visa eligibility, the Balance of Family Test, sponsorship evidence, direct versus two-stage contributory options, costs, application preparation and the legal implications of any existing visa applications.
For a broader view, explore our Australian Parent Visa Options: Onshore vs Offshore guide, our subclass 143 permanent Parent visa guide, the 804 versus 864 aged-parent comparison and our subclass 870 temporary Parent visa guide.
Discuss your parents’ circumstances: Book a Parent Visa Eligibility Assessment.
Sunil Choudhary — Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2418425)
A2MS – Aussie Academics and Migration Services®
GO1, 450 Pulteney Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Phone: 08 7094 8094 | Email: info@a2ms.com.au
Official sources
- Home Affairs: Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa subclass 173
- Home Affairs: permanent subclass 143
- Home Affairs: Parent visa queue release dates and estimates
- Services Australia: Medicare Ministerial Order categories
Disclaimer: General migration information current as at 26 October 2026, not individual advice. The Migration Act 1958, Migration Regulations 1994, applicable instruments and personal circumstances govern validity, grants and entitlements. Charges, queues and policy may change; no outcome or timeframe is guaranteed.
