The 173:same queue as the 143,the charge in two halves,two years here between.
The 173 is the first stage of a two stage route to the 143. You pay $4,245 now and $29,130 at release, live and work in Australia with Medicare for two years, then lodge the 143 at about $19,920 more. It is not quicker than the 143. It sits in the same 15 years queue. What it changes is when the money goes and where the parent lives once it does.
Subclass 173, the numbers
- First instalment, main applicantat lodgement, on paper$4,245
- Second instalment, each applicantat release, before the temporary grant$29,130
- 143 stage, each applicantapproximate reduced charges for 173 holders$19,920
- Assurance of Supportat the 143 stage, refundable$10,000
- Wait, new applicationthe contributory queue15 years
As at 1 July 2026. The 143 stage figures are confirmed by the Department at the time.
Same wait as the 143. Two thirds of the money at the 173 stage, the rest two years later, with Medicare in between.
The Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173) gives a parent of a settled Australian two years in Australia with work rights and Medicare, and is the first stage of a two stage route to the permanent subclass 143. It is released from the same contributory queue as the 143, currently about 15 years, and must be granted while the parent is outside Australia. The charge is $33,375 per parent, and the later 143 attracts reduced charges of roughly $19,920.
Verified as at 1 July 2026 against the Department of Home Affairs visa pages and the Parent visas queue release dates page (as at 31 May 2026).
Is the 173 worth the second application? A 30 second check
Answer the questions to see where you stand.
A guide only, not legal advice. The consultation is where the real answer comes from.
Who it is for, and who should look elsewhere.
Most wrong choices happen here, before any form is filled.
- 01
Suits: families spreading the contributory charge
Two thirds at the 173 stage, the rest about two years later.
- 02
Suits: parents who want two years onshore with Medicare first
Work rights and Medicare while holding the 173.
- 03
Suits: families planning a 143 anyway
A smaller second instalment at the permanent stage.
- 04
Not for: anyone hoping it is faster
Same queue, same release dates as the 143.
- 05
Not for: a parent here and over 67
The 884 does the same job onshore with a bridging visa.
- 06
Not for: families who would rather pay once
Two stages together cost a little more than a direct 143.
What the 173 requires.
The same gates as the 143, plus the timing of the second stage.
- 01
A settled sponsor and the balance of family test
Identical to the 143: a settled citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen sponsor, and at least half the children in Australia or more here than in any other country.
- 02
Health and character
Panel medical and police clearances at queuing and again before grant.
- 03
No 870 on the record
Home Affairs: not already applied for or holding a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa at the time of applying.
- 04
Outside Australia at grant
The 173 is granted offshore. Lodging onshore is allowed, but no bridging visa follows.
- 05
The 143 lodged in time
While the 173 is in effect, or within the short window the regulations allow after it ceases. The 143 can then be granted while the parent is in Australia.
What it costs, in the order the money leaves.
Main applicant, from 1 July 2026. The Department adds a surcharge for card payments. Health, police and translation costs are extra.
| Item | When | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| First instalment, main applicant | Lodgement | $4,245 |
| First instalment, second parent | Lodgement, approximate | $2,125 |
| Second instalment, each applicant | Release, about 15 years later | $29,130 |
| 143 stage, each applicant | About two years after the 173 grant, approximate | $19,920 |
| Assurance of Support bond | At the 143 stage, refundable after ten years | $10,000 |
| Health and police checks, per person | Each stage | $600 to $900 |
| Our professional fee | Fixed, staged across both applications | On request |
The 173 and 884 must be lodged on paper. Everything else about the queue is the same as the 143.
Two stages, one queue.
Typical for a 173 lodged in 2026.
Weeks 1 to 8: lodgement
Family count, sponsor and budget confirmed, then the paper application with $4,245.
Months 1 to 6: queue date
Core criteria checked, queue date assigned in the contributory queue.
Years 1 to 14: the queue
Overseas or visiting on visitor visas. Annual review, changes reported, second instalment forecast.
Final 12 months: 173 granted
Fresh checks and $29,130. Outside Australia at grant, then entry.
Years 15 to 17: onshore, then the 143
Two years living and working with Medicare. The 143 is lodged before the 173 expires at about $19,920, and granted onshore.
Government charges for one or two parents.
Set the second parent line to 1 for a couple. Use the cost stack on the parent visas page for bonds, checks and health cover.
As at 1 July 2026. Bond, health, police and our fixed fee are extra.
The 173, answered plainly.
Is the 173 faster than the 143?
No. Both are released from the same contributory queue on the same dates, about 15 years for a new application. The 173 changes the payment pattern, not the wait.
What does the 173 route cost in total?
$33,375 for the 173, then about $19,920 at the 143 stage, per applicant. That is slightly more than a direct 143 at $49,900, in exchange for two years onshore and a smaller final payment.
Can a 173 holder use Medicare?
Yes. Holders of the 173 can enrol in Medicare under a Ministerial Order and have full work rights for the two years.
What if the 143 is not lodged in time?
The 143 must be lodged while the 173 is in effect or within the short period the regulations allow afterwards. Miss it and the family starts again at the full 143 charge, so we diarise it from the day of grant.
Must the 173 be granted offshore?
Yes. The parent must be outside Australia when the 173 is granted. The later 143 can be granted onshore if the parent still holds the 173.
Where this visa connects.
- 143Open
Contributory Parent 143
Permanent. $6,300 now, $43,600 at release, about 15 years.
- 884Open
Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) 884
Two years with Medicare, then a cheaper 864.
- 870Open
Sponsored Parent (Temporary) 870
Three or five years, no queue, no residence.
- All 7Open
Parent visas compared
The pathfinder, the cost stack and the queue timeline.
Direct 143 or the two stage route?
We put both on a cash flow by year and tell you which one your family should lodge, with a fixed fee for the stages.