143 Contributory Parent Visa Checklist 2026
The Subclass 143 Contributory Parent Visa is the offshore permanent residence pathway for parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible NZ citizens. It is significantly faster than the non-contributory 103 visa but involves a much higher cost — the visa fee is paid in two instalments, with the second instalment (around $47,000 per applicant as of 2026) due when the visa is close to being granted. The total cost can be around $50,000+ per parent.
The Balance of Family test applies in the same way as for the 103 visa. The parent must be outside Australia at the time they apply and at the time of grant. If the parent is already in Australia on another visa (such as a Visitor visa), they should consider whether the Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent Visa (the onshore version) might be more appropriate.
Health examinations must be completed through an approved Panel Physician and are typically required well before the grant. Given the 4–7 year processing time, health checks will likely need to be redone closer to grant. Your sponsoring child must also complete their own sponsorship form and may be required to provide an Assurance of Support (AoS), guaranteeing to support the parent financially if needed.
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Common 143 document mistakes to avoid
- Not anticipating the second instalment cost — the second fee (~$47,000 as of 2026, indexed annually) is due when the visa is near grant, sometimes with limited notice; families should save for this well in advance.
- Parent entering Australia while waiting — if the parent is in Australia when the 143 is granted offshore, they may need to be outside at the time of grant; seek advice before international travel during processing.
- Health exam timing — exams done too early may expire before grant; coordinate with your case officer on timing for medical examinations.
- Assurance of Support (AoS) — many 143 applications require an AoS bond from the sponsoring child; this must be arranged through Centrelink and requires financial evidence from the sponsor.
Identity documents
3 itemsClear colour scan of the photo page of your current valid passport.
Your official birth certificate showing your full name, date of birth and parents' names.
Marriage certificate, deed poll or other proof if your name has changed since birth.
Balance of Family test
4 itemsA comprehensive list of all your children — names, dates of birth, countries of residence and citizenship.
Citizenship certificate, Australian passport or permanent residency visa for each child settled in Australia.
Official birth certificates for each child settled in Australia, confirming the parent–child relationship.
Passports, residence permits or utility bills showing country of residence for children living outside Australia.
Sponsorship
5 itemsCompleted and signed Form 40 (Sponsorship for Migration to Australia) submitted by your Australian child as your sponsor.
Your sponsoring child's current Australian passport or citizenship certificate and driver licence.
Completed Form 47PA for each additional applicant (e.g. spouse or dependent child) included in the application.
Evidence that your sponsor is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible NZ citizen.
Your sponsoring child's birth certificate confirming the parent–child relationship.
Assurance of Support
2 itemsConfirmation from Services Australia that an Assurance of Support bond has been accepted. The bond is AUD 10,000 for the primary applicant plus AUD 4,000 for each adult subsequent entrant. The bond is lodged as a 10-year term deposit with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) using Form SU594.
Payslips, tax returns or bank statements showing the AoS holder's financial capacity.
Contributory payment
2 itemsReceipt confirming payment of the first instalment of the contributory parent visa application charge (paid at time of lodgement).
Receipt for the second, larger instalment of the visa charge if you choose to pay it before the visa is granted rather than waiting for the grant notice.
Health & character
3 itemsNational police certificates from each country you have lived in for 12 or more months since age 16.
Medical examination completed through an approved Panel Physician or by booking a Health Assessment Portal (HAP) appointment. Results are sent directly to the Department of Home Affairs. Book early — appointments can take several weeks.
Completed Form 80 for Character Assessment. Fill for free →
Additional documents
2 itemsIf applying with a spouse or de facto partner, include your marriage or relationship certificate.
Bio-data page of your spouse's or partner's current valid passport, if they are included in the application.
Ready to lodge your Contributory Parent Visa?
Answer a few quick questions to get a checklist tailored to your exact situation — only the documents that apply to you. Upload each file, then export a clean ZIP ready to attach.
Build my personalised checklist →Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need for a Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143) application?
The Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143) typically requires 21 documents across 7 categories: Identity documents, Balance of Family test, Sponsorship, Assurance of Support, Contributory payment, Health & character, Additional documents. Use the personalised builder above to filter this list to your exact circumstances — it removes items that don't apply based on your profile.
How do I prepare my documents for the Contributory Parent Visa?
Work through each category in the checklist. Scan or photograph every document as a clear colour PDF at 150–200 DPI. The Department of Home Affairs (ImmiAccount) has a 5 MB per-file limit — compress any oversized file using VisaPacks' built-in tool. Combine multi-page documents (e.g. bank statements, payslips) into a single PDF using Merge. VisaPacks automatically renames your files on export, ready to attach to your ImmiAccount lodgement.
Can I prepare my Contributory Parent Visa documents myself without a migration agent?
Yes. Many applicants successfully self-prepare their documents using publicly available Department of Home Affairs guidance. VisaPacks provides a free personalised document checklist and upload tool to help you organise everything correctly. For complex cases — such as those involving previous refusals, health waivers, character issues, or difficult relationship circumstances — consulting a registered migration agent (MARA) may be worthwhile.
What file format should Contributory Parent Visa documents be in?
The Department of Home Affairs accepts PDF, JPG, and PNG files up to 5 MB each. Most documents should be submitted as PDF. Passport photos can be JPG. If a scan exceeds 5 MB, use VisaPacks' built-in PDF compressor to reduce file size while maintaining legibility — it uses three quality levels (screen, standard, or high) so you can choose the right trade-off.
Is this checklist official Department of Home Affairs guidance?
No. This checklist is based on publicly available Department of Home Affairs guidance but is maintained by VisaPacks as a convenience tool only — it is not legal advice and does not replace the assessment of a registered migration agent. Always verify current requirements on the Department of Home Affairs website.
What are the most common mistakes when preparing Contributory Parent Visa documents?
The most common errors are: exceeding the 5 MB per-file ImmiAccount limit without compressing first; omitting certified NAATI translations for non-English documents; submitting uncertified copies when originals or certified copies are required; including documents expiring within 6 months (particularly passports); and forgetting documents for a spouse or dependent children on the same application. VisaPacks addresses all of these — it includes a built-in PDF compressor, auto-naming to a consistent convention, and per-applicant sections for family members included in the application.
How does VisaPacks compare to the Department of Home Affairs checklist tool?
The Department of Home Affairs website shows a static document list for each visa type. VisaPacks goes further: it personalises the list to your circumstances (employment type, relationship status, whether children are included), lets you upload documents against each item, includes built-in PDF compression and merging to meet the 5 MB limit, auto-renames files to a consistent naming convention, and exports a complete ready-to-lodge ZIP. VisaPacks is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Home Affairs.