Is paying in two instalments worth it? Cost of subclass 173 plus 143 versus direct 143 in 2026
Compares the real cost of the subclass 173 then 143 route against applying directly for subclass 143, using the Department's own published figures.
Paying in two instalments costs more overall, not less. On the Department of Home Affairs official page for the Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 173), as at August 2026, the Department states the position directly: the subclass 173 followed by subclass 143 route "costs more than applying directly for the Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143), however, the cost is spread across the 2 visas over a longer period." So the question is not which route is cheaper. It is whether a higher total is an acceptable price for paying part of it later.
How much does subclass 173 cost, and when is each instalment due?
The Department lists subclass 173 as costing from AUD 33,375 for a single applicant, with additional charges for each family member who applies with you and concessions available in limited circumstances.
That figure is the visa application charge, not the final bill. The same page points to related costs payable for each applicant, covering health checks, police certificates and biometrics. Those amounts sit outside the headline visa cost and scale with the number of people on the application.
The payment structure itself is simple:
- the first instalment is paid when you apply;
- the second instalment is paid when the Department asks for it;
- you must pay the second instalment before the visa can be granted, and the Department sends an invoice when it falls due.
Is 173 plus 143 actually dearer than going straight to 143?
Yes, and this is stated rather than inferred. The Department's own comparison of Parent visa options says the two-stage process costs more than applying directly for the permanent Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143), with the offsetting benefit that the cost is spread over a longer period.
| Decision factor | Subclass 173 then 143 | Direct subclass 143 |
|---|---|---|
| Total government cost | Higher — the Department states it costs more than applying directly for 143 | Lower total |
| How the cost is spread | Across the two visas over a longer period; 173 itself is paid in two instalments | Not set out on the subclass 173 page |
| What you hold in between | A temporary visa: up to 2 years in Australia, with work and study rights | No temporary stage |
| Ongoing obligation | You must apply for 143 before the 173 visa expires | Not applicable |
| Consequence of non-payment | An unpaid second instalment means refusal, and the fee is not refunded | Not set out on the subclass 173 page |
The one column the subclass 173 page does not fill in is the direct 143 side beyond the total-cost comparison: its payment structure and current charge are set out on the Department's visa pricing material rather than on this page.
What do you get for the extra money?
Two things: time, and an interim visa.
The time is the point of the design. Applying for the temporary visa first lets a household meet the contributory parent cost in stages instead of in one lump, which matters when the full amount is payable but not conveniently payable today.
The interim visa is a real benefit in its own right. Subclass 173 allows the holder to live in Australia for up to 2 years, to work and study here (without government support), and to travel and return as many times as they wish within that period. The 2-year visa period starts on the date the holder first enters Australia after grant, not on the date of grant.
When does spreading the cost stop being an advantage?
The arrangement carries timing risk, because the two clocks are not the same clock.
The 173 visa runs for 2 years from first entry and cannot be extended or re-applied for; the only way to stay longer is a different visa. At the same time, the Department requires that you apply for the permanent subclass 143 before the 173 expires, in order to meet the applicable lodgement criteria. A temporary visa that is already running while a permanent application still has to be lodged leaves less room for delay than applicants usually expect.
Both routes also sit inside the same queue. The Department notes that demand for Parent visas exceeds the places available each year, that these applications are subject to capping and queueing, and that they are processed in the order received. Assessment happens in two stages: an initial assessment that either queues or refuses the application, then final assessment as places become available.
Two further points weigh on the arithmetic:
- Related costs are charged per applicant, so a couple or a family multiplies the health check, police certificate and biometric costs, not just the visa charge.
- Refusal is expensive. The Department states it will not refund the application fee if an application is refused, and non-payment of the second instalment invoice is itself a ground for refusal.
Who is the two-instalment route actually built for?
Assume an applicant who can meet the first instalment now but would have to sell an asset or dismantle an investment to meet the full permanent-stage charge today. For that household, the two-stage route converts an unaffordable single payment into two payments separated by years, and the higher total is the cost of that conversion.
Now assume a different applicant who already holds liquid funds sufficient for the permanent application. For that household, the same route buys nothing except a temporary visa, and pays a premium for it. The subclass 173 page also notes that Contributory Parent visas may be processed faster than the non-contributory Parent visa (subclass 103), so the choice between routes is not purely about cash flow.
Does the same price apply to everyone?
No. From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid visa application. The Department charges the lower cost during the application process and identifies eligible applicants through a valid passport from a specified country.
Family members are also eligible for the lower cost, based on the passport of the primary applicant (or the visa holder who satisfies the primary visa criteria). The specified countries are the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
What should you check before committing to the two-stage route?
Several structural features of subclass 173 shape whether the instalment plan works for you. Online lodgement is not available: the application is made on paper using Form 47PA, with the sponsor completing Form 40 and each family member aged 18 or over completing Form 47A. You cannot apply if you have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870), and any other undecided Parent visa application must be withdrawn when you apply. Eligibility also turns on sponsorship and the balance of family test, which are set out in the Migration Regulations 1994 alongside the health and character criteria.
Two practical constraints catch people out. First, you must be outside Australia when the Department makes its decision on the 173 application. Second, there is no bridging visa associated with a subclass 173 application, so anyone already in Australia needs to hold a valid visa independently while the application is processed.
This article is general information about how the two routes are structured and priced, not advice tailored to your circumstances; charges, concessions and criteria change over time, so treat the Department's current published figures as the operative ones and seek advice from a registered migration agent or legal practitioner if your situation is not straightforward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is subclass 173 plus 143 cheaper than applying directly for subclass 143?
No. The Department of Home Affairs states on its subclass 173 page that the two-stage process costs more than applying directly for the Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143). The benefit is that the cost is spread across the two visas over a longer period, not that the total is lower.
How much is the subclass 173 visa for a single applicant?
The Department lists the cost as from AUD 33,375 for a single applicant, with additional charges for each family member who applies with you. Concessions apply in limited circumstances, and related costs such as health checks, police certificates and biometrics are charged separately for each applicant.
When do I have to pay the second instalment?
You pay the first instalment when you apply and the second when the Department asks for it. The Department sends an invoice when the second instalment falls due, and the visa cannot be granted until it is paid.
What happens if I do not pay the second instalment?
The Department states that it will refuse the application if the invoice is not paid. It also states that the application fee is not refunded where an application is refused, so an unpaid instalment can mean losing the first instalment as well.
Do I have to apply for the subclass 143 after getting a subclass 173?
The permanent subclass 143 is applied for as the second step of the process, and the Department requires that you apply before your subclass 173 visa expires to ensure you meet the applicable lodgement criteria. The 173 itself lasts 2 years from the date you first enter Australia after grant, and cannot be extended or re-applied for.
Can I stay in Australia longer on the subclass 173?
No. The visa allows a stay of up to 2 years with multiple entry, work and study rights, but you cannot extend it or reapply for it. Staying longer means applying for a different visa, with the subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa being one option the Department lists, allowing stays of up to 3 or 5 years at a time to a maximum total of 10 years.
Does the lower cost for Pacific Island and Timor-Leste applicants cover family members too?
Yes. From 1 July 2026, family members are also eligible for the lower visa cost, based on the passport of the primary applicant or the visa holder who satisfies the primary visa criteria. Eligibility is recognised through a valid passport from one of the specified countries.