Subclass 173 plus 143 or direct 143? Comparing Australia's contributory parent options in 2026

Compares the 173-then-143 two-step route with a direct subclass 143 application: total cost, payment timing, stay rights and queue handling.

Published: 10 July 2026 Reading time 12 min

Direct 143 is the cheaper path to a permanent result; the 173-then-143 route is the one that lets a family spread the cost. According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs official page for the Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173), applying for the subclass 173 visa before the subclass 143 visa "allows you to spread the cost of the visas over several years" — but the same page states that the two-stage process "costs more than applying directly for the Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143)". So the decision is not about which visa you end up with; both routes finish at a subclass 143 permanent visa. It is about whether you pay more in total for the sake of paying it later.

This is general information drawn from published visa settings, not advice tailored to any individual circumstances, and visa costs, criteria and queue arrangements can change — confirm the current position against the Department's own pages before committing money or travel plans.

What actually differs between the two routes?

	Direct subclass 143	Subclass 173, then subclass 143
What you hold first	The permanent visa itself	A temporary visa allowing stay of up to 2 years
Total government visa cost	Lower	Higher, according to the Department's own comparison
How the cost lands	Paid through the one application	Spread across two applications over a longer period
Stay during stage one	Permanent	2 years from the date of first entry after grant, with multiple entry
Parent visa queue	Both are Parent visas subject to capping and queueing	Both are Parent visas subject to capping and queueing

The subclass 173 page confirms that 173 holders can work and study in Australia, with the note that they will not receive government support. It does not restate the conditions attached to the subclass 143 visa, so the 143 page remains the place to check those before you rely on them.

How much does the subclass 173 visa cost, and how is it paid?

The visa costs from AUD33,375 for a single applicant, with additional charges for each family member who applies with you, and concessions available in limited circumstances.

You pay in two parts called instalments: the first when you apply, and the second when the Department asks you to. On top of the visa application charge, you may need to pay related costs for each applicant, such as health checks, police certificates and biometrics.

Is the two-step route really more expensive?

Yes, on the Department's own framing. The subclass 173 page lists the options in these terms: the permanent subclass 143 "may be processed faster, but they cost more" than the non-contributory Parent visa (subclass 103); and the 173-then-143 sequence "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".

The Department's visa pricing page publishes the current charges for both the subclass 173 and subclass 143 applications, including instalment amounts.

Consider a hypothetical applicant — not a real case — who can fund the whole contributory amount from savings today. On the published comparison, that applicant pays less by going straight to 143. A hypothetical applicant who would need to sell assets, borrow, or delay other commitments to fund a single payment is the one the 173 route is designed for: the premium buys time, not a better visa.

How long can you stay on the 173, and what happens when it runs out?

The 173 is a temporary visa with a 2-year stay. The visa period starts on the date you enter Australia after the visa is granted, not on the date of grant, and it allows multiple entry — holders can travel outside Australia and return as many times as they want within those 2 years.

The visa cannot be extended, and you cannot stay longer by reapplying for it. The pathway forward is a different visa, which in practice means the subclass 143 you planned to lodge. Holders must also enter Australia before the date specified in their grant letter.

What if the 143 application is not lodged in time?

The Department's instruction is explicit: you must apply for the subclass 143 visa before your subclass 173 visa expires, to ensure you meet all applicable lodgement criteria. Treat the 2-year clock as a lodgement deadline, not just a stay limit.

This is the main structural risk of the two-step route. The cost spreading is useful only if the second application is genuinely ready to go well inside the window — a family that spreads the cost but then misses the deadline has paid the premium and lost the bridging benefit.

Does either route skip the parent visa queue?

No. The subclass 173 page states that demand for Parent visas is greater than the number of places available each year, which produces long processing times, and that applications are subject to capping and queueing and are processed in the order they are received.

Assessment happens in two stages: an initial assessment to check eligibility either to add the application to the queue or to refuse it, then a final assessment as places become available and applications are released from the queue. The Department's advice is not to arrange to stay permanently in Australia until the visa is granted, and it will notify applicants in writing if the visa is granted.

Applications can also take longer if they are not completed correctly, required documents are missing or further information is needed, or information takes a long time to verify. An application can only be processed if the correct visa application charge has been paid; the Department will notify you if the amount is wrong and may return the application.

Can family members be included?

Yes. You can include members of your family when you apply, and you must include details of all family members in the application form even if they are not migrating. Family members who apply must meet health and character requirements, and family members who are not coming to Australia might also need to meet them.

Where can applicants be when they lodge, and what invalidates an application?

You and any family members applying with you can be in or outside Australia when you apply. One trap applies to onshore applicants: if you apply in Australia while holding a temporary visa with a no further stay condition, the application will be invalid unless you apply for a waiver of that condition.

Once granted, the visa is digitally linked to the passport; no visa label is issued. Holders and their family members must meet all visa conditions and obey Australian laws.

When does the Pacific Island and Timor-Leste cost concession apply?

From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid visa application, charged during the application process. Eligibility is recognised when the applicant applies with a valid passport from one of the specified countries, and family members are also eligible, based on the passport of the primary applicant (or the visa holder who satisfies the primary visa criteria).

The listed 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which route is cheaper overall, 173 plus 143 or a direct 143?

A direct subclass 143 is cheaper in total. The Department of Home Affairs states on the subclass 173 page that the two-stage process costs more than applying directly for the subclass 143, with the trade-off being that the cost is spread across two visas over a longer period.

How long can a parent stay in Australia on a subclass 173 visa?

Up to 2 years, starting from the date they first enter Australia after the visa is granted. The visa allows multiple entry, so holders can leave and return as often as they wish within that period, but it cannot be extended and cannot be reapplied for.

Must the 143 application be lodged before the 173 expires?

Yes. The Department requires you to apply for the subclass 143 before the subclass 173 visa expires, so that all applicable lodgement criteria are met. In practice the 2-year visa period works as the deadline for lodging the second application.

Does the two-step route move an application up the parent visa queue?

Nothing on the subclass 173 page indicates that. Both contributory parent applications are Parent visas subject to capping and queueing, processed in the order they are received, with applications released from the queue for final assessment as places become available.

How is the subclass 173 visa charge paid?

It is paid in two instalments: the first when you apply, and the second when the Department asks for it. The charge starts from AUD33,375 for a single applicant, with additional charges for each family member who applies with you.

Can parents apply for the 173 while inside Australia?

Yes, applicants and any accompanying family members can be in or outside Australia when applying. The exception is holding a temporary visa with a no further stay condition, which makes an onshore application invalid unless a waiver of that condition is applied for.