Australia is an extremely welcoming country to people of all backgrounds. It is also considered to be one of the best countries for senior citizens to live in. Many people who reside in Australia eventually invite their parents to stay with them as well. This is where the Parent Visas come into the picture. 

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The Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143) is a permanent visa that will allow parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens to settle in Australia. It is only applied for after applicants have been previously granted a Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 173). 

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Once applicants obtain this visa, they may:

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• Reside in Australia as a permanent resident
• Work or study in Australia
• Sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia 
• Apply for Australian citizenship
• Enrol for Medicare (depending on their eligibility) 
• Travel to and from Australia multiple times during their visa’s validity 
• Remain in Australia while their application is being processed (if they are above the age of 65 years) 

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While applying for a Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143), it is of immense importance that applicants have gathered the correct documents to submit to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). As this visa has an extensive list of documents, any errors or mishaps by the applicants may result in a prolonged visa processing time or even visa refusal. 

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Documentation Checklist 

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Ensure that you have the following documents gathered for your Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143) process:

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Identity Documents

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• A valid passport copy - pages that show the applicant’s photo, personal details, along with passport issue and expiry dates 
• National identity card (if applicable)
• Proof of name change (if applicable):‍
• Marriage or divorce certificate 
• Change of name documents from an Australia Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages - or from relevant overseas authorities 
• Documents that show other names the applicant is known by 

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If the applicant cannot prove their identity, they may be subject to: 

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• Visa refusal 
• Non-granting of another visa for 10 years 
• Non-granting of a visa of any family member listed as part of their application (10 years)

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Sponsor Documents

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• Proof that the sponsor is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen and related to the main applicant
• Form 40 Sponsorship for migration to Australia - this must be completed and submitted by the sponsor 

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Balance of Family Documents 

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Proof that the applicant has met the balance of family test by providing;

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• Evidence of the applicant’s relationship with each child 
• Evidence of each child’s country of permanent residence
• Evidence that the child should not be included in the balance of family test (e.g. the child’s death certificate)

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Kindly note that retirees do not need to submit a family of balance test. Neither do Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 173) holders, as they have already met the balance of family requirements. 

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Character Documents 

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Applicants may be asked to submit character documents, including police certificates. However, they must not arrange for a police check unless specifically requested by the DHA. 

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To understand more about Australia’s character requirements, click here. 

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Assurance of Support (AoS) Documents

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Applicants may be requested to provide AoS documents. This does not apply to retirees. 

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Information of Help 

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If applicants are receiving help from others, they will have to nominate someone to:

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• Receive their correspondence - Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient 
• Provide immigration assistance - Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person

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Dependents Under 18 Years of Age 

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Dependents under the age of 18 who are applying with the primary applicant must provide:

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• Identity documents (e.g. valid passport, national identity card, etc) 
• Proof of their relationship with the applicant (e.g. birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc) 
• Character documents (if applicable)

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Applicants who are retirees cannot include their children or their partner’s children in the application 

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Applicants must obtain consent for dependents under 18 years to migrate to Australia from anyone who:

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• Has a legal right to decide where the child lives; and 
• Is not coming to Australia with the child 

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The person must complete either:

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• Form 1229 Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years; or
• Submit a statutory declaration giving their consent for the child to visit Australia on this visa 
• The person’s identity documents must be provided as well

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Alternatively, the applicant can provide documents such as:

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• An Australian court order that allows their dependent to migrate to Australia, or 
• Laws of the dependent’s home country that allow them to leave the home country

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Dependents Over 18 Years of Age 

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Dependents over the age of 18 must be:

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• Under 18 years of age; or
• Over 18 years of age but not yet turned 23, and dependent on the applicant or their partner; or
• Over 23 years of age, unable to earn a living to support themselves due to physical or cognitive limitations and dependent on the applicant or their partner 

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Documents for dependents over the age of 18 include:

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• Identity documents (e.g. valid passport, national identity card, etc) 
• Proof of their relationship with the applicant (e.g. birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc) 
• Character documents (if applicable)
• Proof of dependency:‍
• Form 47a - Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over ‍
• Proof of the applicant’s relationship with the dependent 

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Applicants who are retirees cannot include their children or their partner’s children in the application

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Partner Documents 

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• Identity documents  (e.g. valid passport, national identity card, etc) 
• Character documents
• Documents about other relationships (if applicable) 
• Current marriage certificate; or
• Proof of the applicant’s de facto relationship with their partner for at least 12 months (prior to the application date):  ‍
• Joint bank accounts 
• Billing accounts in joint names 
• Joint leases or mortgages 
• Address proof 

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Kindly note that any documents that are not in English must be translated by accredited translators who can be either in Australia or outside Australia.

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Note for 173 Visa Holders 

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Holders of a Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 173) will not be required to provide the DHA with certain documents. If a 173 Visa holder’s visa expired 28 days immediately before they apply for a Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143), they will also not be required to submit certain documents. 

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173 Visa holders will still have to provide documents: 

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• To let the DHA know that they are getting help with their application 
• If there has been a change in their situation since they were granted a 173 Visa 

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A change of situation may include: 

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• The applicant’s family member is no longer a dependent 
• The applicant’s relationship status has changed 
• The applicant has had a baby 
• The applicant’s contact information has changed
• The applicant has a new passport 
• The applicant wishes to nominate a new sponsor 
• The applicant’s sponsor has passed away

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Disclaimer: Kindly note that the information provided here does not constitute legal advice. This must solely be regarded as content that provides general immigration information and is not a substitute for professional legal advice that occurs between an immigration lawyer and a client. 

Path Migration strongly recommends readers to contact certified immigration lawyers for a holistic overview of the Australia immigration system and a detailed analysis of each case.