When children have become Australian citizens or permanent residents, bringing parents to Australia for family reunion is often one of the highest priorities. However, this is also when many families encounter a challenging question:
Should You Choose Subclass 143 or Subclass 870 Visa?
Both visa subclasses are designed for parents of settled Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. However, fundamentally, Subclass 143 and Subclass 870 serve completely different purposes. One is a direct pathway to Australian permanent residency with a very long processing queue, while the other is a long-term temporary stay solution that allows parents to reunite in Australia for extended periods without leading to permanent residency or granting work rights.
Therefore, families should not look at this merely as a question of “which visa is faster.” The more critical consideration is what need your family is looking to fulfill: temporary reunion for a few years or building a permanent life together in Australia?
Subclass 143: The Pathway to Permanent Residency
Subclass 143 (Contributory Parent visa) is a permanent visa for parents of settled Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. Once granted, parents can live in Australia indefinitely, work and study, enroll in Medicare, sponsor eligible family members, and eventually apply for Australian citizenship if eligibility criteria are met.
If your family’s ultimate goal is to bring parents to Australia and help them become permanent residents, Subclass 143 is one of the primary pathways to consider. However, this is precisely why families need to evaluate this pathway with great care.
Subclass 143 Waiting Times Are Currently Very Long
Subclass 143 is subject to statutory capping and queuing mechanisms. The Department of Home Affairs notes that as of 31 May 2026, applications with queue dates up to November 2018 are being finalized for visa grant consideration. For new applications, the Department currently estimates processing times for Contributory Parent visas to be approximately 15 years. This estimate is based on the current volume of applications and allocated planning places, not a guaranteed timeframe for individual cases.
This means lodging a Subclass 143 visa today will not result in swift permanent settlement. Families must be mentally prepared for a long-term roadmap.
Subclass 143 Financial Commitment and Assurance of Support
Under current fee schedules, Subclass 143 costs start from AUD 49,900 for a single applicant, payable in two installments, excluding additional costs such as medical examinations, police clearance certificates, and translations. In addition to visa fees, applications are subject to a mandatory Assurance of Support (AoS) with a 10-year validity period. Under Services Australia guidelines, the security bond is currently set at AUD 10,000 for the primary applicant and AUD 4,000 for secondary adult applicants when assured by an individual (or AUD 20,000 total if assured by an organization).
This bond should not be considered a sunk cost; it serves as financial security to cover any recoverable social security payments during the 10-year assurance period.
An Alternative Staged Route: Subclass 173 to Subclass 143
An often overlooked alternative is applying first for the Subclass 173 (Contributory Parent Temporary) visa, then transitioning to the Subclass 143. Subclass 173 allows parents to live in Australia for up to 2 years with work and study rights, creating a structured stepping stone to apply for the permanent Subclass 143. Current fees start from AUD 33,375 payable in two installments. This two-stage process helps families spread financial commitments across stages rather than paying the full Subclass 143 fee upfront.
However, as Subclass 173 remains part of the capped Parent visa program, it does not entirely eliminate processing wait times.
Subclass 870: Long-Term Temporary Stay Without Settlement
If your family does not wish to wait through lengthy permanent residency queues, the Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa offers an attractive alternative. Subclass 870 permits parents to stay in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years per grant, renewable for up to a cumulative maximum of 10 years. This enables rapid family reunification without waiting over a decade.
Crucially, Subclass 870 does not lead to permanent residency. Upon visa expiry, parents must depart Australia or hold another valid visa to remain lawfully.
Can Parents on a Subclass 870 Visa Work in Australia?
No. Under Australian migration regulations, Subclass 870 visa holders have no work rights in Australia. While certain unpaid volunteer activities may be permitted in specific circumstances, Subclass 870 cannot be used to engage in paid employment. Families must take this into careful consideration.
If parents wish to work in Australia, Subclass 870 is not suitable. Furthermore, Subclass 870 requires an approved Parent Sponsorship application prior to visa lodgement. Once sponsorship is approved, the visa application must be lodged within 6 months (or within prescribed onshore deadlines).
Current visa application charges start from: AUD 6,370 for up to 3 years, or AUD 12,440 for up to 5 years (excluding health assessments, police checks, or biometrics if required).
Critical Note: Subclass 870 and 173/143 Cannot Be Arbitrarily Combined
This is where families must exercise maximum caution. The Department of Home Affairs stipulates that an individual who has applied for or holds a Subclass 870 visa cannot simultaneously apply for certain other Parent visas, including Subclass 143 and Subclass 173 under statutory exclusion rules. In short: Do not assume you can easily lodge Subclass 870 first and keep all 173 → 143 options open seamlessly as if Subclass 870 was never held. An incorrect application order can adversely affect your overall migration strategy.
This is why De1 always emphasizes establishing a clear long-term roadmap before lodging any visa application, rather than solely choosing whichever visa appears faster in the short term.
Which Visa Is More Suitable for Your Family?
The optimal choice depends directly on your family’s objectives:
• If parents seek permanent settlement, your family has the required financial resources and is willing to navigate the waiting period, Subclass 143 is well worth pursuing.
• If your family desires prompt family reunion, parents do not intend to work, and the primary goal is living together in Australia over the medium term, Subclass 870 is likely the better choice.
• If your family seeks a staged transition to permanent residency while spreading costs across stages, the 173 → 143 pathway should be evaluated specifically.
Quick Comparison Table
| Criteria | Subclass 143 | Visa 173 → 143 | Subclass 870 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nature | Permanent Residency (PR) | Temporary → Permanent | Temporary Residency (TR) |
| Duration of Stay | Indefinite / Permanent | 173 up to 2 years, then transition to 143 | 3 or 5 years per grant (max 10 years) |
| Settlement / PR Goal | Yes | Yes | No |
| Work Rights | Yes | Yes | No |
| Medicare Access | Yes upon PR grant and eligibility | Subject to visa conditions | No (Private health insurance required) |
| Parent Visa Queue | Subject to capping and queuing | Subject to capping and queuing | Not subject to PR capping queue |
| Primary Visa Fee | From AUD 49,900 / applicant | 173 from AUD 33,375, plus 143 transition fee | AUD 6,370 (3 years) or AUD 12,440 (5 years) |
| Best Suited For | Families seeking permanent settlement | Families wanting a two-stage financial roadmap | Families seeking prompt long-term reunion |
The fees above reflect current Department of Home Affairs schedules at the time of publication and are subject to official policy updates.
Don’t Just Ask “Which Visa Is Faster?”
A faster visa is not necessarily the most suitable one. Before selecting a visa pathway, families should holistically assess parents’ age, financial capacity, employment preferences, and whether the ultimate objective is temporary stay or permanent migration.
Choosing between Subclass 143, 173, or 870 should never rely solely on assumptions or informal advice. A sound strategy from the outset saves families years of delays and substantial unnecessary expenses. De1 Consultancy provides comprehensive parent visa assessments based on sponsor status, parents’ circumstances, Balance of Family test, financial capacity, and long-term settlement goals.
