Contributory Parent visa (subclass 173)
This visa lets parents live in Australia for up to two years if they are the parents of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who is settled in Australia.
You must be Sponsored, normally by your child
You must be prepared to pay much higher visa application charges for faster processing.
You must meet the balance-of-family test. ie: At least half of your children live permanently in Australia OR more of your children live permanently in Australia than in any other country.
This visa is temporary and cannot be extended or renewed. After arriving in Australia, you have two years to apply for a Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143).
Your sponsor needs to have lived lawfully in Australia for the two years before the application is lodged.
https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/173-
Contributory parent visa (subclass 143)
To be eligible for this Visa you need to be a holder of a temporary Contributory Parent visa (subclass 173)
The Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) lets parents live permanently in Australia if they have a child who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who is settled in Australia.
Most applicants need to be sponsored by their child. Your sponsor needs to have lived lawfully in Australia for the two years before the application is lodged.
Cost of Contributory Parent visa
The visa application charge for this visa is paid in two instalments. These prices were quoted by a Migration agent in 2014
A$ 2,060 when you lodge the application.
A$42,220 just before the visa is granted.
https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/143-
Total cost of Contributory Parent visa
A newspaper article in 2014 quoted this:
The only option now for migrants wishing to bring their parents to Australia is the “contributory parent” visa – at a cost of $47,120, plus a bond of $10,000 to cover any welfare payments made over a 10-year period. The total is $105,905 to bring two parents to Australia. Jun 12, 2014 http://www.theage.com.au/comment/coalitions-new-visa-laws-make-family-reunion-a-preserve-of-the-rich-20140611-zs3wd.html
That news article also stated that “non-contributory visa” applicants had a visa queue time of about 13 years.
The planning levels for 2014-15 were:
1,500 places for non-contributory parents
7,175 for contributory parents.
Aged Parent visa (subclass 804)
This visa lets older parents live in Australia if their child is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who is settled in Australia.
There can be long waiting times of up to 30 years before this visa is approved.