Contributory Parent Visa 143 Processing Time: What to Expect in 2026

The Subclass 143 is the most commonly lodged permanent parent visa in Australia, and the question I get asked most often is: how long will it take? The honest answer is that it takes years, not months. But understanding exactly why, and what stage the queue is at right now, helps you plan rather than just wait.

How long does the subclass 143 take in 2026?

The Subclass 143 Contributory Parent Visa currently takes approximately six to eight years from lodgement to grant, based on where the queue sits as of early 2026. That estimate will vary depending on how the annual programme allocation changes over coming years and how quickly the department works through the current backlog.

This is not a processing delay in the conventional sense, such as a case stuck on someone’s desk. It is a structural queue. The government allocates a fixed number of parent visa places each year, and there are far more applicants than places. The result is a multi-year wait that is baked into the system.

New applicants lodging a 143 today should plan for a grant somewhere around 2031 to 2033 at current rates. That timeline could improve if the government increases the annual allocation, or it could extend further if lodgement volumes rise or the allocation is cut.

The two-stage process explained

The 143 has a two-stage fee structure, and understanding it is critical to understanding the timeline.

Stage 1: lodgement and queueing

When you lodge the application and pay the first instalment of approximately $5,040 per person, your queue date is set. That is the date that determines your position in the line. From this point, your application sits in the queue. There is no active casework happening during this period; you are simply waiting for the department to work through the applications ahead of yours.

All permanent parent visa applications have been lodged online via ImmiAccount since 22 April 2026. Read the April 2026 online lodgement changes if you are preparing to lodge now.

During Stage 1 you should keep your ImmiAccount details current, particularly your email address and your sponsor’s contact details. The department uses ImmiAccount for all correspondence. If the Stage 2 invitation goes to an old email address and you miss it, your application can lapse.

Stage 2: finalisation

When the department reaches your queue date, you will be invited to pay the second instalment: approximately $43,600 per person. For two parents that is $87,200 in second instalment fees alone. This payment must be made within the deadline the department sets. Once paid, the department moves to actively assess and finalise your application.

Stage 2 involves completing or updating health examinations, obtaining current police clearances from every country where you have lived, progressing the Assurance of Support arrangement (a bond lodged with Centrelink of $10,000 for one adult or $14,000 for two), and providing any further documents the case officer requests.

If your documents are in order and you respond promptly, Stage 2 typically takes a few months. It is Stage 1, the queue, that accounts for the overwhelming majority of the total wait time.

Current queue date for the 143 visa

As of March 2026, the department is processing 143 applications with a queue date of November 2018. That means applications lodged in late 2018 are currently being invited to pay their second instalment and finalised.

A new application lodged today would have a queue date of June 2026. The gap between November 2018 and June 2026 is roughly seven and a half years. If the queue advances at its current rate, a 2026 lodgement is looking at a grant in the 2031 to 2034 range.

This is the single most important number to know when deciding whether to lodge the 143. The fees are substantial (around $48,640 per person all up), but many families decide the permanent residency outcome and the Medicare access that comes with it justify the cost and the wait.

Will processing times improve?

Annual program cap and queue movement

The annual parent visa programme has been running at approximately 8,500 places in recent years, with around 7,250 of those allocated to contributory visas like the 143 and Subclass 864. There have been periodic calls from the sector to increase this number, but no government has significantly expanded the programme in recent years.

Processing times for the 143 will only improve materially if the government increases the number of places allocated each year. Operational improvements at the department, such as digitising lodgement (done), can reduce Stage 2 processing time, but they cannot change how fast the queue moves. Queue speed is a function of programme places, not departmental resourcing.

The practical advice is to not lodge and wait for things to get faster. Lodge because you have assessed the cost, the timeline, and the outcome, and decided it makes sense for your family.

How the 143 compares to the 173 temporary pathway

The Subclass 173 is the temporary contributory parent visa. It was designed as a stepping stone to the 143: you lodge the 173, it is granted relatively quickly (processing times have historically been faster than permanent parent visas), and then you onshore and eventually transition to the 143.

However, the 173 and 143 share the same queue. Lodging a 173 sets your queue date just as lodging a 143 does. The 173 grant gives your parent a visa to be in Australia while waiting, but it does not move them ahead in the 143 queue. The total fees are also roughly the same across both visas as a pathway.

For most families today, the Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa has become a more practical bridging option because it does not require lodging a separate contributory visa application, it processes in around seven months, and it can be held for up to 10 years in total. You can lodge the 870 while your 143 works through the queue.

Frequently asked questions

Does lodging early really matter for the 143?

Yes, significantly. Every month you delay lodging is another month added to the back of a queue that is already years long. If you are confident your family meets the eligibility requirements, including the balance of family test, there is no strategic benefit to waiting. Lodge as soon as you are ready.

Can my parent visit Australia while the 143 is in the queue?

Yes. Your parent can apply for a Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) to spend time in Australia while waiting. Alternatively, applying for the Subclass 870 gives your parent a longer-term, renewable temporary visa specifically designed for this purpose. The 870 allows stays of up to three or five years at a time, up to a maximum of 10 years total.

What happens to the first instalment if the 143 is refused?

Application fees are generally not refunded if an application is refused or withdrawn after lodgement. This makes it important to assess eligibility carefully before lodging. The balance of family test, in particular, is the most common eligibility issue for 143 applicants, and it cannot be waived.

Does my parent need private health insurance for the 143?

While the 143 application is in the queue, there is no mandatory requirement to hold private health insurance in the same way as the 870. However, if your parent is in Australia on a bridging visa or a visitor visa during the wait, they will not have Medicare access, so arranging private health cover is strongly advisable from a practical standpoint. Once the 143 is granted, your parent becomes eligible for Medicare on arrival in Australia.