If you're helping a parent apply for a Contributory Parent visa, you'll come across the term "Assurance of Support" fairly early on. It's a compulsory part of the process, and it's a genuine financial and legal commitment — not just a form to sign. Here's what it actually involves.
What an Assurance of Support is
An Assurance of Support is a legal commitment, given to Services Australia, by an assurer who agrees to financially support the visa applicant (and any family members included in the same application) rather than the Australian community bearing that cost. It also commits the assurer to repay the government for certain social security payments if the visa holder receives them during the assurance period.
The assurer doesn't have to be the same person as the visa applicant's sponsor — it's worth deciding early who in the family is best placed to take this on, since it can be someone else entirely (an Australian citizen, permanent resident, Special Category Visa holder, and in some cases an eligible organisation).
It's mandatory for the Contributory Parent visa
An Assurance of Support is a mandatory requirement for Subclass 103, Subclass 143, Subclass 804 and Subclass 864 visas. It is not a requirement for Subclass 173 and Subclass 884 visas.
This means that for the Subclass 143 Contributory Parent visa, an Assurance of Support isn't discretionary — it's a mandatory requirement for both the main applicant and anyone else included in the same application. There's a narrow exception for people who already held a Subclass 405 (Investor Retirement) or Subclass 410 (Retirement) visa back on 8 May 2018, but for most applicants, there's no way around it.
Three different agencies are involved
It helps to know who does what. The Department of Social Services sets the policy and decides the bond amount. Services Australia actually runs the scheme day to day — assessing applications, interviewing assurers about what they're taking on, handling the bond, and managing repayment if it's ever needed. The Department of Home Affairs' role is narrower: it requests the Assurance of Support during the visa process and decides whether the visa criteria, including this one, have been met.
It comes with a real bond, not just a promise
Because the Contributory Parent visa's Assurance of Support is mandatory, it also comes with a mandatory bond — a bank guarantee and term deposit, not simply a signed statement of intent. Once accepted, the bond is lodged with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
For a Subclass 143 Contributory Parent visa, the AoS period is 10 years at the time of writing.
Where the assurer is an individual, the security amount is:
- $10,000 for the primary visa applicant
- $4,000 for a secondary adult visa applicant
This means that if both parents are included in the Subclass 143 visa application, the total security required will generally be $14,000 which includes $10,000 for the primary applicant and $4,000 for the secondary applicant.
For example, if a mother is the primary applicant and her husband is included as the secondary applicant, the assurer would need to provide security totalling $14,000.
Where the AoS is provided by a corporation or unincorporated body rather than an individual, the security for Subclass 143 applicants is $20,000 for all applicants combined.
Please note that bond amounts and AoS periods may change over time. For accurate information, refer to:
- Bank guarantee and term deposit information on the Services Australia website;
- AoS securities on the DSS website.
It doesn't happen straight away
For a capped-and-queued visa like the Contributory Parent visa, the Assurance of Support isn't requested when the application is first lodged. It's only requested once all the other visa criteria are otherwise satisfied — and for a queued visa, that means after the application has come up in the queue and a place has actually become available. The assurer then has 28 days to lodge the Assurance of Support application with Services Australia once asked.
How long the commitment lasts
The length of an Assurance of Support period depends on the visa subclass — it can be one, two, four, or in some cases ten years.
This is generally 4 years for Parent visas and 10 years for Contributory Parent visas. This matters because it's the window during which the assurer is on the hook if the visa holder claims certain government payments, and generally the bond can't be released before that period ends unless the visa is cancelled or the holder never actually comes to Australia.
For a Subclass 143 visa, the Assurance of Support security is generally held for the 10-year AoS period.
At the end of this period, if the visa holder has not received any recoverable social security payments, the term deposit can be released in full. If an AoS debt has been incurred, Services Australia can recover the debt from the term deposit before the remaining balance is released. If the debt exceeds the security held, the assurer remains responsible for the outstanding amount.
Any interest earned on the term deposit belongs to the assurer and is not treated as part of the security.
In limited circumstances, some or all of the security may be released before the AoS period ends. This may include where an assurer or assuree dies, or where special circumstances justify an early release. Special circumstances can include severe illness or disability that significantly affects the assurer's ability to provide support, or where the assuree is receiving a non-recoverable income support payment or pension.
However, financial hardship alone is generally not sufficient to justify an early release of the security.
Being accepted isn't the same as being granted the visa
Please note that Services Australia accepting the Assurance of Support only means that particular criterion has been satisfied. It doesn't guarantee the visa will be granted — the application still has to meet everything else required.
If something goes wrong
If Services Australia rejects an Assurance of Support, that rejection itself isn't something that can be taken to the Administrative Review Tribunal. But if the visa is then refused because the Assurance of Support criterion wasn't met, that refusal can potentially be reviewed by the Tribunal — the sponsor, or in some cases the applicant, may have review rights, subject to strict time limits.
Where to from here
If you're not sure who in your family should provide the Assurance of Support, or what it would mean for them, our Contributory Parent Visa service page has more on how the whole process fits together, or you can contact our team and we'll talk it through with you.
This article is general information only and isn't a substitute for individual advice. Assurance of Support requirements are set by the Australian Government and can change — please contact us to confirm current requirements for your situation.
About Rocket & Ash Immigration Law
At Rocket & Ash Immigration Law, we specialise in helping families, couples, and businesses navigate the complexities of Australian immigration law. Our expertise in visa applications ensures that you receive tailored advice and support throughout your immigration journey.
If you require assistance with your Subclass 870 or Subclass 143 Parent Visa Application or have any other immigration-related queries, our experienced team can help.
Please book a free 15-minute discussion with our team if you have further questions.
Written for Ivy Khine Su San, Solicitor LPN: 5514120
This article does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. For up-to-date information, please consult an immigration professional.