Skip to content 
Aged Parent visa
(subclass 804)
The Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent) visa is intended for aged parents (that is over the set retirement age of Australians), of settled Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens, providing them the opportunity to reside permanently in Australia.
With Aged Parent Visa you can
The Subclass 804 Parent Visa allows you to:
Stay in Australia Indefinitely: Holders of this visa can reside in Australia indefinitely as permanent residents.
Work and Study: You are permitted to work and study in Australia without any restrictions.
Enrol in Medicare: You can access Australia’s public healthcare scheme, Medicare, for your medical needs once your visa is granted (unless eligible under reciprocal arrangements).
Sponsor Family Members: You have the opportunity to sponsor eligible family members to join you in Australia.
Apply for Australian Citizenship: If you meet the eligibility criteria, you can apply for Australian citizenship to become a citizen of Australia.
Travel to and from Australia for 5 years
With the Subclass 804 Partner Visa, you have the privilege to travel to and from Australia without restrictions for a period of 5 years from the date of visa grant. This travel facility remains valid as long as the visa’s travel component is still active.
If you wish to travel beyond the initial 5-year period, here’s what you need to consider:
- Apply for Resident Return Visa (RRV): You will need to apply for and obtain a Resident Return Visa (RRV) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident after the initial 5-year travel facility expires.
- Consider Australian Citizenship: You may also want to explore the option of Australian citizenship. As an Australian citizen, you are not required to obtain a visa to enter Australia. Instead, you will need to apply for an Australian passport, which you can use for international travel. Be sure to review the eligibility requirements and processing times for Australian citizenship.
To check the expiry date of your travel facility, you can use the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service. This allows you to verify your visa details, including the travel component’s validity period.
Cost
The Subclass 806 Partner Visa has a total application fee of AUD $7,190. Additionally, there is an extra charge for each family member included in the application.
The payment for this visa is divided into two instalments:
1. First Instalment: Pay the initial instalment of $5,125 when submitting your 804 visa application.
2. Second Instalment: Pay the second instalment of $2,065 when requested by the Department of Home Affairs.
Please note that there may be additional costs for health checks, police certificates, and biometrics for each applicant.
Apply from
To apply for the Subclass 804 Aged Parent Visa, you and any accompanying family members must be physically present in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, at the time of application submission and at the time of decision. This means you must be within Australia’s borders but not undergoing immigration procedures at the time of lodging the visa application or at the time of decision. Note that you must apply for this visa on paper only.
It’s essential for all applicants, including family members, to meet this requirement to ensure the smooth processing of the visa application. Therefore, make sure that you and your family members are physically present in Australia when submitting the paper application.
Processing times
Due to the high demand for Parent visas exceeding the available quota each year, processing times for these applications can be extensive and is currently 31 years.
To get an idea of the current processing times for this visa category, you can refer to the visa processing time guide tool, which provides insights into the processing times of recently decided applications. However, please note that these times are indicative and may vary based on individual circumstances.
Several factors can contribute to delays in processing your application, including incomplete form submissions, missing documents, or the need for additional information from you. Additionally, the verification of provided information may also take considerable time.
Assessment
The assessment process for this visa unfolds in two distinct stages:
1. Initial Eligibility Check: During this stage, your application is assessed to ascertain its eligibility. If deemed eligible, your application will either be added to the visa queue for further processing or refused if it fails to meet the criteria.
2. Visa Queue: Once a place becomes available in the visa queue, your visa application will continue to be assessed. This involves assessing your submitted documents, verifying information, and conducting necessary checks. Based on this assessment, a decision will be made regarding the granting of the visa.
Consider another visa
In addition to the Parent visa (subclass 804), there are other Parent visa options available, including:
1. Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864): This is a permanent visa option. While Contributory Parent visas may have faster processing times, they come with higher costs.
2. Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884) followed by a permanent Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864): This two-step visa process may offer quicker processing times compared to the subclass 804 visa. However, it incurs higher costs than applying directly for the Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864), albeit spread across the two visas over a longer period.
3. Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870): This temporary visa allows parents to visit their children in Australia for periods of up to three or five years at a time, with a cumulative maximum stay of 10 years.
Each visa option has its own requirements, processing times, and costs. You can explore all available visa options on our visa list page to determine the most suitable option for your circumstances.
Eligibility
Not have this visa
If you have already applied for or currently hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870), you are ineligible to apply for the Parent visa (subclass 804).
Have a sponsor
To apply for the Parent visa (subclass 804), you must have an eligible sponsor. Typically, this sponsor is your adult child who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. However, if your child is under 18 years old, you may be sponsored by an eligible relative or a community organization.
It’s important to note that the sponsorship must be approved by the Department of Home Affairs as part of the visa application process. This ensures that the sponsorship meets the necessary criteria set forth by the Australian government.
Be this age
You must be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia, currently 67 years of age or older.
Meet the health requirement
As part of the application process for the Parent visa (subclass 804), both you and any family members who are included in your visa application must meet the health requirement set by the Australian immigration authorities.
Additionally, there is a possibility that other non-migrating family members also meet the health requirement. This ensures the overall health and well-being of the individuals associated with the visa application.
Meet the character requirement
As part of the application process for the Parent visa (subclass 804), both you and any family members included in your visa application must meet the character requirement set by the Australian immigration authorities.
Additionally, there is a possibility that we may request that other non-migrating family members also meet the character requirement. This ensures the integrity of the visa application and adherence to Australian immigration standards.
Meet the balance-of-family test
You must meet the balance-of-family test. You meet the balance of family test if:
At least half of your children and step-children are eligible children, or
there are more eligible children living in Australia than in any other single country
See examples of how the balance-of-family test is applied.
Have assurance of support
To be eligible for the Parent visa (subclass 804), you must be able to obtain an assurance of support. This assurance acts as a commitment from a sponsor or sponsor group to provide financial support to you and any family members accompanying you on the visa.
The assurance of support assures the Australian government that you will not need to rely on government assistance once you enter Australia on this visa. It covers both you and any family members who immigrate with you.
Have paid back your debt to the Australian government
If you or any family members owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or have an approved arrangement in place to pay it back.
Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused
Your immigration background is taken into account when assessing your application, potentially impacting your eligibility for the visa if you’ve experienced visa cancellations or refusals. However, under certain conditions, you may still be able to apply for a permanent visa despite past visa cancellations or refusals.
Sign the Australian values statement
If you’re 18 years or older, you’re required to fulfill the following criteria:
- Familiarize yourself with the content of the Life in Australia book, either by reading it or having its contents explained to you.
- Sign an Australian Values Statement, affirming your commitment to respecting the Australian way of life and adhering to Australian laws.
Best interests of the child
This visa may not be granted if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18.