Contributory Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 884 and 864)
The Contributory Aged Parent pathway allows eligible pension-age parents of settled Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens to stay temporarily or permanently in Australia.
These are onshore aged-parent visas subject to capping and queueing. Applicants must meet the Australian pension-age requirement, Balance of Family test and all sponsor, health and character criteria.
Understanding Subclass 884 and 864
Subclass 884 is a temporary visa allowing an eligible aged parent to live in Australia for up to two years. Subclass 864 is a permanent visa providing indefinite residence, Medicare access and other permanent-resident benefits.
Applicants can apply directly for Subclass 864 or use a two-stage pathway by first obtaining Subclass 884. The staged route can spread visa charges over a longer period, but the permanent application should be lodged before the temporary visa expires.
Pathway features
Key eligibility requirements
The primary applicant must be old enough to receive the Australian age pension and have an eligible child who is settled in Australia as an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. The application also requires an approved sponsor.
Applicants must pass the Balance of Family test and satisfy health, character, Australian Government debt and values requirements. A person who has applied for or holds a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870) cannot apply under this pathway in the prohibited circumstances.
The Balance of Family test
You meet the test if at least half of your children and stepchildren are eligible children in Australia, or if more eligible children live in Australia than in any other single country. The test considers the locations and status of all relevant children and cannot be waived.
A Subclass 884 holder has already satisfied this test and generally does not need to meet it again for the related Subclass 864 stage-two application.
How the application process works
Check age and family balance
Confirm pension-age eligibility and map every child and stepchild for the Balance of Family test.
Assess sponsor and onshore status
Review the settled child sponsor, current visa, location and any No Further Stay condition.
Select direct or staged processing
Compare direct permanent Subclass 864 with the temporary 884 followed by the permanent stage.
Lodge the correct application
Use the current paper process for 884 or online ImmiAccount process for Subclass 864.
Complete queued-stage requirements
Respond to health, character, Assurance of Support and second-instalment requests when issued.
Subclass 884 temporary stage
Subclass 884 permits a two-year stay from grant with multiple travel, work and study rights, but without government study support. It cannot be extended or renewed through another Subclass 884 application.
To continue through the staged permanent pathway, lodge Subclass 864 before the 884 visa expires. Home Affairs encourages eligible holders to lodge the permanent stage promptly after the temporary visa grant.
Subclass 864 permanent stage
Subclass 864 provides permanent residence, allowing the holder to remain indefinitely, work and study, enrol in Medicare, sponsor eligible relatives and apply for citizenship when eligible. The initial travel facility is generally valid for five years.
An Assurance of Support is generally required before grant. It is a legal commitment that the visa holder will not rely on specified government assistance during the assurance period and can involve a financial bond.
Application location and current visa conditions
The applicant and included family members must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when applying and when the visa is decided. A No Further Stay condition can make an application invalid unless a waiver is approved.
Applicants should check their lawful status and bridging-visa implications before lodging. Parent visa applications can remain in the queue for a long period, and current visa status must be managed separately throughout processing.
Processing queues and costs
Demand exceeds the number of Parent visa places available each year, so applications are capped and queued. Published processing information and queue release dates should be checked rather than relying on a fixed timeframe.
Both visas involve substantial charges paid in instalments, with additional charges for family members and possible costs for health examinations, police certificates, biometrics and the Assurance of Support. Fees can change and should be confirmed before lodgement.
Important Aged Parent Visa Considerations
- Meet the Australian age-pension age requirement.
- Pass the Balance of Family test.
- Have an eligible settled child and approved sponsor.
- Be in Australia at application and decision.
- Check for a No Further Stay condition before lodging.
- Lodge Subclass 864 before a temporary 884 visa expires.
- Plan for significant charges and long queue-based processing.
Documents commonly required
Documents may include passports, birth and marriage records, evidence linking parent and children, each child's location and status, sponsor citizenship or residence evidence, settlement evidence, family composition records, police certificates, health examinations, Assurance of Support and dependent-family documents.
How Echoes Global Education can assist
Our migration team can assess age and Balance of Family eligibility, review sponsor and onshore visa conditions, compare direct and two-stage pathways, prepare family mapping and document checklists, and assist with Subclass 884 and 864 applications.