Aged Parent Visa 864: Permanent Residency for Parents Who've Reached Pension Age
The contributory aged parent visa 864 exists because some families choose speed over savings. At $48,640, the subclass 864 costs significantly more than non-contributory alternatives—but it delivers what those visas cannot: permanent residency within a realistic timeframe.
Your parent is pension age. They’re in Australia. They want to stay forever. This visa makes forever possible.
Key Facts
Visa Type
Temporary Residency
Balance of Family Test:
Mandatory - at least half your children must live in Australia
Sponsor Requirement:
Must be sponsored by an eligible child (Australian citizen/PR/eligible NZ citizen settled in Australia)
Access to Medicare
Eligible for Australia’s public health care system.
What is Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent Visa?
The aged parent visa 864 is Australia’s permanent visa for pension-age parents willing to pay more for faster processing.
Where the non-contributory Aged Parent Visa (subclass 804) costs approximately $7,345 with processing stretching beyond 30 years, the 864 visa costs around $48,640—but moves through the contributory queue significantly faster.
This is permanent resident parent visa, not temporary. Not provisional. Once granted, your parent can live in Australia for the rest of their life.
Two pathways to 864:
- Direct application — Apply for 864 outright, pay the full cost, wait in the contributory queue
- Two-step via 884 — Apply first for temporary subclass 884, live in Australia for 2 years, then convert to 864
Benefits of Visa 884?
Aged parent visa 864 is the finish line, not a stepping stone. Once granted, your parent becomes an Australian permanent resident with all associated rights.
Indefinite stay
No visa expiry. Australia becomes a permanent home.
Full work rights
Employment without restrictions, protected by Australian workplace law
Medicare enrollment
Access to Australia's public healthcare system
Study freedom
Education at any level, any institution
Family sponsorship
Ability to sponsor other eligible relatives to Australia
Travel flexibility
Unlimited departures and returns for 5 years
Who Qualifies for the Contributory Parent Visa 864?
If your parent holds or has applied for the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870), they cannot apply for the 864. These pathways are mutually exclusive.
Your parent needs an eligible child who is:
- An Australian citizen, OR
- An Australian permanent resident, OR
- An eligible New Zealand citizen
That child must be settled in Australia—genuinely living here, not holding citizenship while residing overseas.
If the qualifying child is under 18, an adult relative or community organisation can sponsor instead. The Department must approve all sponsorships.
Sponsor dies during processing? If your parent holds a temporary 884 visa when their sponsor passes away, they may still be eligible for the 864. Contact us immediately if circumstances change.
This is an onshore visa. Your parent must be physically present in Australia—not in immigration clearance—when they:
- Lodge the application
- Receive the decision
Parents outside Australia cannot apply for the 864. Options include arranging a visitor visa first, or considering offshore pathways like subclass 143.
The aged parent visa 864 is exclusively for parents old enough to receive the Australian age pension. Currently, this means 67 for most people.
If your parent is younger, the Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143) is the appropriate pathway—same cost structure, no age requirement.
Your parent must demonstrate that:
- At least half their children live permanently in Australia, OR
- More children live in Australia than in any other single country
This counts ALL children worldwide—biological, step-children, adopted.
Already hold an 884 visa? The balance of family test was satisfied for that application. You've already met this requirement.
An assurance of support is a financial guarantee that your parent won't rely on government welfare. This involves:
- A legal commitment to repay any welfare payments made
- An income test
- A bond (refundable if no claims are made)
- Typically a 10-year commitment period
The Department requests assurance of support at final assessment—not when you lodge the application.
Medical examinations are mandatory. The Department notifies you when health checks are needed. All family members applying must meet health standards.
Police certificates and character verification will be requested. Don't arrange these until the Department asks.
Previous visa cancellations or application refusals affect eligibility. The Department considers complete immigration history when making decisions.
Applicants 18 and older must read the Life in Australia booklet and sign the Australian Values Statement.
Applying as an 884 Visa Holder: Streamlined Requirements
Already holding the temporary Contributory Aged Parent Visa (subclass 884)? The 864 application is simpler for you.
- Balance of family evidence (you've already passed this test)
- Documentation that hasn't changed since your 884 grant
- Evidence of any changes since 884 was granted:
- Relationship status changes
- Family composition changes (births, dependents no longer dependent)
- New passport
- New contact details
- Change of sponsor
- Sponsor death
- 884 holders (current or expired within 28 days): Use Form 47PT
Everyone else: Use Form 47PA
Bring Your Parents Closer to You in Australia
Application Process: From Lodgement to Grant
Step 1: Preparation
Don't invest in documentation until you're certain both applicant and sponsor qualify.
Everyone included in the application needs a valid passport before the visa can be granted.
Applied for a different parent visa without a decision? You must withdraw it when lodging for the 864. Use Part B of Form 47PA.
Only registered migration agents (MARA), legal practitioners, or exempt persons can legally provide immigration help.
Step 2: Documentation
- Current passport (photo page, personal details, issue/expiry)
- National identity card (if applicable)
- Name change proof (marriage certificates, divorce decrees, official documents)
- Form 40 completed by your sponsor
- Sponsor's citizenship/residency evidence
- Evidence sponsor is settled in Australia
- Birth certificates for every child worldwide
- Citizenship or permanent residence evidence for each child
- Death certificates for deceased children
- Identity and character documents
- Marriage certificate OR 12+ months de facto relationship evidence
- Under 18: identity, relationship proof, consent from non-migrating parent (Form 1229)
- 18-22: Form 47A plus 12+ months financial dependency evidence
- Over 23: disability evidence preventing them from earning a living
Photographs: 4 per person: 45mm x 35mm, less than 6 months old, colour, head and shoulders, light background.
- Translate all non-English documents (NAATI-accredited in Australia)
- Certify all copies
- Send originals only for police certificates
- Keep copies of everything
Step 3: Lodgement
Paper submission required. No online lodgement available.
- Form 47PA (new applicants) or Form 47PT (884 holders)
- Form 40 – Sponsorship (your sponsor completes)
- Form 47A – For each family member 18+
Pay the first installment with your application.
Send by post or courier to the Parent Visa Centre in Perth.
Incomplete applications are invalid and returned without processing.
Step 4: After Lodgement
When you apply while holding a valid visa (like the 884), you'll typically receive a Bridging Visa. If your current visa expires before the 864 decision, the bridging visa activates—keeping you lawful.
From April 2025, import your paper application into ImmiAccount after receiving acknowledgement. This enables:
- Document uploads
- Message viewing
- Detail updates
- Status checking
The Department won't provide progress updates. They'll contact you if needed.
You can leave Australia, but you MUST be here when the decision is made. Ensure you have a valid visa to return.
Before grant, the Department invoices the second instalment. Non-payment means refusal.
Tell the Department about changes to: contact details, passport, relationship status, family composition, or if you want to withdraw.
Step 5: Decision
You must be in Australia—not in immigration clearance—when the decision is made.
Written notification with visa grant number, start date, and conditions. Keep this document.
Notification of reasons and any review rights. Application fees are not refunded.
864 vs 804:
Both visas grant permanent residency. Both are for pension-age parents. The difference is fundamental: money versus time.
Factor | 864 (Contributory) | 804 (Non-Contributory) |
Cost | ~$48,640 | ~$7,345 |
Queue | Faster (contributory) | 30+ years |
Two-step option | Yes (via 884) | No |
Rights after grant | Identical | Identical |
Assurance of support | Required | Required |
Best for | Families prioritising speed | Families prioritising cost |
The uncomfortable math:
A 70-year-old parent joining the 804 queue today may not see permanent residency until they’re over 100—if ever. The same parent on the 864 pathway receives permanent residency within a realistic timeframe.
Contributory Aged Parent Visa Cost
143 Visa Cost
- First instalment (at application)
- Portion of $34,170
- Second instalment (before grant)
- Remainder
- Total for 884
- ~$34,170
- Additional family members
- Extra charges apply
🎯 99% Success Rate
Our clients get their visas approved
⚡ Faster Processing
Complete applications reduce delays
🛡️ MARA Protection
Fully licensed MARA agents
Why Families Work With The Migration
The contributory parent visa 864 involves significant investment—nearly $50,000 for a single applicant. At this cost, errors aren’t just inconvenient. They’re devastating.
We have helped parents navigate straightforward applications and complex situations. Parents with health concerns. Families with children in multiple countries. Cases where circumstances changed during the long wait. Applications requiring assurance of support planning.
Eligibility Review
We confirm you meet all requirements before you invest time and money gathering documents
Balance of Family Assessment
We analyse your family structure and compile evidence for children in every country
Document Preparation
We ensure every form is completed correctly and every document is properly certified
Application Lodgement
We submit your application to the Parent Visa Centre with complete documentation
Alternative Planning
We advise on visitor visas for family time during the wait, and discuss faster pathways if your circumstances change
Our credentials:
MARA Registered Migration Agents Authorised to provide immigration advice and represent you
The Weight of Sponsorship for Aged Parent Visa 864
Your signature on Form 40 tells the Australian Government one thing: this parent has support.
For the first 2 years after your parent becomes a permanent resident, you’re their safety net. Housing. Money. Help navigating a new country. If they need it and can’t provide it themselves, you provide it.
The Government grants permanent parent visa australia pathways because sponsors like you guarantee the system won’t bear the cost.
Your sponsorship extends to:
- Your parent (main applicant)
- Any family members included in their application
You can sponsor multiple parents. If both your mother and father are applying, you can be a sponsor for both applications.
The Sponsor Eligibility Checklist
You (or your cohabiting spouse/de facto partner) must hold one of these:
- Australian citizenship
- Australian permanent residency
- Eligible New Zealand citizenship
Temporary visa holders cannot sponsor. If your own status isn't permanent, that needs sorting first.
Citizenship alone doesn't qualify you. The Department wants evidence you actually live in Australia.
Working here. Paying rent or a mortgage here. Filing taxes here. Building a life here.
Australian passport holder living in Singapore? You don't meet the settled requirement, regardless of citizenship.
- Residential lease or property ownership records
- Utility accounts at your Australian address
- Employment documentation from Australian employer
- Bank statements showing Australian financial activity
- ATO tax records
Minimum 18 years old.
When Standard Sponsorship Doesn't Apply
If the child who makes your parent eligible under the balance of family test is under 18, that child cannot directly sponsor. An adult steps in instead.
- Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible NZ citizen
- Settled in Australia
- 18 years or older
- Connected to the child as their spouse, relative, guardian, or relative/guardian of the child's spouse
Organisations can sponsor when:
- A genuine relationship exists with the applicant's child
- A senior representative formally agrees to sponsor
- The organisation is lawfully established in Australia
- At least one year of active Australian operation
- Demonstrable financial capacity to meet commitments
This pathway serves specific circumstances—uncommon, but available.
Two Financial Commitments You Need to Understand
Sponsorship for the aged parent visa australia pathway involves two separate financial obligations. Most sponsors don’t realise they’re distinct.
For your parent's first 2 years as a permanent resident, you provide:
Accommodation: A place to live. Whether they reside with you or independently, ensuring housing is secured falls to you.
Financial Assistance: If income doesn't cover expenses—medical costs beyond Medicare, groceries, utilities, transport—you fill the gap.
Settlement Support: Guidance navigating Australian systems. Banking setup. Healthcare registration. General orientation to life here.
Your parent gains Medicare access with the subclass 864, but that doesn't cover everything. Private health costs, dental, specialists—if they can't pay, you're the backup.
The assurance of support is separate from sponsorship. It's a formal guarantee lodged with Services Australia.
What it involves:
- A legal commitment to repay government welfare payments made to your parent
- An income test proving you can meet this commitment
- A bond payment (refundable if no claims are made)
- Typically a 10-year commitment period
Critical distinction: Sponsorship obligations last 2 years. Assurance of support can last 10 years. Being released from sponsorship does NOT release you from assurance of support.
The Department requests assurance of support at final assessment—not when your parent lodges. But plan for it now. If you can't meet the requirements when the time comes, the application fails.
Get Expert Guidance on Parent Visas
Step by Step Process
Step 1: Eligibility Verification
Before paperwork begins, confirm:
- You meet sponsor requirements
- Your parent meets 864 applicant requirements
If either side has issues, the application fails. Clarity first, documentation second.
Step 2: Evidence Assembly
- Your birth certificate (showing your parent's name)
- Adoption papers (if applicable)
- Marriage certificates (if name changes are involved)
- Death certificates (if needed to establish family connections)
- Official family status certificates or family books
- Australian citizenship certificate or passport
- Visa grant notice (for eligible NZ citizens)
- Address documentation (lease, mortgage, utility bills)
- Employment records from Australian employer
- Bank statements demonstrating Australian financial life
- Tax returns lodged with the ATO
Translation requirements: Non-English documents need English translation. Australian translators must hold NAATI accreditation. Overseas translators must include their credentials on each translation.
Step 3: Form 40 Completion
Form 40 – Sponsorship for migration to Australia.
This is your formal, legally binding commitment. Read every section. Understand what you’re signing.
You don’t submit Form 40 yourself. Complete it, gather your evidence, and hand everything to your parent. They include your sponsorship package in their visa application to the Parent Visa Centre.
Step 4: The Waiting Period
864 visa processing time depends on queue position. The contributory queue moves faster than non-contributory alternatives, but “faster” still means years.
The Department won’t provide status updates during normal processing. They contact you if something’s needed.
Your responsibility during this period:
- Notify the Department of any changes (contact details, relationship status, passport updates)
- Maintain your eligibility as a sponsor
- Prepare for the assurance of support request when it comes
Step 5: Decision
Your parent receives permanent residency. Your 2-year sponsorship obligation clock starts.
The sponsorship ends. No ongoing obligations. Your parent's $48,640 is not refunded.
The Exit Question: Can You Withdraw?
Before Visa Grant
Yes. Submit written notice to the Parent Visa Centre in Perth with:
- Your full name
- Date of birth
- File reference number or Client ID
Consequences
- Your parent’s application will likely be refused
- The Department may ask them to find another sponsor (often impossible)
- Your parent loses their ~$48,640 investment
The contributory aged parent visa cost makes withdrawal devastating. This isn’t a temporary visa with lower stakes. Withdrawing from an 864 sponsorship destroys a substantial financial investment.
After Visa Grant
Withdrawal is not possible.
Once your parent holds permanent residency, you’re bound for 2 years. Period.
If you fail to meet obligations, the Department may cancel your parent’s visa. Even if they eventually release you from sponsorship, cancellation typically follows.
And remember: Release from sponsorship doesn’t release you from assurance of support. That commitment continues regardless.
Australian Visa for Parents of Permanent Resident: Your Sponsorship Still Counts
Not yet a citizen? Your permanent residency is sufficient to sponsor.
The eligibility requirements are identical whether you’re a citizen or permanent resident:
- Settled in Australia
- 18 years or older
- Willing to meet sponsorship obligations and potentially provide assurance of support
Your PR status doesn’t disadvantage your parent’s application. What matters is genuine establishment in Australia.
Already Sponsored for 884? Here’s What Changes for 864
If your parent is transitioning from the temporary 884 to permanent 864, you’ve been through sponsorship before. But this isn’t a simple renewal.
Fresh sponsorship required. The 864 needs its own Form 40, its own evidence package, its own commitment.
What carries over:
- Your eligibility status (assuming nothing changed)
- The established relationship documentation
What’s new:
- Fresh 2-year obligation period (starting from 864 grant, not 884 grant)
- Assurance of support requirement (may not have been required for 884)
- Higher stakes (permanent residency, not temporary)
Plan for the 864 sponsorship from the moment your parent’s 884 is granted. The transition should be seamless, not scrambled.
🎯 99% Success Rate
Our clients get their parent visas approved
⚡ Faster Processing
Complete applications reduce delays
🛡️ MARA Protection
Fully licensed MARA agents
The Decision Point
The permanent parent visa australia pathway through subclass 864 costs nearly $50,000. That’s significant money for any family.
But here’s the question that matters: what’s the alternative?
The 804 visa costs less. It also means your parent potentially waits their entire remaining lifetime without ever receiving permanent residency.
The 864 costs more. Your parent becomes a permanent resident—with Medicare, work rights, and a path to citizenship—within years, not decades.
Money can be earned again. Time cannot.
If your parent is pension age, in Australia, and your family is ready to invest in permanence, the aged parent visa 864 is how you make it happen. Contact us now and we’ll get started!
What is subclass 864 contributory aged parent visa?
A permanent visa for pension-age parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. It grants indefinite residence, work rights, Medicare access, and a pathway to citizenship. Costs approximately $48,640 with faster processing than non-contributory alternatives.
How long does it take to get a contributory aged parent visa 864?
Processing depends on queue position and is measured in years. The contributory queue moves significantly faster than non-contributory visas (which stretch 30+ years). Check Parent visa queue release dates for current positions. Don’t make permanent arrangements until you receive written confirmation of the grant.
Can the 864 visa lead to permanent residency?
The 864 IS permanent residency. Once granted, your parent can stay in Australia indefinitely. They can also apply for Australian citizenship after meeting residency requirements.
What's the difference between 864 and 884?
The 884 is temporary (2 years). The 864 is permanent (indefinite). The 884 is step one of a two-step pathway—you apply for 864 before the 884 expires. Direct 864 application is also possible without going through 884 first.
Does my parent need to be in Australia to apply?
Yes. The 864 is an onshore visa. Your parent must be physically in Australia when lodging AND when the decision is made. If they’re overseas, different pathways apply (subclass 143 for contributory, subclass 103 for non-contributory).
What if my parent already holds an 884 visa?
Simpler application. The balance of family test is already satisfied. Use Form 47PT instead of Form 47PA. Only provide documentation for things that have changed since the 884 was granted.
Is Medicare available immediately?
Yes. Once the 864 is granted, your parent can enrol in Medicare and access Australia’s public healthcare system.
Can my parent work while waiting for the 864 decision?
Work rights depend on current visa conditions. If holding an 884 or bridging visa with work rights, yes. Check VEVO to confirm specific entitlements.