Aged Parent visa (subclass 804)
the Australian Aged Parent visa allows older parents on temporary visas to live permanently in Australia if their child is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen settled in the country.
Currently, there is a significant processing backlog for this visa, with waiting times of up to 13 years for approval. Eligible parents may consider applying for the Contributory Aged Parent visa instead, though this option involves a higher application fee and requires an Assurance of Support bond.
Requirements for the Aged Parent Visa – Subclass 804
To be eligible for this visa, you must have a child who is either:
- An Australian citizen
- An Australian permanent resident, or
- An eligible New Zealand citizen.
If your child is under 18, you can be sponsored by:
- Your child’s spouse (who must be over 18 and an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen)
- A close family relative or legal guardian of your child
- A close family relative or legal guardian of your child’s spouse
- A community organisation.
For men, the age requirement is 65 years or older. For women, the age requirement depends on your date of birth (DOB). Refer to the table below for eligibility:
| Date of Birth (DOB) | Minimum Age |
| Before 30 June 1944 | 63 years |
| 1 July 1944 – 31 December 1945 | 63.5 years |
| 1 January 1946 – 30 June 1947 | 64 years |
| 1 July 1947 – 31 December 1948 | 64.5 years |
| 1 January 1949 and later | 65 years |
You must also meet the ‘balance of family’ test, which requires that:
- At least half of your children are permanent residents of Australia, or
- You have more children living as permanent residents in Australia than in any other country.
Additionally, a person or organisation must commit to providing an Assurance of Support. This is a legal promise to provide financial assistance, ensuring that you do not rely on social security payments. Up to three people can offer this assurance.
Other requirements include passing health and character checks.
Entitlements of the Aged Parent Visa – Subclass 804
This visa allows you to:
- Stay permanently in Australia with your children.
- Travel in and out of Australia for five years from the visa grant date (after this, you’ll need a resident return visa or another visa to re-enter Australia).
- Work and study in Australia.
- Enroll in Medicare, Australia’s healthcare scheme.
- Apply for Australian citizenship when eligible.
However, you will not automatically qualify for social security payments or the age pension. You must wait:
- Two years from the visa grant date for most social security payments.
- Ten years from the visa grant date for age and disability pensions.
If the visa is granted, you and any family members must comply with Australian laws.
The Sponsor’s Role
As a sponsor, you are required to help your family members settle in Australia by providing:
- Moral support
- Adequate accommodation
- Financial assistance
These obligations apply for the first two years of their residency.
Assurance of Support (AoS)
An AoS is a legal commitment by the sponsor, a family relative, an organisation, or another eligible person to:
- Provide sufficient financial support so that the visa applicant and any family members do not rely on government assistance.
- Reimburse the Australian Government for any social security payments made to the applicant or their family members during the AoS period.
- Pay a refundable security bond before the visa is approved.
The AoS remains in place for two years from the date you and any accompanying family members arrive in Australia.
Visa Caps for the 2023–24 Financial Year
For the 2023–24 financial year, the maximum number of family visas granted for Parent visas is limited to 1,700, covering the following subclasses:
- Parent (Migrant) Subclass 103, including 13 Subclass 103 visas under the Retiree Pathway.
- Aged Parent (Residence) Subclass 804.