Overview
This visa allows you to:
- Live in Australia for up to 2 years
- Work and study in Australia (without government support)
- Travel to and from Australia for 2 years
- Apply for a permanent Contributory Aged Parent (subclass 864) visa
You must be at least 65 years old, the minimum age for receiving an Age Pension in Australia.
Main Criteria
The Australian Department of Home Affairs offers a Parent Visa for individuals whose children are permanent residents or citizens settled in Australia. To be considered “settled,” a person must have lived in Australia for a reasonable period, typically at least two years.
To qualify for this visa, applicants must meet the “balance of family” test. This requires that at least half of the applicant’s children live in Australia as citizens or permanent residents, or that more of their children live in Australia than in any other country. All children, including stepchildren and adopted children, are included in this test.
In addition to passing the balance of family test, you must be sponsored by an eligible person, typically your child, and meet the required health and character standards.
Visa Types
- Subclass 864 (Permanent): This is a permanent visa referred to as a “Contributory” visa. The initial application fee is $4,895 for the first applicant, $2,445 for additional applicants over 18, and $1,195 for those under 18. The second instalment is $43,600 per applicant. New Contributory Parent visa applications that meet the criteria are estimated to take at least 12 years to process.
The large second instalment offsets the cost of benefits such as healthcare, which permanent residents receive but have not contributed towards, unlike lifelong Australian residents.
- Subclass 884 (Temporary): This temporary visa has an initial fee of $4,895, with $2,445 for each additional applicant. Before the visa is granted, a second instalment of $29,130 is required. This visa allows applicants to stay in Australia for 2 years. Before it expires, applicants must pay an additional $19,420 to apply for the permanent subclass 864 visa. Like the permanent visa, it is estimated that these applications will take at least 12 years to process.
For both visa types, the second instalment is paid only after passing the health and character tests, and after lodging an Assurance of Support (AoS) with the Australian government. Once the second payment is made, the visa is guaranteed; second instalments are non-refundable.
Fees
The fees for Permanent Parent Visas are as follows (all amounts in AUD):
- VisaEnvoy Professional Fee – Contributory Parent Visa (Permanent – SC864): $4,500
- Application Fee – Main Applicant: $4,895
- Dependant Application Fee (Spouse): $2,445
- Second Visa Application Charge (at time of decision) – Main Applicant: $43,600
- Second Visa Application Charge (at time of decision) – Spouse: $43,600
*1.4% credit card surcharge applies.
If you choose the staggered process, you can apply for the Temporary Parent Visa (subclass 884) first, which has a lower second VAC fee of $29,130. After 2 years, an additional payment of $19,420 is required for the permanent subclass 864 visa.
Fees for the Subclass 884 to Subclass 864 pathway:
- VisaEnvoy Professional Fee – Contributory Parent Visa (Temporary – SC884): $4,500
- Application Fee – Main Applicant: $4,895
- Dependant Application Fee (Spouse): $2,445
- Second Visa Application Charge (at time of decision) – Main Applicant: $29,130
- Second Visa Application Charge (at time of decision) – Spouse: $29,130
Fees for moving from subclass 884 to subclass 864:
- VisaEnvoy Professional Fee – Contributory Parent Visa (Permanent – SC864): $2,000
- Application Fee – Main Applicant: $430
- Dependant Application Fee (Spouse): $220
- Second Visa Application Charge (at time of decision) – Main Applicant: $19,420
- Second Visa Application Charge (at time of decision) – Spouse: $19,420
*1.4% credit card surcharge applies.
Assurance of Support (AoS)
An AoS is required, and for two applicants, the current bond is $14,000. This bond is refunded after 10 years, minus any debts owed to the Australian government.
Bridging Visas
If you are in Australia on a valid visa (e.g., Visitor visa) and apply for a Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 884/864), you may be granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA). This allows you to stay in Australia while your visa application is processed. If you need to travel, you may require a Bridging Visa B (BVB), which permits limited travel while your application is being processed.
Health Insurance
Holders of both the Subclass 864 (Permanent) and Subclass 884 (Temporary) visas may be eligible for Medicare, Australia’s domestic health cover.
Length of Stay
2 years.
Visa Caps for 2023-24 Financial Year
The maximum number of family visas that may be granted for the 2023-2024 financial year is 6,800 for the following subclasses:
- Contributory Parent (Migrant) Subclass 143
- Contributory Aged Parent (Residence) Subclass 864
- Contributory Parent (Temporary) Subclass 173
- Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Subclass 884