Parent
Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 804)
Sponsoring your aged parent to live in Australia while waiting for a permanent outcome.
The Aged Parent visa provides for older parents of settled Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia while the visa processes. If granted, it is a permanent residence visa; however, it is important to note the Aged Parent visa has one of the longest processing times of any Australian visa category.
Important Processing Information
At current, the processing time sits at 33 years. All parent visas are subject to strict capping and queueing. Each program year, the Department of Home Affairs grants a limited number of visas and once the yearly cap is reached, no further visas are approved. Applications are assessed in lodgement date order.
Stay Lawfully
Parents must be in Australia when applying. A Bridging Visa A is granted, allowing them to remain lawfully.
Travel Flexibility
Parents are able to travel upon obtaining a Bridging Visa B; there are no limitations on how many times they wish to travel.
Lower Cost
This visa is far less costly compared to Contributory Parent visas and may be an option if immediate PR is not the priority.
Eligibility Criteria
Key eligibility requirements
Towards the end of processing time, applicants are required to provide Assurance of Support (AoS).
Featured case study
Case study: Avoiding multiple tourist visas
Scenario: Your mother is 73 and has been visiting on Tourist visas, but you want more stability. She is healthy and has access to healthcare in her home country (Malaysia), so she won’t need Australian benefits immediately.
Priority: Being able to remain in Australia with family is a higher priority than obtaining permanent residency quickly.
Outcome: You learn the Aged Parent visa allows her to live in Australia on a permanent basis (via the Bridging Visa) without the hassle of multiple Tourist visas. She can still travel back to Malaysia to visit friends using a Bridging Visa B.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to some common questions
An eligible New Zealand citizen is a New Zealand citizen considered a protected Special Category visa (SCV) holder under the Social Security Act 1991. You are a protected SCV holder if you:
- Were in Australia on 26 February 2001 holding an SCV, or
- Spent at least 365 days in Australia between 26 February 1999 and 25 February 2001 and returned after 26 February 2001, or
- Have confirmation from Centrelink that you meet the protected SCV criteria under the legislation.
It measures how many of your children live in Australia compared to overseas. You must have at least half of your children in Australia or more children in Australia than in any other country. All children counted in the test must be Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident of an eligible New Zealand citizen usually resident in Australia.
Yes, applicants are granted a bridging visa to remain lawfully while waiting.
You must be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia, which varies depending on your date of birth. Services Australia provides the current pension age.
Yes. Bridging visa A grants in association with the Aged Parent subclass 804 visa are granted with nil conditions. This is not inclusive of travel facility; a Bridging visa B must be obtained to travel while on a Bridging visa A.
Yes. Contributory Parent visas (subclass 143 or 864) have shorter processing times than the Aged Parent visa but involve far higher costs.
Yes, you can include your partner in the same application.
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