Aged Parent Visa (subclass 804) — Australia

The Aged Parent Visa (subclass 804) allows you to stay in Australia permanently as the parent of a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. You apply from within Australia, and the Department of Home Affairs manages the process.

Who this visa is for

You can apply for the Aged Parent Visa (subclass 804) if you are an older parent of a settled:

• Australian citizen
• Australian permanent resident
• Eligible New Zealand citizen

You must meet the age requirement for an aged parent visa at the time you apply. This visa is designed for parents who are already in Australia and want to remain permanently.

You lodge the application onshore with the Department of Home Affairs. If you are outside Australia, this visa is not the correct pathway.

Home Affairs processes subclass 804 applications, but it warns that processing times are very long. If timing matters to you, you should review other parent visa options before you apply.

You may also need to complete supporting forms requested by Home Affairs, such as Form Form 80, if instructed during processing.

What the visa grants

The Aged Parent Visa (subclass 804) is a permanent visa. If granted, you can live in Australia indefinitely.

As a permanent resident, you gain ongoing residence rights under Australian migration law. The Department of Home Affairs administers your visa status, while the Australian Border Force manages entry at the border.

Key features:

• Permanent residence in Australia
• Application lodged from within Australia
• Available only to parents who meet the aged criteria

Because this is a permanent visa in a capped category, Home Affairs places applications in a queue. Processing can take many years.

Fees apply in AUD (A$). Use the Home Affairs fee calculator for current charges.

Other parent visa options

You are not limited to subclass

1. Several other parent visas may suit your situation better, especially if you want faster processing.

The Contributory Aged Parent Visa (subclass 864) is the main alternative if you meet the aged requirement and want a permanent outcome with a contributory fee structure.

The Parent Visa (subclass 103) is another non‑contributory permanent option, but it also has extended queues.

If you want a temporary stay instead of permanent migration, review the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 870) or the Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 173). Each option has different costs, conditions, and timelines, which Home Affairs sets and updates.

To qualify for an Australia aged parent visa, you must meet strict relationship, age, and sponsorship rules set by the Department of Home Affairs. You also need to satisfy the balance of family test and provide clear documentary evidence with your application.

Sponsor and relationship tests

You must have an eligible child who is:

• A settled Australian citizen
• A settled Australian permanent resident
• An eligible New Zealand citizen

Your child must live permanently in Australia and agree to sponsor you. Home Affairs requires evidence of this relationship and sponsorship at the time of application.

You must also pass the balance of family test. This means:

• At least half of your children live permanently in Australia, or
• More of your children live permanently in Australia than in any other single country.

This requirement applies to permanent parent visas such as the Parent Visa (subclass 103), Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143), Contributory Aged Parent Visa (subclass 864), and Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 173).

You cannot apply for an aged parent visa if you have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 870).

Age and pension tests

You must be old enough to receive the Australian age pension at the time you apply.

Home Affairs assesses your age against the pension age set by Australian welfare authorities. If you do not meet this age threshold, you cannot apply for an aged parent visa such as the Contributory Aged Parent Visa (subclass 864).

This age requirement distinguishes aged parent visas from non‑aged categories like:

• Parent Visa (subclass 103)
• Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143)
• Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 173)

You must meet the pension age requirement on the date you lodge your application. If you are below the required age, Home Affairs will not grant the visa.

Always confirm the current pension age directly with the Department of Home Affairs before applying.

Health and sponsor evidence

You must provide evidence that your child formally sponsors you. This includes documentation confirming:

• Your child’s citizenship or permanent residence status
• Proof that your child is settled in Australia
• A completed sponsorship arrangement

You must also submit required personal information forms, including Form Form 80, when requested by Home Affairs. This form details your personal history and assists with character and background assessment.

Home Affairs evaluates all supporting documents carefully. Incomplete evidence can delay processing or lead to refusal.

Prepare clear, consistent documentation that supports:

• Your identity
• Your relationship to your sponsoring child
• Your eligibility under the balance of family and age requirements

Submit all documents as directed by the Department of Home Affairs to avoid unnecessary delays.

You’ll need to pay visa charges in instalments. For most permanent Parent visa subclasses, expect very long queues.

Home Affairs publishes queue release dates and processing guides. These tools let you see where your application stands.

Application fee and instalments

The first instalment is due when you lodge your application with the Department of Home Affairs. Processing won’t start until you pay this initial charge.

For instance:

Other subclasses—Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143), Contributory Aged Parent Visa (subclass 864), Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 173), and Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 870)—also require application charges. Check the Home Affairs fee calculator before applying for the latest figures.

Home Affairs may request further instalments later, depending on your visa subclass. Each instalment must be paid by the given deadline, or your application can be refused.

Supporting forms like Form Form 80 may also be required, which can extend preparation time.

Parent visa queue and wait times

Demand for permanent Parent visas far exceeds the number of places available each year. This leads to extremely long queues.

For queued categories, the processing time is often:

This mainly affects non-contributory options, including the Parent Visa (subclass 103). Your queue position is based on when you lodge a valid application and pay the first instalment.

Home Affairs regularly updates Parent visa queue release dates. Reviewing these dates helps you track movement in the queue.

Contributory visas like subclasses 143 and 864 generally move faster than non-contributory subclasses. Still, you’ll need to rely on official queue data for current progress.

Processing guides and variations

Home Affairs offers a visa processing times guide showing estimated timeframes by visa stream. You can select your visa subclass from a dropdown for current estimates.

Processing times change depending on several factors:

• Visa subclass
• Annual migration program planning levels
• How complete your application is
• How quickly you respond to requests for more information

Lodging Form 80 can add extra processing time. As of February 2026, Form 80 under “Skilled (Permanent)” lists about 13 months for processing.

Home Affairs also publishes quarterly reports and information about processing priorities. These resources can help you track timelines and see how your application might be affected.

Australia’s aged parent visa program grants permanent residence through specific visa subclasses managed by Home Affairs. Your rights and next steps depend on whether you hold a permanent parent visa or are moving from a temporary pathway.

Permanent residency status

If you’re granted a permanent parent visa, you become an Australian permanent resident on the date of grant. This covers the Parent Visa (subclass 103), Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143), and Contributory Aged Parent Visa (subclass 864).

As a permanent resident, you’re entitled to:

• Live in Australia indefinitely
• Work and study without restriction
• Enrol in Medicare
• Sponsor eligible family (if you meet requirements)
• Apply for citizenship when eligible

You must still comply with visa conditions and Australian laws. Home Affairs may ask for documents like Form Form 80 during processing.

Here’s a summary of the main permanent visa options:

For current application charges in A$, use the fee estimator from Home Affairs.

Next steps after PR

Once you receive permanent residence, focus on maintaining your status and meeting future eligibility. Your visa includes a travel facility for re-entry to Australia for a limited period—your grant notice will show the exact dates.

If you first held a Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 173), you need to apply for the Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143) to secure permanent residence. The steps are:

1. Confirm eligibility under Subclass 143.

2. Lodge your application with Home Affairs.

3. Provide required identity, health, and character documents.

If you held a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 870), that visa doesn’t lead directly to permanent residence. You must qualify separately for a permanent parent visa.

After becoming a permanent resident, you may:

• Update records with Medicare and other services
• Review citizenship eligibility with Home Affairs
• Make sure you meet residency requirements before applying for citizenship

processing times differ by subclass. Refer to Home Affairs for current timelines.

Professional advice is important if your case involves character concerns or complex sponsorship. These issues can slow down or derail applications for all parent visa subclasses.

Character problems or prior refusals

If your visa was previously refused or cancelled on character grounds, seek advice before reapplying. Home Affairs treats these as complex cases.

You might face:

• Detailed character assessments
• Requests for extra documents
• Longer processing times
• Further character consideration

Fill out Form Form 80 carefully and disclose all relevant history. Mistakes or omissions can delay or harm your application.

A prior cancellation or refusal on character grounds doesn’t guarantee a new parent visa will be granted. In some cases, you may need to consider a Protection visa before or instead of a parent visa.

A lawyer can review refusal decisions, check your disclosures, and help prepare a clear explanation with supporting documents.

Complex family or sponsorship issues

Parent visa applications often fail due to errors in sponsorship or family details. If your family situation isn’t straightforward, seek advice.

Common issues include:

• Disputes about sponsor eligibility
• Unclear family composition
• Inconsistent information across applications
• Mistakes in forms

Incomplete or incorrect forms can delay a Parent Visa (subclass 103) or Contributory Aged Parent Visa (subclass 864). Errors in sponsorship details can also affect a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 870).

You must provide consistent and accurate information to Home Affairs. If your case involves multiple children, blended families, or prior migration history, a professional review can reduce the risk of refusal and delays.

Background checks and inconsistent documents are behind many aged parent visa delays. Most problems can be avoided by preparing a full travel history, consistent forms, and properly translated documents before lodging through your ImmiAccount with the Department of Home Affairs.

Expert tips for background checks

Home Affairs uses your security and character information for visas like the Parent Visa (subclass 103), Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143), Contributory Aged Parent Visa (subclass 864), Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 173), and Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 870).

Fill out Form Form 80 carefully. It's used for background checks, including by ASIO.

Accuracy matters:

• Build a 10-year timeline of:

Residential addresses

• Employment history

• Education

• All international travel

• Include every trip, even to sensitive or conflict-affected regions.

• Use passport stamps, boarding passes, and booking records to confirm dates.

• If you can't remember exact dates, provide the best approximation you can.

If you need to complete Form 1221, make sure it matches Form

1. Both forms ask for overlapping details, and inconsistencies will slow things down.

Police certificates are valid for 12 months from the issue date. If your application is still in process after that, you might need to provide updated certificates.

Common mistakes that cause delays or refusals

Most delays come from missing information or answers that don't match up. Refusals often relate to eligibility or document errors.

Common pitfalls:

Even short trips matter. Undeclared travel is more concerning to Home Affairs than disclosed travel.

Create your ImmiAccount only when your documents are ready and consistent.

Preparing consistent supporting evidence

Your identity and family relationship evidence must match across all documents. Home Affairs checks every detail.

Double-check these:

• Full legal names (including middle names)
• Dates of birth
• Passport numbers
• Address history
• Family relationships in Australia

If you're applying as an aged parent, clear documents proving your identity and your relationship to your child in Australia are required. The biographical details must match what's in Form 80 and any other forms.

Get your documents in order:

1. Gather identity documents.

2. Make sure your passport is valid.

3. Obtain police certificates at the right time.

4. Translate non-English documents with certified translators.

Upload clear, complete copies through your ImmiAccount. If evidence is inconsistent or incomplete, expect requests for more information and longer processing for subclass 103, 143, 173, 864, or 870 applications.