CONTRIBUTORY AGED PARENT VISA
(SUBCLASS 864)
The Contributory Aged Parent (Subclass 864) visa is a permanent visa that allows the aged parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia indefinitely. It’s one of the fastest permanent pathways available for parents, but it comes with a substantial financial contribution, a demanding evidentiary process, and a long processing queue. This guide explains who qualifies, what your sponsor needs to prove, and how our migration team can help.
WHAT IS THE CONTRIBUTORY AGED PARENT VISA (SUBCLASS 864)?
The Subclass 864 visa is a permanent visa for the aged parent of a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. Once granted, you can live, work and study in Australia indefinitely and access Medicare. It’s the contributory (faster, higher-cost) equivalent of the Aged Parent (subclass 804) visa.
DO I NEED TO BE IN AUSTRALIA TO APPLY?
Yes. You must be onshore in Australia when you lodge your Subclass 864 application, and you will generally need to remain in Australia while the Department makes its decision. If you are outside Australia, the offshore equivalent (Contributory Parent visa, subclass 143 or 173) may be more appropriate. Speak to our team about which pathway suits your circumstances.
WHAT ARE THE AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE “AGED” PARENT VISA?
To qualify as an “aged” parent, you must have reached Australian Age Pension age, which is currently 67 years old. This threshold is set by the Australian Government and can change, so it’s worth confirming your eligibility date with us before you apply.
WHO CAN SPONSOR A CONTRIBUTORY AGED PARENT VISA APPLICANT?
Your sponsor (usually your child living in Australia) must meet eligibility requirements relating to their:
- age
- Australian citizenship, permanent residency or eligible New Zealand citizenship status
- length of residence in Australia
- capacity to support you with accommodation, financial assistance and general support for at least the first two years of your visa
If your usual sponsor doesn’t qualify, other family members or, in limited circumstances, community organisations may be able to sponsor you instead. We can assess your sponsor’s eligibility before you commit to an application.
WHAT IS THE ASSURANCE OF SUPPORT REQUIREMENT?
Most applicants need an Assurance of Support (AoS), a formal undertaking (usually given by your sponsor or another eligible family member) confirming you can support yourself financially, or that adequate support is available from relatives, without relying on Australian Government welfare payments. The assurer may also be required to lodge a bond held by Services Australia for the assurance period.
WHAT IS THE BALANCE OF FAMILY TEST?
You must satisfy the balance of family test, which looks at where your children live. You’ll meet the test if at least half of your children live permanently in Australia as citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens, or if more of your children live in Australia than in any other single country. You’ll need to provide evidence of your relationship to each child and their country of permanent residence.
WHAT EVIDENCE DO I NEED TO PROVIDE?
A Subclass 864 application typically requires evidence of:
- your identity, and the identity of your partner and any dependants included in the application
- your sponsor’s identity and their eligibility to sponsor you
- your relationship to your sponsor and to each of your children (for the balance of family test)
- adequate health insurance covering your stay in Australia while the visa is processed
- your health, through a full medical examination
- your character, including police certificates from each country you’ve lived in for 12 months or more
HEALTH AND CHARACTER REQUIREMENTS
Both you and your sponsor may need to meet health and character requirements. You’ll generally need to undergo a medical assessment and provide police certificates as part of your supporting evidence. Certain health or character issues can affect the outcome of your application, so it’s worth discussing your circumstances with a migration lawyer early.
HOW LONG DOES THE CONTRIBUTORY AGED PARENT VISA TAKE, AND WHAT DOES IT COST?
Contributory parent visas move through a capped, demand-driven queue, and current estimated waiting times are lengthy. The Department’s own published data shows a multi-year gap between lodgement and final processing for this category, and it changes over time. The visa application charge is also significantly higher than for the non-contributory Aged Parent (subclass 804) visa, reflecting the faster queue. Because both figures change, we recommend confirming current costs and timeframes with our team or the Department of Home Affairs before you lodge.
HOW RAMSDEN LAWYERS CAN HELP
Our migration team has extensive experience with Contributory Aged Parent (subclass 864) visa applications, from initial eligibility advice through to lodgement and decision. With offices in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne, our migration and immigration lawyers can:
- assess your eligibility and your sponsor’s eligibility before you apply
- advise on the evidence required to meet the balance of family test and other criteria
- prepare and lodge both the visa application and the sponsorship application, along with all supporting evidence, with the Department of Home Affairs
- prepare detailed submissions addressing each requirement of the visa and setting out the evidence provided
- provide ongoing advice throughout the application process
If you are considering applying for a Contributory Aged Parent (subclass 864) visa or have already started the process and want it reviewed, contact our immigration team to discuss your circumstances.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is The Contributory Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 864) Permanent?
Yes. Subclass 864 is a permanent visa. It has a temporary equivalent, the Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884), which some applicants use as an interim step.
What's The Difference Between the Subclass 864 And Subclass 143 Visas?
Subclass 864 is for applicants who have reached Age Pension age (currently 67) and are onshore in Australia when they apply. Subclass 143 (Contributory Parent) is for parents who haven’t yet reached Age Pension age, or who are applying from outside Australia.
Can I Include My Partner and Children in My Application?
In many cases, yes. Your partner and any dependent children can generally be included as members of the family unit, subject to them meeting their own health and character requirements.
What Happens If I Don't Meet the Balance of Family Test?
If you don’t meet the balance of family test, you won’t be eligible for the Contributory Aged Parent visa. We can review your family circumstances and advise whether another visa pathway may be available.
Do I Need Health Insurance to Apply?
Yes. You’ll need evidence of adequate health insurance covering your stay in Australia for the period your application is being processed.
