For parents who have reached Australian pension age and wish to live closer to their children in Australia, the Contributory Aged Parent visas are one of the main pathways. This program is designed for parents who are already in Australia at the time of application and provides both a temporary and permanent option:
- Subclass 884 – Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary)
- Subclass 864 – Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent)
Together, these visas allow aged parents to join their children, with the option of spreading visa costs across two stages.
Subclass 884 – Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa
The Subclass 884 visa is a temporary visa valid for 2 years. It allows aged parents to stay in Australia while preparing to transition to the permanent Subclass 864.
- Lets you live in Australia for 2 years with your children.
- Designed so families can pay visa costs in two stages.
In the past, many families chose this visa as their first step, as it reduced the financial burden while still offering a pathway to permanent residency through the Subclass 864 visa. However, with parent visa processing times becoming significantly longer in recent years, we recommend that applicants apply directly for the permanent Subclass 864 visa from the beginning, so they can secure permanent residency in Australia sooner.
Who Can Apply? (Subclass 884)
To be eligible for the Subclass 884, applicants must:
- Have a sponsor: Your sponsor must be your biological, adopted, or step child, who is an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident usually living in Australia, or an eligible New Zealand citizen usually living in Australia.
- Be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia.
- Meet the Balance of Family Test.
- Meet the health and character requirements.
- Have paid back any debt to the Australian Government.
- Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused.
- Sign the Australian Values Statement.
- Meet the “best interests of the child” requirement, if relevant.
- Not already hold or have applied for a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870).
- Meet all applicable visa conditions and follow Australian law.
Where can I apply from?
When applying for this visa you must be in Australia, and not be in immigration clearance. Any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet the same conditions. If you apply for this visa in Australia while you are on a temporary visa with a “No Further Stay” condition, your application will be invalid, unless you apply for a waiver of this condition.
Can my family members be included in my application when I apply for visa 884?
Family members can be included in your application when you apply for the contributory aged parent visa. You must include details of all your family members in the application form, whether they are migrating or not.
If you have a partner, their details must be included in the application regardless of whether they are applying for the visa with you or not.
Family members who are applying for the visa must meet Australia’s health and character requirements. Family members who are not coming to Australia might also have to meet those requirements.
What is the assessment process?
Applications are assessed for this visa in 2 stages:
- Applications are assessed for eligibility, and are subsequently either added to the queue or rejected.
- Applications are assessed and decided upon when a place becomes available.
Subclass 864 – Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent) Visa
The Subclass 864 visa is the permanent stage of this pathway. Parents can apply directly for this visa, or they can transition from the Subclass 884.
- Grants permanent residency in Australia.
- Provides access to Medicare and, eventually, eligibility for Australian citizenship.
Who Can Apply? (Subclass 864)
To be eligible for the Subclass 864, applicants must:
- Have an eligible child sponsor who is a settled Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident usually living in Australia, or an eligible New Zealand citizen usually living in Australia.
- Be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia (which is between 65 to 67).
- Not already have applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870).
- Meet the Balance of Family Test.
- Have an Assurance of Support (AoS).
- Meet the health and character requirements.
- Have paid back any debt to the Australian Government.
- Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused.
- Sign the Australian Values Statement.
- Meet the “best interests of the child” requirement, if relevant.
- Meet all applicable visa conditions and follow Australian law.
Where should I be when applying for visa subclass 864 ?
In order to use this type of visa, you need to apply from Australia only.
Balance of Family Test
This test ensures that most of your family ties are in Australia. You will meet the requirement if:
- 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.
Children must be Australian citizens, permanent residents usually living in Australia, or eligible New Zealand citizens usually living in Australia. Children living overseas or in Australia on temporary visas are not counted.
Why Choose the Contributory Aged Parent Visa Pathway?
- Certainty: Both visas are part of a structured pathway to permanent residency.
- Family Reunification: Live with your children and grandchildren in Australia.
- Manageable Fees: Pay visa charges in two stages instead of all at once.
Conclusion
The Contributory Aged Parent visas (Subclass 884 & 864) offer a clear and structured pathway for aged parents to live permanently in Australia.
Important Note: In recent years, the processing times for parent visas have increased significantly. Therefore, applicants are strongly advised to apply directly for the permanent Subclass 864 visa from the beginning, so that the overall process can be as short as possible.
If you wish to live with your family in Australia, a Parent visa could be the right choice. Contact us, if you need more help.
