What Is the Contributory Aged Parent Visa Subclass 864?

The Contributory Aged Parent visa subclass 864 is a permanent parent visa for an aged parent who has an eligible child living in Australia.

If granted, the visa allows the parent to:

• Stay in Australia permanently
• Live with their family in Australia
• Work and study in Australia
• Enrol in Medicare, subject to applicable Medicare eligibility rules
• Travel to and from Australia for a specified period after visa grant
• Potentially become eligible for Australian citizenship if they later satisfy the citizenship requirements

Subclass 864 is the permanent visa stage for eligible holders of the temporary Contributory Aged Parent visa subclass 884.

Who Can Apply for Subclass 864?

You may be eligible for subclass 864 if you are an aged parent of a:

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

Your child generally needs to be settled in Australia and meet the applicable sponsorship requirements.

You must also satisfy the relevant parent visa requirements, including the balance of family test, health and character requirements and Assurance of Support requirements where applicable.

Aged Parent Requirement

Subclass 864 is specifically intended for aged parents.

The applicable age requirement is linked to Australia's age pension age and can change over time. For this reason, applicants should have their age eligibility checked against the current requirements rather than relying on an outdated age figure.

If you do not meet the aged parent requirement, another parent visa may be more appropriate depending on your circumstances.

Balance of Family Test

The balance of family test is one of the key requirements for subclass 864.

You generally meet the test if:

• At least half of your children and stepchildren are eligible children; or
• You have more eligible children living in Australia than children living in any other single country.

The Department confirms that the balance of family test applies to subclass 864 and cannot be waived, including in compelling or exceptional circumstances.

The test considers the applicant's and their partner's children, including relevant stepchildren and adopted children.

Because family circumstances can be complicated, all children and stepchildren should be assessed carefully before applying.

Subclass 864 Eligibility Requirements

Applicants need to satisfy the applicable requirements for the Contributory Aged Parent visa.

1. Eligible Parent-Child Relationship

You must have an eligible child who is a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.

Evidence of the relationship may include:

• Birth certificates
• Adoption documents
• Family records
• Other evidence requested by the Department

2. Aged Parent Requirement

You must meet the applicable age requirement for the Contributory Aged Parent visa.

3. Balance of Family Test

You must pass the balance of family test unless a specific legislative provision applies.

For a new subclass 864 application, the Department requires the applicant to satisfy the applicable parent visa criteria.

There is an important concession for eligible holders of the temporary subclass 884 visa who subsequently apply for subclass 864, as explained below.

4. Sponsorship

An eligible parent generally needs an approved sponsor for the parent visa pathway.

The sponsor is normally the applicant's eligible child or another eligible person in circumstances permitted by the legislation.

The sponsor must satisfy the applicable requirements and provide the necessary sponsorship documentation.

5. Health Requirements

Applicants and relevant family members must satisfy the applicable health requirements.

The Department may require health examinations as part of the visa process.

For a person progressing from subclass 884 to subclass 864, further health examinations are generally not required unless the Department specifically requests them.

6. Character Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the applicable character requirements.

Police certificates and other character documents may be required depending on the applicant's circumstances.

7. Assurance of Support

An Assurance of Support (AoS) is an important part of the Contributory Aged Parent visa process.

An Assurance of Support is designed to help ensure that the Australian community is not required to support the visa holder financially through certain recoverable social security payments.

For permanent Contributory Parent and Contributory Aged Parent visas, the Assurance of Support period is generally 10 years.

An AoS bond may also be required.

Subclass 884 to Subclass 864

If you already hold the Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa subclass 884, you may be able to apply for the permanent subclass 864 visa.

The pathway is:

Subclass 884 Temporary → Subclass 864 Permanent

The Department provides specific concessions to eligible temporary Contributory Parent visa holders who progress to the corresponding permanent visa.

These concessions can include:

• A substantially reduced first Visa Application Charge instalment
• No reassessment against the Balance of Family test
• Certain sponsorship concessions
• Generally no further health examination unless requested
• Ability to include certain former family-unit members who were included in the temporary application
• A substantially reduced second Visa Application Charge instalment

Character requirements and an Assurance of Support may still apply.

Important Two-Year Rule for Subclass 884 Holders

If you hold a temporary subclass 884 visa and want to receive the concessions available when applying for subclass 864, the permanent visa application generally needs to be lodged within 2 years from the grant of the subclass 884 visa.

The Department's current Form 47PT explains the limited application period and the concessions available to eligible temporary Contributory Aged Parent visa holders.

This makes it important to plan the transition from subclass 884 to subclass 864 carefully.

Subclass 864 Visa Benefits

If your subclass 864 visa is granted, you can generally:

Live Permanently in Australia

You can remain in Australia permanently as a permanent resident, subject to the terms of your visa.

Work in Australia

Permanent residents generally have unrestricted work rights in Australia.

Study in Australia

You can study in Australia as a permanent resident.

Access Medicare

You may be eligible to enrol in Australia's Medicare system, subject to the applicable rules.

Travel to and From Australia

The visa includes a travel facility for a specified period. After the initial travel facility expires, a Resident Return visa or another appropriate travel facility may be required for international travel as a permanent resident.

Potential Pathway to Citizenship

Permanent residence may provide a pathway to Australian citizenship if you subsequently meet the relevant citizenship requirements.

Subclass 864 vs Subclass 884

Subclass 864 vs Subclass 804

Both subclass 864 and subclass 804 are permanent visas for aged parents, but they are different Parent visa pathways.

The choice between parent visa pathways should be based on your eligibility, financial circumstances, family situation and long-term plans.

Processing Time for Subclass 864

The Department of Home Affairs confirms that all Parent visa applications, including subclass 864, are subject to capping and queueing.

This means there is a limit on the number of Parent visas that can be granted in each Migration Program year.

Applications are initially assessed against the core visa criteria. Eligible applications are then assigned a queue date and placed in the processing queue.

Applications are subsequently released for final processing in queue-date order when places become available.

As at 31 May 2026, the Department reported that Contributory Aged Parent subclass 864 applications with queue dates up to November 2018 had been released for final processing.

The Department currently estimates approximately 15 years for new Contributory Parent visa applications, although this is only an estimate and is not a guarantee of the processing time for an individual application.

Processing times can change because of:

• Migration Program planning levels
• Number of applications received
• Applications withdrawn or refused
• Available visa places
• Administrative Review Tribunal outcomes
• Ministerial intervention
• Changes to processing directions
• Completeness of the application
• Health, character and other required checks

Therefore, applicants should not rely on a fixed processing timeframe.

Subclass 864 Application Process

Step 1 – Check Your Eligibility

Assess your age, parent-child relationship, family circumstances and Australian child's status.

Step 2 – Check the Balance of Family Test

Review all children and stepchildren and determine whether you meet the balance of family requirement.

Step 3 – Confirm Sponsorship

Determine whether your proposed sponsor satisfies the relevant sponsorship requirements.

Step 4 – Prepare Your Documents

Prepare evidence of:

• Identity
• Parent-child relationship
• Australian sponsor's status
• Family composition
• Children and stepchildren
• Balance of family position
• Health
• Character
• Assurance of Support
• Other relevant circumstances

Step 5 – Lodge the Application

Submit the application using the applicable Department of Home Affairs process and provide the required supporting documents.

Step 6 – Initial Assessment

The Department assesses the application against the core visa requirements.

Step 7 – Queue Assessment

If the application meets the core criteria, it can receive a queue date and enter the Parent visa queue.

Step 8 – Final Processing

When the application reaches the applicable queue position and a place becomes available, it may be released for final processing.

Step 9 – Visa Grant

If all remaining requirements are satisfied, the subclass 864 visa can be granted as a permanent visa.

Documents You May Need

Depending on your circumstances, you may need:

• Passport and identity documents
• Birth certificate
• Evidence of parent-child relationship
• Evidence of Australian citizenship or permanent residence
• Evidence that the sponsor is settled in Australia
• Marriage or relationship documents
• Evidence concerning all children and stepchildren
• Balance of family evidence
• Police certificates
• Health examination information
• Sponsorship documents
• Assurance of Support documentation
• Financial documents
• Other documents requested by the Department

All documents should be accurate, complete and consistent with the information provided in the application.

Why Choose the Contributory Aged Parent Visa?

For eligible aged parents, subclass 864 can provide a permanent migration pathway to Australia.

The main advantages include:

✔ Permanent residence in Australia
✔ Live with eligible family members in Australia
✔ Work and study rights
✔ Potential Medicare eligibility
✔ Access to a range of permanent resident benefits, subject to eligibility
✔ Potential pathway to Australian citizenship
✔ Family reunification through the Parent visa program

However, the contributory parent program has significant demand and lengthy queues, so applicants should carefully consider their options before lodging an application.

Who Can Help With Your Subclass 864 Application?

Parent visa applications can be complex because several requirements must be satisfied together.

At The Visa and Education Services Pty Ltd, we can help you understand your parent visa options and prepare for the application process.

Our Assistance Can Include:

✔ Subclass 864 eligibility assessment
✔ Aged parent eligibility assessment
✔ Balance of family test assessment
✔ Sponsor eligibility review
✔ Parent-child relationship assessment
✔ Document preparation guidance
✔ Assurance of Support guidance
✔ Subclass 884 to 864 pathway advice
✔ Parent visa application assistance
✔ Review of potential eligibility issues

Speak With a Registered Migration Agent

Navneet Kaur – Registered Migration Agent
MARN: 2318181

If you are considering the Contributory Aged Parent visa subclass 864, professional advice can help you understand the requirements and determine whether this pathway is suitable for your family.

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