Aged Parent Visa Subclass 804

The Aged Parent visa (Subclass 804) is a permanent onshore visa for parents of settled Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens who are of Age Pension age. It grants PR benefits like Medicare and work rights, but is capped and queued with very long wait times often up to 30 years.

Overview How to Apply

Duration

Over 30 years

Cost

$7,345.00

Processing Time

Permanent

Pathway

Australian Citizenship Pathway

Overview

Subclass 804 lets eligible aged parents stay in Australia permanently if they apply onshore, meet the Balance of Family test, and are sponsored by a settled child. Government charges start from AUD 7,345 (two instalments for a single applicant), with extra costs for health checks, police certificates, biometrics, and a possible Assurance of Support. Due to limited annual places and high demand, applications are placed in a queue and processing can span decades. If granted, you can live, work, and study indefinitely, enrol in Medicare, sponsor eligible family members, travel for 5 years on the initial travel facility, and later apply for Australian citizenship if eligible.

Do You Have What It Takes?

✔ Be of Australian Age Pension age (generally 67+, depending on birthdate).
✔ Be in Australia (not in immigration clearance) when you apply.
✔ Have a settled Australian citizen/PR/eligible NZ citizen child as sponsor.
✔ Sponsor is usually resident in Australia (meets “settled” requirement).
✔ Meet the Balance of Family test (at least half, or more in Australia than any other country).

✔ Meet health requirements (medical exams if requested).
✔ Meet character requirements (police checks if requested).
✔ Provide an Assurance of Support if invited.
✔ Not hold or have applied for a Subclass 870 at time of 804 application.
✔ Provide complete, truthful documentation and pay the required charges.

Why Choose This Path?

Permanent residency in Australia.
Work and study without time limits.
Access Medicare (public healthcare).
Sponsor eligible family members to migrate.
Multiple-entry travel for 5 years; then apply for an RRV if needed.
Access AMEP English classes if eligible.
Pathway to Australian citizenship when eligible.
Ability to live near and support family in Australia.
PR stability compared with temporary options.
Access to community services available to permanent residents.

Your Roadmap to Success

Confirm you meet Age Pension age and Balance of Family test.
Ensure your child is an eligible, settled sponsor.
Gather identity, relationship, health, character, and financial documents.
Lodge the Subclass 804 application while in Australia.
Pay the first visa application charge (VAC).
Complete health checks and provide police certificates if requested.
Provide Assurance of Support details when invited.
Monitor queue updates and respond promptly to requests.
Pay second VAC when asked and await finalisation.
If granted, activate PR, enrol in Medicare, and comply with visa conditions.

Visa Duration

Initial Duration

Over 30 years

Visa Pathways

Australian Citizenship Pathway

In theory after receiving your permanent Aged Parent Visa Subclass 804 and living in Australia for the required period you could apply for Australian citizenship which provides voting rights Australian passport and complete belonging. To apply for citizenship you typically need 4 years of lawful residence in Australia including at least 12 months as a permanent resident. However given the reality that current processing times exceed 30 years and most applicants aged 67+ when applying will not survive the queue to receive their visas this pathway is largely theoretical rather than practical for Subclass 804 applicants.