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Aged Parent Visa
Allows eligible older parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia permanently after applying onshore.
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Aged Parent Visa – Subclass 804
Permanent residency for older parents already in Australia
The Aged Parent visa (Subclass 804) is a non-contributory permanent visa for parents who are old enough to receive the Australian Age Pension and who have a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen child living in Australia. It allows eligible parents to stay in Australia indefinitely instead of returning home after short visits.
Best suited to families planning far ahead
The 804 visa can suit families where parents are already in Australia, are comfortable with a long wait in the queue, and are looking for a lower-cost path to permanent residency. At Knowbal Migration, we help you understand how the 804 compares with contributory aged parent options, and build a strategy that balances cost, timeline and your parents’ health and lifestyle needs.
Live with your family and become part of the community
nce granted, this visa lets parents live, work and study in Australia, enrol in Medicare and, when eligible, apply for Australian citizenship. It’s designed for families who want parents to be part of everyday life – helping with grandchildren, attending family events and settling into the local community – rather than relying on repeat visitor visas.
Lower government fees, but very long waiting times
Because the Subclass 804 is non-contributory, its government visa charges are much lower than contributory options like the 864 or 143. However, places are extremely limited, which means very long queue times – often decades – before a final decision is made. Many parents spend years on bridging visas while they wait.
Aged Parent Visa – Subclass 804
School students (not secondary exchange) must be 6+ and within year-level age limits when commencing Years 9–12.ANY – the applicant can be a citizen of any country but must be the parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
Must be enrolled in a full-time CRICOS course and lodge a valid CoE for all intended courses; a CoE at lodgement is a mustYou must be old enough to qualify for the Australian Age Pension at the time of application (currently around 67, depending on date of birth). This is why it is called an “aged” parent visa.
You must be formally sponsored by an eligible child in Australia. If that child is under 18, an approved relative, your child’s partner, or an eligible community organisation may act as sponsor. The sponsor must be “settled” (usually living in Australia lawfully for at least 2 years).
Applicants under 18 must have adequate welfare arrangements for the period in Australia.You must meet the Balance of Family Test – generally meaning at least half of your children live permanently in Australia, or more of your children live in Australia than in any other single country (including step-children and adopted children).
You must be in Australia when you apply and hold a valid substantive visa that normally does not have a “No Further Stay” (8503) condition. This visa is intended for parents already onshore, not applying from overseas.
An Assurance of Support (AoS) is usually required before visa grant – a financial undertaking from an assurer in Australia to repay certain welfare costs and show you won’t rely on government income support. You must also have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government or have arranged to repay them.
Applicants and family members must maintain OSHC for the entire stay.All applicants must meet health and character requirements, including medical examinations and police checks for each country lived in. Significant health issues or serious criminal history can lead to refusal.
You will generally need to be in Australia when the Subclass 804 visa is decided and granted, and you must continue to comply with all conditions of any bridging visa while you wait in the parent visa queue.
We’re in Our Clients’ Hearts
Excellence speaks for itself—our clients’ emotions tell the story.
Aleeha and Nirav at Knowbal Migration demonstrated outstanding guidance, persistence, and professionalism in securing a Visitor Visa Family Stream for a sister, successfully navigating earlier difficulties to achieve the outcome. Their dedication and genuine care throughout the process were truly appreciated.
Very good experience with Knowbal Migration. Nirav and Aleeha provided great support throughout my visa process and helped achieve a positive outcome. Thank you to the team for their assistance.
The Knowbal Visa Application Process
We start by reviewing your study history, current visa status, and eligibility for the Temporary Graduate Visa. This personalised consultation helps us understand your situation and plan the best application approach for you.
Once we assess your case, you’ll be assigned a dedicated migration expert. This professional will be your main point of contact, guiding you through each step and answering your questions promptly.
Gathering and organising your documents correctly is critical. Knowbal helps you prepare all necessary paperwork, including your Confirmation of Enrolment, academic transcripts, proof of completion, health insurance, and identity documents to avoid delays or errors.
We lodge your visa application on your behalf with the Department of Home Affairs, ensuring everything complies with visa requirements and your information is accurately presented.
Throughout the processing period, Knowbal monitors your application and keeps you informed. Should the Department request additional information, we will assist you promptly to ensure a smooth process.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 804 is cheaper upfront but usually means very long queue times (often many years on a bridging visa). Contributory visas (864/143) cost more but are designed to move much faster. The right option depends on your parents’ age, health, how long they can realistically wait, and your finances. In a consult we usually run both scenarios side-by-side (fees, expected timelines, AoS, living costs) so you can choose a pathway that’s realistic for you and your parents.
Once you lodge an 804 onshore, your parents are clearly signalling they want to settle permanently, not just visit. That can make it harder to argue Genuine Temporary Entrant later if they withdraw and go back to Visitor visas. Before lodging, we normally:
- check any 8503 “No Further Stay” conditions,
- review their travel history and ties home, and
- talk through what it means to spend years in Australia on a bridging visa.
It’s better to make a clear decision at the start than try to reverse it later.
Most onshore 804 applicants receive a Bridging Visa A that lets them stay lawfully in Australia while they wait. Work rights and Medicare can depend on the visa they held when applying and Department policy at the time. Because the wait is long, we always look at how they’ll support themselves, access healthcare and manage insurance during those years, not just at the final PR outcome.
They’ll usually need a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before leaving Australia. Without it, the Bridging Visa A normally ends when they depart, which can leave them stuck offshore. For long queues like the 804, we help families set up a travel plan for important events (weddings, medical appointments, property matters) that balances:
- keeping lawful status,
- avoiding too many long trips that look like they’re not really based in Australia, and
- managing the cost and timing of repeated BVB applications.
Sponsoring parents on a low-cost, long-queue visa sounds attractive, but it still affects your time and money. You may be:
- contributing to rent, bills and medical costs for many years,
- travelling overseas more often to help with extended family issues, and
- juggling your parents’ needs with your career, study and home-loan goals.
When we design a strategy, we always overlay the parent visa plan with your own PR/citizenship timeline and financial goals, so supporting mum and dad doesn’t derail your future.
Because 804 queues are long, it’s common for health to change over time. Serious health issues can:
- increase care and cost pressures on you,
- make travel back home harder or impossible, and
- complicate any thoughts of switching to another visa later.
We usually talk through realistic care plans, insurance options and support networks before lodging, so everyone understands what life might look like five or ten years down the track.
Because 804 queues are long, it’s common for health to change over time. Serious health issues can:
- In some cases, people do move from a non-contributory pathway to a contributory one, but it isn’t always straightforward and can mean paying for a new application and re-doing health/character checks. It also changes the story you’ve already given the Department about your parents’ plans. Before lodging an 804, we usually model a “step-up” option (e.g. 804 vs going straight to 864/143 later) so you know the pros, cons and extra costs of changing course in future.
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