The Subclass 804 Aged Parent Visa is a permanent residency pathway for older parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. While it offers a lower-cost route to permanent residency compared to contributory parent visas, it is subject to significant capping and queuing.
What is the 804 Aged Parent Visa?
The 804 visa is an onshore, non-contributory permanent visa. It allows elderly parents who are already in Australia on a valid substantive visa to apply for permanent stay. One of the primary advantages of this subclass is that, upon lodging a valid application, applicants are generally granted a Bridging Visa, which allows them to remain in Australia lawfully throughout the processing period.
Key Eligibility Criteria (2026)
To be eligible for the Subclass 804 visa in 2026, you must meet the following requirements:
- Age Requirement: You must be old enough to receive the Australian Age Pension. As of 2026, the qualifying age for all applicants is 67 years.
- Onshore Status: You must be physically present in Australia when you lodge the application and when the Department of Home Affairs makes a decision.
- Substantive Visa: You must hold a substantive visa at the time of application that does not have a "No Further Stay" (condition 8503, 8534, or 8535) attached to it.
- Eligible Sponsor: You must be sponsored by an eligible child who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen settled in Australia.
- Balance of Family Test: You must meet the balance of family test. This means at least half of your children must live permanently in Australia, or more of your children must live permanently in Australia than in any other single country.
- Assurance of Support (AoS): You must be able to obtain an Assurance of Support. This is a legal commitment by your sponsor (or another person) to provide financial support so you do not rely on government social security payments. For non-contributory visas like the 804, the AoS bond period is 2 years.
- Health and Character: All applicants must meet the Department’s health and character requirements, including medical examinations and police clearances.
Costs and Charges (2026)
The 804 visa remains the more affordable permanent parent option as it avoids the high contributory second installment.
- Total Visa Cost: From AUD $7,345 for a single applicant (paid in two installments).
- First Installment (at time of lodgement): Approximately $5,280.
- Second Installment (payable before grant): Approximately $2,065.
- Additional Applicant (over 18): Approximately $2,640.
- Assurance of Support Bond: A refundable financial bond (currently $10,000 for a single applicant and $4,000 for any secondary adult applicant) must be lodged with Centrelink.
Processing Times and the "Queue"
The 804 visa is subject to a strict annual cap. For the 2025–2026 migration program year, places for the non-contributory category are limited.
Because demand far outweighs supply, the current estimated waiting time for a new 804 application is approximately 33 years. As of early 2026, the Department is currently releasing applications for final processing (the "Queue Release Date") that were queued around July 2013.
Rights and Benefits
Once granted, the Subclass 804 visa allows you to:
- Stay in Australia indefinitely as a permanent resident.
- Work and study in Australia.
- Enrol in Medicare, Australia’s public healthcare scheme.
- Apply for Australian citizenship once residency requirements are met.
- Sponsor eligible family members for permanent residence.
- Travel to and from Australia for five years from the date of grant.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the current "Aged" requirement in 2026?
To apply for the 804 visa, you must have reached the Australian Age Pension age, which is currently 67 years.
2. Can I apply for this visa if I am currently outside Australia?
No. The Subclass 804 is an onshore visa. You must be in Australia when you apply and when the visa is granted.
3. Will I get a Bridging Visa while I wait?
Yes. If you lodge a valid 804 application while holding a substantive visa, you will generally receive a Bridging Visa A (BVA), allowing you to stay in Australia until a decision is made.
4. Can I work on my Bridging Visa?
Most Bridging Visas granted for 804 applicants include work rights, but you must check your specific conditions via VEVO.
5. Do I have access to Medicare while waiting?
Yes. As of 2026, applicants for the 804 visa can generally enrol in Medicare once their application is lodged and acknowledged.
6. What is the "Balance of Family" test?
You pass 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.
7. Can I travel overseas while my 804 visa is processing?
To travel and return to Australia while on a Bridging Visa A, you must apply for and be granted a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before you depart.
8. Comparison: 804 vs. 864 The Subclass 864 (Contributory Aged Parent) visa is much more expensive (approx. AUD $48,000+ total per person) but has a significantly shorter wait time, estimated at 4 to 7 years in 2026.
