Contributory Aged Parent 864 Visa
The Contributory Aged Parent 864 Visa allows parents of an Australian permanent resident, Australian citizen or eligible NZ citizen to come and live in Australia. The contributory parent group of visas are more expensive than other parent visas and have a shorter processing time. There are four types of these visas:
- Contributory Parent Visa Subclass 143
- Contributory Parent Visa Subclass 173
- Contributory Aged Parent Visa Subclass 864
- Contributory Aged Parent Visa Subclass 884
This page will explore the Contributory Aged Parent 864 Visa.
What Does the 864 Visa Let You Do
The visa subclass is a permanent visa. With the aged parent 864 visa applicants can:
- remain in Australia indefinitely
- study and work in Australia
- Enroll in Medicare (a public health scheme)
- when eligible, apply for Australian citizenship
- sponsor family members to come to Australia, if eligible
- travel to and from Australia for 5 years
Aged Parent Contributory Visa Subclass 864 Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the contributory aged parent 864 visa you must be sponsored by your Australian child. If your child is under 18, you will need to find another eligible sponsor such as a community organization.
You meet the balance of family test if:
- at least half of your children and stepchildren are eligible children (Australian citizen/PR/eligible NZ citizen), or
- there are more eligible children living in Australia than in any other single country
An assurance of support is another requirement that you must obtain. This is to ensure that you do not rely on government assistance after you enter Australia on this visa. The assurer would be your sponsor.
864 Visa Sponsorship Requirements
Your child, his/her partner or relative/guardian, or a community organisation can sponsor you for the aged contributory visa.
The sponsor, unless an organisation, must be over 18 years of age and be settled in Australia. Generally, someone is considered ‘settled’ in Australia if he/she has lived lawfully in Australia for at least 2 years.
864 Visa Applicant Requirements
To be eligible for this visa, you also must be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia. This is defined in the Social Security Act. Generally, for persons born after 01 January 1957, you must be at least 67 years old.
In addition to being sponsored and meeting the balance of family test, you must also meet the health and character requirements.
The health requirement for 864 visa cannot be waived. This means, if you fail the health check, your visa will be refused. If you have medical conditions, it is recommended that you speak to your immigration lawyer or migration agent before applying for this visa.
Aged Parent Visa 864 Processes
Firstly, after your application is prepared, you will need to submit the visa and sponsorship application and pay for the first visa application charge.
Secondly, you wait until your application is queued, or any request from the Department.
Thirdly, you will be requested to obtain assurance of support, and other documents such as police checks, health checks, etc.
Thereafter, before the grant of the visa, you will need to pay for the second instalment of the visa application charge. As this is a contributory visa, the second instalment is generally higher than other parent visas and can be in excess of $43,000 per visa applicant.
The first stage of this Aged Parent Visa 864 after your application is prepared, is you will need to submit the visa and sponsorship application and pay for the first visa application charge.
The second stage is waiting until your application is queued, or until you receive a request from the Department.
Thirdly, you will be requested to obtain an assurance of support, and other documents such as police checks and health checks.
Lastly, before the Aged Parent Visa is granted, you will be required to pay for the second instalment of the visa application charge. As this is a contributory parent visa, the second instalment is generally higher than other parent visas and is $43,000 per visa applicant.
What Can You Do with Subclass 864 Aged Contributory Parent Visa
The subclass 864 visa Aged Contributory visa is a permanent visa, which means you can remain in Australia indefinitely, and may be eligible for Australian citizenship.
Aged Contributory Parent Visa Subclass 864 Frequently Asked Questions
Can I include family members in my Aged Contributory Parent visa application?
You can include your partner (who may also be the other parent of the sponsor) and, in some cases, other child you have.
What is the processing time for subclass 864 Aged Contributory Parent visa?
The subclass 864 visa is a contributory parent visa, and therefore the processing time can be quicker than other parent visas. However, it is still capped and queued. On average, it is generally between 5 to 10 years.
What are the costs involved in the visa subclass 864 Aged Contributory Parent visa?
The visa application charges are payable in two stages: one at time of application, and another before the grant of the visa. As above, the second instalment of the visa application charge is significantly higher.
Other associated fees would be to obtain the assurance of support or obtain health check and police check as part of the application.
Can I apply for the Aged Contributory Parent visa in Australia?
Yes, you can. If you are in Australia, you may also be granted a bridging visa to remain in Australia while waiting for your Contributory Aged Parent visa application to be finalised.
Is there any other visa other than the Aged Contributory Parent visa that I can apply for that has a quicker processing time?
Yes. Depending on your circumstances, you may have alternative options and pathways. Consult with your representative for a bespoke advice and strategies.