The Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864) allows eligible parents of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia permanently. It is specifically for parents who are aged and eligible for the Australian Age Pension at the time of application.

This is a contributory visa, meaning applicants pay a higher visa application charge in exchange for faster processing times compared to non-contributory options.

With this Visa you can:

• Stay in Australia as a permanent resident.
• Work and study in Australia.
• Enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare.
• Sponsor your relatives to come to Australia.
• Travel to and from Australia for 5 years.
• If eligible, apply for Australian citizenship.
• Duration of Stay: Permanently

Eligibility Criteria:

• You must have an eligible child who is a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
• You must be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia.
• You must not have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa when applying for this visa.
• You must be onshore (in Australia) when you apply and when the visa is granted.
• Requires meeting the Balance of Family Test.
• Sponsoring child must be settled in Australia for at least two years.

For more information, you can visit the Department of Home Affairs.

The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa – Subclass 870 offers a flexible, short-to-medium term option for parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to visit Australia for extended periods.

This visa allows parents to stay in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years per visa, with the potential to reapply and stay for a maximum of 10 years in total. Unlike permanent parent visa options, this visa does not require meeting the Balance of Family Test, making it more accessible for many families.

Applicants must be sponsored by an approved Australian child and meet health, character, and financial requirements.

With this Visa you can:

• Can visit Australia for up to 3 or 5 years per visa
• Can apply for further visas to visit up to a maximum period in Australia of 10 years
• Cannot work in Australia
• Duration of Stay: 3 to 5 years

Eligibility Criteria:

• Have an approved Parent Sponsor before you can lodge an application for this visa.
• Apply online for this visa.
• Lodge your visa application within 6 months of the sponsorship approval, or 60 days if we give you permission to apply in Australia.

For more information, you can visit the Department of Home Affairs.