Aged Parent Visa Subclass 804

The Aged Parent Visa Subclass 804 allows aged parents to live in Australia permanently with their children who are settled citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. This visa is intended for older parents who meet the age requirements for an Australian Age Pension.

Applicants must be onshore in Australia when applying and at the time of visa decision. This makes the 804 visa unique among parent visas, as it is one of the few options for parents already in Australia on another valid visa.

The visa provides full permanent residency rights, including work and study rights, access to Medicare, and a pathway to Australian citizenship. The Balance of Family Test ensures that the applicant has more children living in Australia than in any other country, or at least half their children live permanently in Australia.

An Assurance of Support (AoS) is required to provide a financial guarantee that the visa holder will not need government assistance. This is a mandatory undertaking from the sponsor, usually for a period of 10 years.

Processing times for the 804 visa can be extremely long (often more than 20 years), but applicants receive a Bridging Visa allowing them to stay in Australia lawfully while waiting for the outcome. Applicants must also meet health and character requirements.