Subclass 864 visa – an australian permanent visa for aged parents

After having settled down in Australia, you may think of bringing your aged parents to Australia and taking care of them. How to prepare and successfully apply for a Contributory Aged Parent visa – Subclass 864 visa? Dive in to get advice from our registered migration consultant.
Table of Contents
What is a Contributory Aged Parent visa
The benefits of a Subclass 864 visa
The requirements of a Subclass 864
Processing times of Subclass 864 visa
Steps to apply for a Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent visa
The cost of Subclass 864 visa application
What is a Contributory Aged Parent visa
A Contributory Aged Parent visa – Subclass 864 visa allows aged parents of settled Australian citizens/permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia permanently. The applicant must be onshore when applying for the visa 864.
After applying for the Subclass 864 visa, parents can be granted a Bridging visa A (BVA). The BVA allows you to remain onshore while waiting for being granted visa 864.

The benefits of a Subclass 864 visa
Residency | To live permanently in Australia. |
Study and work | To work and study anywhere in Australia. |
Health care | Access to Medicare – an Australia’s universal health insurance scheme. |
Multiple entries | Travel to and from Australia as many times as you want within 5 years. After 5 years, you can apply for a Resident Return visa (RRV) or citizenship. |
Family members | Allow your eligible family members to apply for the visa together with you. |
Citizenship | Apply for Australian citizenship if you meet the requirements. |

The requirements of a Subclass 864
The sponsor (children) |
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The applicant (parent) |
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Most importantly, the applicants (parents) must be aged 65 to 67 to receive the age pension in Australia and be granted visa 864.

To know if you’re old enough to receive the age pension in Australia, please refer to the following table:
Period within which a person was born | Pension age in Australia | Date pension age changes |
From 1 July 1952 to 31 December 1953 | 65 years and 6 months | 1 July 2017 |
From 1 January 1954 to 30 June 1955 | 66 years | 1 July 2019 |
From 1 July 1955 to 31 December 1956 | 66 years and 6 months | 1 July 2021 |
From 1 January 1957 onwards | 67 years | 1 July 2023 |
Contact VEM for further assistance. Our consultant will help you to choose a suitable migration pathway and be well-prepared to apply for the visa.
Processing times of Subclass 864 visa
The Subclass 864 visa processing time is also different depending on each of the below pathway:
Apply for visa 864 | There is no information on processing time for a Contributory Aged Parent visa application at the present time. |
Apply for visa 884 before applying for visa 864 |
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You can also consider a different pathway of the similar visa category – Subclass 804.
Steps to apply for a Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent visa
- Step 1: Check if you meet the Subclass 864 visa requirements.
- Step 2: Prepare the documents and apply for the Subclass 864 visa.
- Step 3: Provide additional documents (if required).
- Step 4: Receive Subclass 864 visa.
You can apply for the visa yourself but it is recommended that you should use visa services provided by a registered migration agent to avoid wasting time and effort.

The cost of Subclass 864 visa application
For the main applicant | For the additional applicant | |
First instalment | AUD4,765 |
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Assurance of Support |
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Note: The Subclass 864 fee listed above does not include a 1.4% surcharge.
Note that you may not get any refund if your visa application is refused. Contact VEM for further assistance.
Responsibilities of the Subclass 864 holders
- The sponsors must provide housing and financial support for the first 2 years the applicant lives in Australia.
- The applicants must meet all visa conditions and comply with Australian laws.

Frequently asked questions
You need to be onshore when applying for this visa.
Yes, as long as they meet the requirements for dependent applicants.
Yes, if your parents are holding a valid visa (eg. Visitor visa). It allows your parents to stay in Australia waiting for visa 864 application approval. However, if your parents leave Australia during that time, they will not be able to re-enter Australia with a BVA visa.
Therefore, if your parents want to travel in and out of Australia while waiting for the 864 visa to be approved, they should consider applying for a Bridging visa B (BVB). This visa allows your parents to travel from and to Australia within 3 months.
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Contact VEM for further assistance! Our registered migration agent (MARN: 1577877) and member of Migration Institute of Australia (MIA: 12648) will legally advise and help your visa application well-prepared for the best possible outcome.
Find out more about other Australian visa:
I am 65 years old and my wife is 64 years old. What type of vusa fir us to permanently stay in Australia? Half of my children are Australian PR/Citizen.
my mum is 67 years old, shall I apply 143 or 864 for her ? are both has same process time ? friend of mine said 864 is quicker than 143. Is it correct ? For 864, does my mum need to stay in Australia all the time while the application is being processed ?
By August 2023 I will be qualified to apply aged contributory visa 864. As per your information subclass 864 has to apple onshore. After lodging the application can I still travel in and out of Australia.
Alternatively can I apply subclass 143 even I am at pension age as I prefer to Apply offshore
Basically I prefer to apply offshore despite my age is qualified for age parent subclass 864.
As long as after lodging the application I can travel in and outside Australia is ideal now
My all the three kids are in Australia:
Kazi Emon Mehdi, Elder Son, Australian Citizen living in Melbourne
Kazi Sajid Kabir, Younger Son, Australian Permanent Resident living in Sydney
Qazi Jafrin Kabir, Daughter, Studying in Melbourne, Australian
Mohammad Zahangir Kabir (Father)
Being my elder son Australian citizen, I availed
VISITOR (Class FA) VISITOR (Subclass 600) Visas
No. 1590110127060L
No.1060112667488G
No. 2189574171329
No. 1069585253697
Shahina Sultana (Mother)
Availed
VISITOR (Class FA) VISITOR (Subclass 600) Visas
Grant Number: 1060112673997Z
Grant Number: 1069585254741
There was no case of our visa refusal for Australia.
I hold a PhD in Journalism and am a Retired Professor of Journalism and Media Studies, worked in Bangladesh and SAARC Countries. At present I myself and my wife are living in Sydney, Australia.
We want to apply for Contributory Parent Visa so as to settle in Australia. I am wandering, which category Contributory Parent Visa will be suitable for us ! After lodging our Visa Application, we want to do some work in Australia till grant of our Visa.
Kindly let me know.