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Contributory aged parent visa 864-884

Parent Visas

Subclass 864 and 884 contributory aged parent visa.

For a parent already in Australia, old enough for the age pension, who wants permanent residence faster than the non-contributory 804 queue. You apply onshore, usually stay on a bridging visa while you wait, and pay a substantial government contribution. The 864 is permanent; the 884 lets you pay in two stages.

Onshore, stay while you wait864 permanent / 884 two-stageFor age-pension-age parents
Book a Family Visa ConsultCompare all parent visas
Who They Suit

Stay onshore while you wait, for a much shorter wait.

These visas suit a parent who is already in Australia, has reached the age that qualifies for the Australian age pension, and whose settled child can sponsor them, where the family would rather pay the contribution than wait many years on the non-contributory aged parent visa 804. The Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent visa is permanent; the Subclass 884 Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa is a two-year visa that lets you pay the contribution in two parts and move to the 864 later. If your parent is outside Australia, the equivalent is the offshore contributory parent visa 143 and 173. To qualify you generally need to:

  • be "aged", meaning old enough to be granted the Australian age pension;
  • be in Australia when you lodge and when the visa is granted;
  • be the parent of a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who can sponsor you;
  • meet the balance of family test (at least half your children live permanently in Australia, or more here than any other single country);
  • meet health and character requirements, and have an Assurance of Support bond provided on your behalf.

Costs and timing (current as at June 2026 - verify at homeaffairs.gov.au). These visas carry a substantial government charge, of the order of tens of thousands of dollars for each parent, with most falling due as a second instalment before grant. A refundable Assurance of Support bond also applies (10-year period for the contributory category). The "aged" requirement is met when your parent is old enough for the Australian age pension; that qualifying age is set separately and changes, so we confirm it rather than print a figure. We quote our own professional fee in writing before any work.

864 or 884

Permanent now, or pay in two stages?

Subclass 864 - permanent

Permanent residence from grant. The contribution is broadly paid as one larger amount. Suits families who can meet the full contribution now and want PR straight away.

Subclass 884 - temporary, 2 years

A two-year visa that splits the contribution: a smaller first part now, the balance later for the 864. Suits families who prefer to spread the cost while your parent stays onshore. It spreads the cost, it does not reduce it.

Common Questions

Contributory aged parent questions.

It means old enough to be granted the Australian age pension. The qualifying age is set separately by the government and shifts over time, so rather than print an age that may be out of date, we check whether your parent currently meets it. If your parent is not yet old enough, the offshore contributory parent visa 143 and 173 has no age requirement and may be the path instead.
Usually yes. Because these are onshore visas, a parent who applies while lawfully in Australia is generally granted a bridging visa that lets them remain while the application is decided. That is the main advantage over the offshore route. Travel while on a bridging visa needs care, so check before booking any trips.
The aged parent visa 804 is the non-contributory onshore version. It costs far less but has a very long processing queue. The 864 and 884 are the contributory onshore version: you pay a much larger contribution and wait much less. Both require the aged test and an onshore application; the difference is cost against time.
The 864 and 884 are onshore and require your parent to be old enough for the age pension. The 143 and 173 are offshore and have no age requirement. The contribution, sponsorship, balance of family test and Assurance of Support work in much the same way; the choice usually comes down to where your parent is now and their age.
It is substantial, of the order of tens of thousands of dollars for each parent, with most paid as a second instalment before grant. The government sets the amount and it changes, so confirm the current figure at homeaffairs.gov.au before you commit.
Yes. As with the other permanent parent visas, you generally need at least half your children living permanently in Australia, or more here than in any other single country. If you cannot meet it, the sponsored parent temporary visa 870 may be worth considering, as it does not apply the test in the same way.
It is the same time-against-money question as the offshore visas. The 804 is far cheaper but the wait is long; the contributory visas cost much more but settle your parent's status sooner. We will give you a straight answer on which suits your family rather than push the costlier option.
Where to From Here

Compare before you commit.

Budget onshoreAged Parent Visa 804Non-contributory, far cheaper, but a very long wait. OffshoreContributory Parent 143/173The offshore version, no age requirement. No balance testSponsored Parent 870Temporary long stays without the balance of family test. Compare allParent Visas AustraliaEvery parent option by cost and wait.
Sources

Department of Home Affairs - Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent visa, Subclass 884 Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa, and the balance of family test; current age pension age (Department of Social Services); Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth). Current as at June 2026 and verified live at publish. Confirm at homeaffairs.gov.au.

Written and reviewed by Brian Chan, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2217857)

Visa Store Australia, Perth · Last reviewed June 2026 · Verify on the MARA register · General information only, not personal migration advice.

Aged parents already here?

We can confirm the aged requirement, check the balance of family test and your bridging position, and model 864 against 884.

Book a Family Visa ConsultSpeak With a Registered Agent
Contributory Aged Parent 864/884 Onshore, stay while PR is processed
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