Aged Parent and Contributory Aged Parent Visa (804/864/884)

The aged parent visa group is for elderly parents already in Australia who want to apply for settlement from inside the country. What makes this group distinctive is that it allows an onshore application, and in many cases the parent is granted a bridging visa to stay in Australia lawfully while waiting. This article explains subclasses 804, 864 and 884, the “aged” concept, and the bridging visa mechanism — while pointing you to the official source for the specific figures.

What is this visa for?

The aged parent visa allows the elderly parent of an eligible sponsor in Australia to apply for settlement from inside Australia (onshore). This differs from the general parent group, which is usually lodged from overseas. There are two branches that mirror the general parent visa system:

Non-contributory aged parent (subclass 804): lower fees but a very long wait.
Contributory aged parent (subclass 884 temporary and 864 permanent): a larger financial contribution in exchange for a usually shorter processing time, following a temporary-then-permanent structure like the 173/143 pair.

Who usually looks at this visa?

Elderly parents already in Australia (for example, visiting their children) who want to transition to settlement without having to leave Australia.
Families who want their parents to stay lawfully while waiting, through a bridging visa.
People weighing up the low-fee, long-wait branch (804) against the contribution-based, faster branch (884/864).

Common misconceptions to avoid

“Aged” is a specific condition, not just “elderly” in general. Eligibility for the aged parent group is tied to the applicant having reached a particular age related to pension age in Australia. This threshold is set by regulation and can change; check the precise age requirement on the official page for the exact subclass.
A bridging visa is not a settlement visa. It only helps a person stay lawfully while the application is processed; the attached benefits (such as work and travel) have their own limits.
Onshore does not mean it is certain to be fast. The 804 branch still has a very long wait.

Key conditions to check

The “aged” condition: the applicant must have reached the age related to Australian pension age at the time set by regulation. This is the core concept distinguishing this group from the general parent visa; the specific age figure is published by the relevant authority.
Being inside Australia: these subclasses usually require the applicant to be in Australia when applying and/or when granted.
Balance-of-family test: as with the other parent visa groups, a proportion of the children must be living lawfully in Australia compared with elsewhere. This is an exclusionary condition; the method of calculation is on the official page.
An eligible sponsor and an assurance of support: a legally binding financial commitment, usually with a refundable bond. The value is published by the relevant authority.
Health and character: these apply as with other settlement visas; for elderly parents, the health requirement needs careful attention.

The roles of sponsor and applicant, and the bridging visa while waiting

The applicant is the elderly parent already in Australia; the sponsor is usually a child settled in Australia. When the parent makes a valid onshore application while holding another visa, they are usually granted a bridging visa to continue staying in Australia lawfully throughout the processing period. Because the 804 branch has a very long wait, the bridging visa can last correspondingly long. The benefits of a bridging visa (the ability to work, to re-enter if they leave Australia, to access services) depend on the type of bridging visa and its attached conditions — this is a point to check carefully, because it affects the parent’s daily life for many years.

Evidence you usually need to prepare

Documents proving the parent-child relationship.
Documents about the sponsor’s residence status in Australia.
Documents proving the applicant meets the “aged” condition and is in Australia.
Documents for the balance-of-family test.
Financial records for the assurance of support.
Passport, health examination results, character documents; certified translations of any non-English documents.

The general process

A typical pathway: the parent already in Australia checks the “aged” condition and the balance-of-family test; chooses between the 804 (non-contributory) and the 884/864 (contributory); lodges the application onshore and is usually granted a bridging visa to stay; waits for processing (which can be very long for the 804); provides the assurance of support and, for the contributory branch, pays the large contribution when requested; completes health and character checks; receives the decision. For the contributory aged parent branch, the 884 is temporary and the 864 is permanent, following a two-stage structure.

Fees, processing times, validity and visa conditions

According to the official Home Affairs page, the total charge for the Aged Parent visa 804 is from 8,665 AUDVerified 02/07/2026 · Source: Department of Home Affairs for a single applicant, split into two instalments. This figure does not include fees for accompanying members, health examinations, police clearances, translations or representation fees. Confirm the current figures on the official fee pages.

Fees: the 804 has lower fees; the contributory branch (884/864) requires a large financial contribution, usually split into instalments including a main contribution (the second instalment) at the final stage. The value changes over time and differs between subclasses; look up the figure that applies to the exact subclass on the Home Affairs website.
Processing times / queues: the 804 branch is well known for a very long wait; the contributory branch is usually faster but still long. The figures vary by branch; when you check the Home Affairs website, look at the timeframe for the exact subclass you are interested in.
Two official tools to use before lodging:
- Visa Pricing Estimator: select the exact subclass/stream and number of dependants to estimate the fee. An important note for the parent branch: this tool may not display the second instalment of the application charge — which is the very large amount in the contributory branch (884/864); so check the full charge on the official fee pages and do not rely only on the figure the tool gives.
- Visa Processing Times: updated monthly; match the exact subclass, stream and your circumstances. The parent group’s queue is well known for being very long, so check the official source rather than guessing.
Validity and conditions: the 804 and 864 lead to permanent residence; the 884 is temporary and a stepping stone to the 864. While waiting, lawful residence status is usually maintained through a bridging visa with its own benefits. The detail is published by the relevant authority for each subclass.

Risk of refusal

Not meeting the “aged” condition at the time set by regulation.
Not meeting the balance-of-family test.
Not being able to provide an assurance of support.
The elderly parent’s health not meeting requirements.
Applying when not satisfying the requirement to be inside Australia, or having incomplete family relationship documents.

Common mistakes

Assuming that being “elderly” is enough for the “aged” condition without checking the precise age threshold.
Mistaking a bridging visa for a settlement visa, or not understanding the limits on its benefits over many years of waiting.
Choosing the 804 for its low fee while overlooking the reality of the very long queue relative to the parents’ age and health.
Not preparing financially for the contribution in the contributory branch.
Letting the parent’s current visa expire before making a valid application, losing the chance of a favourable bridging visa.

When to ask a registered migration agent

The aged parent group combines several sensitive factors: the age condition, onshore status, the bridging visa, and the elderly parents’ health. A mistake in the timing of lodgement can affect the right to stay in Australia. For this reason, most cases should consult a Registered Migration Agent (registered with OMARA) before acting — especially when the parent holds a visa about to expire, when health is a concern, or when you need to choose between the 804 and the contributory branch. A list of lawful agents is available on the OMARA website.

Self-check before you read on

Are the parents inside Australia and do they meet the “aged” condition under the rules?
Is the parents’ current visa still valid for a lawful onshore application?
Is the balance-of-family test likely to be met?
Does the family prioritise lower fees (804) or a shorter time (884/864)?
Do I clearly understand the limits on the bridging visa’s benefits during the wait?

Official sources

The Australian Department of Home Affairs Aged Parent visa (subclass 804) page.
Visa Pricing Estimator (fee estimate) — Home Affairs.
Visa Processing Times (processing times, updated monthly) — Home Affairs.
The list of Registered Migration Agents on the OMARA website.

The aged parent visa opens a settlement pathway from inside Australia for elderly parents, but it depends closely on the age condition, the timing of lodgement, and the bridging visa mechanism. Check the age threshold and the onshore condition on the official page, and read on in the parent visa overview and the article on the contributory branch to choose the right pathway.

Migration rules change frequently — always confirm the official source before lodging an application.