Subclass 804
The Subclass 804 visa is a permanent pathway for aged parents to reside in Australia with their settled children.
The 804 Aged Parent Visa
The Subclass 804 is an onshore permanent visa for parents who have reached the Australian pension age (67 years or older). It allows parents to remain in Australia indefinitely with their families.
At Immilex, we focus on the facts. This visa is subject to Capping and Queueing, meaning that while it offers a pathway to permanent residency, the current processing queue as of 2026 is approximately 33 years.
Key Factors:
- Age Requirement: The applicant must be at least 67 years old at the time of application.
- Balance of Family (BoF) Test: This is a mandatory numerical test. At least half of your children must be eligible children (Australian citizens, PRs, or eligible NZ citizens usually resident in Australia), or more of your eligible children must live in Australia than in any other single country.
- Sponsorship: Must be sponsored by an eligible child or their spouse.
- Assurance of Support (AoS): A legal commitment (usually involving a bank bond of AUD 5,000) to provide financial support so the applicant does not rely on social security.
- Health and Character: All applicants and non-migrating family members must meet mandatory standards.
Aged Parent Requirements
Applicant Requirements
What it is for: Aged parents of settled Australians seeking to live permanently inAustralia.
What it allows: Permanent stay; full work and study rights; access to Medicare; and a pathway to Australian citizenship.
Key Requirements:
- Must be aged 67 or older.
- Must be in Australia at the time of application.
- Must satisfy the Balance of Family test.
- Must not have a "No Further Stay" condition on their current visa.
Length of stay: Permanent.
Work Rights: Unrestricted.
Sponsor Requirements
Eligibility: Must be an Australian citizen, Australian Permanent Resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
Key Limitations:
- The sponsor must be settled (generally residing in Australia for at least 2 years).
- If the sponsoring child is under 18, their spouse or a guardian may act as the sponsor.
- Sponsors must declare any criminal convictions; significant records may result in refusal.
Maintaining compliance
Bridging Visa Status: While in the queue, applicants generally hold a Bridging Visa, allowing them to remain in Australia lawfully.
Health Insurance: While waiting for the 804 grant, it is vital to maintain health cover if not yet eligible for Medicare.
The 804 Application Process
Eligibility Audit
Verify the applicant is aged 67 or older and satisfies the Balance of Family test.
Sponsorship & Lodgement
Secure sponsorship from a settled Australian child and lodge the application while the applicant is in Australia.
Queue Assessment
The Department performs an initial assessment against core criteria (BoF, health, and character).
Queue Placement
Once core criteria are met, the application is assigned a "Queue Date" and placed in the official queue.
Final Assessment
When a place becomes available under the annual cap (based on the July 2013 queue release date as of 2026), the visa is released for final decision.
For 804 Visa Applicants
The Subclass 804 requires strict adherence to the Balance of Family (BoF) test. At Immilex, we assess your family structure and the residency status of your children to ensure this numerical benchmark is logically documented and supported by verifiable evidence.
It is also important to plan for the 33-year processing queue. As this visa is subject to annual capping, applicants must prepare for an extended stay in Australia, typically on a Bridging Visa. If your circumstances require a faster outcome, we recommend evaluating the Contributory Aged Parent (Subclass 864) stream, which, while involving higher costs, significantly reduces the wait period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but you must apply for and be granted a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before you depart. If you leave Australia on your standard Bridging Visa A, it will cease, and you may not be able to return to wait out the remainder of the queue onshore.
To be eligible for the Subclass 804, you must be "Aged" (67 years or older) at the time of application. If you lodge even one day before your 67th birthday, the application is technically invalid and will be refused without a refund of the first instalment.
Yes. The test counts all biological, adopted, and step-children of both you and your partner.
For the BoF test, a child whose whereabouts are unknown is considered to be resident in their last known usual country of residence.
Manage Your Parent Visa with Care
The Parent visa involves complex requirements. Contact us at Immilex for an assessment of your evidence to ensure your application meets the Department's high standards.