Overview
The Contributory Aged Parent visa allows the aged parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia. There are two streams: a temporary visa (subclass 884) and a permanent visa (subclass 864).
Subclass 884
This is a temporary visa that lets aged parents stay in Australia while they wait for a permanent visa (subclass 864).
Eligibility Requirements:
- Have an eligible child who is a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Be old enough to receive the Australian aged pension.
- Be in Australia at the time of application and decision, but not in immigration clearance.
- Not have applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870) when applying for this visa.
What You Can Do:
- Live in Australia for up to 2 years.
- Work and study in Australia (without receiving government support).
- Apply for the permanent Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864) during your stay.
Subclass 864
This is a permanent visa that lets aged parents live indefinitely in Australia.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Have an eligible child who is a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Be old enough to receive the Australian aged pension.
- Not have applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870) when applying for this visa.
What You Can Do:
- Stay in Australia indefinitely.
- Work and study in Australia.
- Enroll in Medicare, Australia’s public healthcare system.
- Sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia.
- Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.
Important Notes for the Sponsoring Child for Both Visas
- Parental Sponsorship:
- The sponsoring child must be a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- The sponsor must agree to provide financial support for the applicant and their family members for the first 2 years in Australia.
- The sponsor can apply for multiple parents to come to Australia under this visa.
- Scope of Sponsorship:
- Sponsorship covers the main applicant and any accompanying family members.
These visas provide a pathway for elderly parents to reunite with their children in Australia, offering both temporary and permanent residency options.