Bringing your elderly parents to live with you in Australia permanently is a meaningful goal — and the 804 visa is one of the main pathways to make that happen. Officially known as the Aged Parent Visa Subclass 804, this is an onshore, non-contributory permanent residence visa. That means your parents apply from inside Australia, and there are no extra “contributions” required beyond the standard application fees.
This guide explains everything clearly — processing times, fees, requirements, checklist, eligibility, bridging visa conditions, health insurance, and Medicare access — updated for March 2026.
What Exactly Is the 804 Visa?
The Subclass 804 is a permanent visa designed specifically for aged parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. What makes it different from the contributory parent visa (Subclass 864) is the cost — the 804 is significantly cheaper upfront. The tradeoff? A much longer wait.
Your parents must be in Australia on a valid visa when they lodge the 804 application. Once lodged, they are placed in a queue and remain in Australia on a Bridging Visa A (BVA) while they wait. That wait, as we will cover shortly, is substantial.
804 Visa Processing Time
Let’s be upfront: the 804 visa processing time is one of the longest in the entire Australian migration system.
As of early 2026, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is processing applications lodged many years ago. The current queue sits at roughly 30 years for the non-contributory aged parent stream. That is not a typo. The demand for this visa far exceeds the annual allocation of places the government sets aside for parent visas.
For the 75th percentile, the DHA does not publish a meaningful processing time for this visa because of the sheer backlog. What we know is:
- Applications are processed strictly in queue order (date of lodgement)
- The annual cap on parent visa grants is limited
- Applicants lodge and then wait on a Bridging Visa for the entire duration
This is why many families who genuinely want a faster outcome look at the Subclass 864 (Contributory Aged Parent Visa) instead, which has significantly shorter processing times — currently around 4 to 7 years — in exchange for higher fees.
If your parents are older and time is a real concern, it is worth having an honest conversation with a registered migration agent about whether the 804 is the right choice for your situation.
804 Visa Age Requirement
The “aged” in Aged Parent Visa is not just a label — it has a specific legal definition.
To qualify as an “aged” parent, the applicant must have reached the qualifying age for the Australian Age Pension. As of 2026, that age is 67 years. Both parents do not need to be aged — only the parent applying needs to meet this requirement. If a couple is applying together, only one of them needs to meet the aged threshold for the other to be included as a secondary applicant.
This is a hard requirement. If your parent is 64 or 65 and close to qualifying, it may be worth waiting until they reach 67 before lodging, rather than having the application refused.
804 Visa Requirements
Beyond the age requirement, the 804 visa has several conditions that both the applicant (your parent) and the sponsor (you) must meet.
The “Balance of Family” Test
This is unique to parent visas and trips up a lot of families. To pass the balance of family test, either:
- At least half of the applicant’s children must be living in Australia as citizens or permanent residents, or
- More of the applicant’s children must be living in Australia than in any other single country
So if your parent has four children and only one is in Australia, the test fails. This test must be passed at the time of application.
Sponsorship Requirements
You, as the sponsor, must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. You must be at least 18 years old and be approved as a sponsor. The DHA checks that you have not been subject to sponsorship bars or family violence orders.
Health and Character
Your parents must undergo a medical examination conducted by a DHA-approved panel physician. Police clearance certificates are required from every country they have lived in for 12 months or more over the past 10 years.
Assurance of Support
An Assurance of Support (AoS) may be required for the 804 visa. This is a legally binding commitment from the sponsor (or another person) to repay the Australian government for any social security payments the visa holder receives during a specified period. The DHA advises whether an AoS is required as part of the application process.
804 Visa Fees and Cost
The 804 visa is described as “non-contributory” because it does not require the large second instalment that the contributory visa (864) demands. However, it is not cheap.
Current government fees for the 804 visa (2026):
- Primary applicant: AUD $4,640
- Secondary applicant 18 or over: AUD $2,320
- Secondary applicant under 18: AUD $1,160
These fees are paid at the time of lodgement and are non-refundable. Note that a second instalment is not charged for this visa — that is the key financial difference from the 864.
Additional costs to factor in:
- Medical examination fees: AUD $300–$500 per person
- Police clearance certificates: varies by country
- Document translation: varies
- Migration agent fees if used: AUD $2,000–$4,500+
- Ongoing private health insurance costs during the bridging visa period (see below)
804 Visa Checklist
Use this as your preparation guide before lodging. Missing documents are the most common cause of delays and complications.
Applicant (Parent) Documents
- Valid passport (all pages)
- Birth certificate
- Evidence of age (to confirm they meet the 67-year threshold)
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Previous marriage/divorce/death certificates (if applicable)
- Police clearance from all countries lived in for 12+ months in the past 10 years
- Medical examination results (submitted directly by the panel physician)
Balance of Family Test Evidence
- Birth certificates of all children
- Evidence of Australian residence/citizenship/permanent residency for children in Australia
- Evidence of residence location for all other children worldwide
Sponsor Documents
- Proof of Australian citizenship or permanent residency
- Completed Form 40 (sponsorship application)
- Identity documents
Financial and Support Documents
- Evidence of ability to support the applicant
- Assurance of Support documents (if required by DHA)
Other
- Completed visa application form (lodged online via ImmiAccount)
- Current visa held by the parent (must be valid at time of lodgement)
804 Visa Bridging Visa — What Happens While You Wait
Once the 804 is lodged, your parents are placed on a Bridging Visa A (BVA). This allows them to remain lawfully in Australia while the application is in the queue. Given the multi-decade processing times, your parents may spend many years on this bridging visa.
Key conditions of the Bridging Visa A for 804 applicants:
- The right to live and stay in Australia
- Work rights are generally included
- The BVA does not automatically allow travel outside Australia
Aged Parent Visa 804 Bridging Visa B
If your parents need to travel overseas while waiting, they must apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before departing. The BVB grants permission to travel and return within a specified period. Leaving Australia on a BVA without a BVB causes it to cease, meaning your parents cannot return, and the 804 application may be affected.
Apply for the BVB well in advance of any planned travel — at least 2 to 4 weeks before departure is recommended.
804 Bridging Visa Driving Licence
Your parents can use their overseas driving licence in most Australian states and territories for a limited period (typically 3 months). After that, they are expected to obtain an Australian driver’s licence. State-by-state rules vary, so it is worth checking with the relevant state roads authority.
804 Visa Health Insurance
This is one of the most important and often underestimated aspects of the 804 visa process.
While your parents are on a Bridging Visa A waiting for the 804 to be decided, they are generally not eligible for Medicare (Australia’s public health system) unless they are from a country that has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with Australia. Countries covered under RHCA include the UK, New Zealand, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Norway, Slovenia, and Malta.
804 Visa Medicare Access
If your parents are from a country with an RHCA, they may access Medicare on a limited basis during the bridging period. However, the coverage under RHCA is not identical to full Medicare — it generally covers medically necessary treatment at public hospitals.
For everyone else — and this covers the majority of applicants — private health insurance is essential for the entire waiting period.
804 Visa Health Insurance Options
Without adequate health insurance, medical costs for elderly parents in Australia can be devastating. Aged parents are higher-risk applicants for health insurers, and not all funds offer suitable products.
Key things to look for in a health insurance policy for 804 visa holders:
- Coverage for pre-existing conditions (though there may be waiting periods)
- Hospital cover including specialist care
- Ambulance cover
- Extras cover for dental, optical, and physiotherapy
Costs vary significantly based on age and coverage level. For a parent aged 67–75, expect to pay anywhere from AUD $200 to $400+ per month for a comprehensive policy. This adds up to a substantial sum over a multi-year waiting period — factor this into your planning carefully.
Difference Between 804 and 864 Visa
This is one of the most common questions families ask, and understanding the difference is crucial before deciding which path to take.
The 804 (Aged Parent Visa) is the non-contributory version — lower upfront cost, but a queue of approximately 30 years. The 864 (Contributory Aged Parent Visa) costs significantly more (second instalment of around AUD $43,600 per primary applicant) but processes in roughly 4 to 7 years.
Both are permanent visas. Both require the same age and balance of family tests. The decision really comes down to how old your parents are now and how long they realistically have before the wait becomes impractical.
For parents who are 67 to 70 today and in reasonable health, the 804 may not be a practical choice. For families seeking a long-term, cost-effective option where time is less pressing, it remains in the system as an option.
804 Visa Application Process — How to Apply
The 804 visa application is lodged online through ImmiAccount on the DHA website. Your parents must be physically present in Australia on a valid visa at the time of lodgement — they cannot apply from overseas.
Steps:
- Create or log into ImmiAccount
- Lodge the sponsorship application (Form 40SP) — the sponsor does this
- Lodge the visa application and upload all supporting documents
- Pay the government fee
- Attend medical examination with a DHA-approved panel physician
- Submit police clearances
- Await acknowledgment and bridging visa grant from DHA
Ready to Apply for the 804 Visa? Talk to a Registered Agent First.
The 804 visa is a long-term commitment — for your parents and for you as the sponsor. Given the complexity of the balance of family test, bridging visa conditions, health insurance obligations, and the Assurance of Support process, getting professional guidance at the start can save you from costly mistakes later.
At Migration Republic, our registered migration agents have guided many Australian families through the parent visa process — from the initial eligibility check right through to permanent visa grant.
We can help you:
- Confirm whether the 804 or 864 is the right fit for your family
- Assess balance of family test eligibility before you spend anything
- Prepare a complete, compliant application from day one
- Advise on bridging visa travel, health insurance, and Medicare access
- Handle all DHA correspondence throughout the process
Do not navigate a 30-year queue without knowing exactly where you stand.
👉 Book a consultation today at migrationrepublic.com.au and speak directly with a registered Australian migration agent who knows the parent visa system inside out.
