Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent) Visa — The Final Step to Permanent Family Reunion
Subclass 864 Visa – Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent) Visa Australia
The Final Step to Permanent Family Reunion — The Permanent Visa That Completes the Contributory Aged Parent Journey
For families who have chosen the contributory aged parent pathway, the Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent) Visa represents the destination. It is the permanent visa that completes what the Subclass 884 temporary visa began — delivering full, unconditional permanent residency in Australia to an aged parent who has already demonstrated their commitment through significant financial contribution and years of patient waiting.
If the Subclass 884 is the bridge, the Subclass 864 is the other side. It is where the temporary arrangement ends and genuine permanent life in Australia begins — with Medicare, with the ability to sponsor other family members, with a pathway to citizenship, and with the security of knowing that the right to live in Australia is no longer tied to a visa that needs to be managed or renewed.
The Subclass 864 is also available to parents who have held the Subclass 173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa — the offshore equivalent of the 884 — and who are now in Australia seeking the permanent stage of their pathway. At Migration Republic, our MARA-registered agents guide families through the Subclass 864 stage with the thoroughness that a permanent visa of this significance demands.
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Primary applicant — 2026
From Stage Two lodgement
Total two-stage visa charges
From date of 864 grant
Visa Overview
What is the Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent) Visa?
The Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent) Visa is a permanent onshore visa that grants full permanent residency in Australia to eligible aged parents of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. It is the permanent stage of the contributory aged parent pathway — following the Subclass 884 Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa, which the parent holds while the 864 is being processed.
Like all contributory parent visas, the Subclass 864 involves significantly higher visa application charges than the non-contributory Subclass 804 permanent parent visa — reflecting the trade-off of cost for time that defines the contributory pathway. For most families who reach Stage Two, that trade-off was consciously made at Stage One, and the 864 is the completion of a journey that has already involved years of commitment.
Key Features of the Subclass 864 Visa
- Permanent onshore visa — the final stage of the contributory aged parent pathway
- Grants full permanent residency in Australia — no renewal, no expiry
- Applied for from within Australia — typically by holders of the Subclass 884 or Subclass 173
- Balance of Family Test re-assessed at the time the 864 is decided — changes since Stage One matter
- New, separate assurance of support bond required — higher than the Stage One bond, 10-year period from grant date
- New health examinations required — Stage One results will have expired
- Updated police clearances required — covering the period since Stage One
- Full Medicare access upon grant — confirmed, unconditional
- Full, unrestricted work rights
- Five-year travel facility from date of grant
- Pathway to Australian citizenship after meeting residency requirements
- Ability to sponsor eligible family members after grant
- If Subclass 884 expires before 864 is granted — Bridging Visa A maintains lawful status
Eligibility Requirements
Who Can Apply for the Subclass 864 Visa?
Aged Parent Threshold
Must be of Australian pension age — currently 67 years — at the time of visa grant. A parent who was granted the 884 and reaches pension age during the Stage Two processing period will meet this requirement at the time the 864 is granted.
Holds or Held 884 or 173
Typically must have held or currently hold the Subclass 884 (onshore) or Subclass 173 (offshore) contributory parent temporary visa. The same sponsoring child from Stage One can continue as sponsor — but the sponsorship must be formally renewed for Stage Two.
Balance of Family Test — Re-assessed
The test is assessed at the time the 864 is decided — not when the 884 was decided. Changes in family structure between Stage One and Stage Two can affect whether the test is met. A fresh, full analysis of every child in every country is required.
New Assurance of Support Bond
A separate, new assurance of support bond is required for the permanent stage — at a higher amount than the Stage One bond. Must be lodged with the relevant state or territory authority before the 864 can be granted. The Stage One bond does not carry over.
New Health Examinations
Health examinations from Stage One will have expired — new examinations with an approved panel physician are required for Stage Two. We coordinate this proactively to ensure results are current when the Department assesses the application.
In Australia at Application
The Subclass 864 is an onshore visa. The applicant must be physically in Australia at the time they lodge the Stage Two application. Parents outside Australia seeking permanent contributory residency use the Subclass 143 instead.
Visa Benefits
Key Benefits of the Subclass 864 Visa
Full Permanent Residency — Unconditional and Permanent
The defining benefit of the Subclass 864 is permanent residency — not temporary, not conditional on continued visa renewal, but permanent. The right to live in Australia indefinitely without the administrative burden of managing visa validity, bridging arrangements, or renewal applications. For an aged parent who has spent years in temporary arrangements, this represents genuine security and peace of mind.
Full, Confirmed Medicare Access
Permanent residents in Australia are eligible to enrol in Medicare in full. While Subclass 884 holders generally have some Medicare access, the permanent visa solidifies and confirms full Medicare entitlements. For aged parents who may have significant and ongoing healthcare needs, access to Medicare is one of the most practically important benefits — removing the financial burden and uncertainty of private health insurance dependency entirely.
Pathway to Australian Citizenship
After holding permanent residency for the required period — currently four years of lawful residence in Australia including at least twelve months as a permanent resident — eligible permanent residents can apply for Australian citizenship. For parents who intend to make Australia their permanent home, citizenship is the natural completion of the journey and provides an unconditional right to remain in Australia.
Ability to Sponsor Eligible Family Members
Permanent residents in Australia can sponsor certain family members for Australian visas. A parent who has been granted the Subclass 864 may be eligible to sponsor other eligible family members — opening further family reunion pathways that were not available during the temporary visa period.
Unrestricted Travel — Five-Year Travel Facility
The Subclass 864 grants a five-year travel facility from the date of grant — allowing the parent to travel outside Australia and return as a permanent resident freely during that period. After five years, a Resident Return Visa may be needed if the parent has spent significant time outside Australia. We advise on travel facility management as part of our ongoing service.
Permanent Security for the Whole Family
Beyond the individual entitlements, the Subclass 864 provides something more fundamental — the certainty that the family is together permanently. No more visa expiry dates to manage. No more bridging arrangements. No more uncertainty about whether the parent can stay. Just family — together, permanently, in Australia.
Stage Two — Critical Planning Points
Managing Stage Two Correctly — What Must Be Done
Timing the Stage Two Application
- Lodge the Subclass 864 while the parent holds a valid Subclass 884 — ideally well before the 884 expires
- The Subclass 884 is typically granted for two years — lodging Stage Two promptly after the 884 is granted maximises the processing time available
- When the 864 is lodged while the parent holds a valid 884, a Bridging Visa A is granted automatically if the 884 expires before the 864 is granted
- Do not wait until the 884 is close to expiry — start Stage Two preparation well in advance
Renewed Health Examinations
- Health examinations from Stage One will almost certainly have expired — typically valid for 12 to 24 months
- New examinations with an approved panel physician are required for Stage Two
- We coordinate health examination appointments proactively and ensure results are linked to the application before they expire
New Assurance of Support Bond for Stage Two
- A new, separate assurance of support bond is required for the Subclass 864 — the Stage One bond does not carry over
- The Stage Two bond is at a higher amount than the Stage One bond
- The bond must be lodged with the relevant state or territory authority before the 864 can be granted
- The Stage Two bond runs for ten years from the date the Subclass 864 permanent visa is granted
- The Stage One bond is returned separately when the Subclass 884 period is complete
Travel During Stage Two Processing
- During the Subclass 884 period — travel rights attached to the substantive temporary visa
- If on Bridging Visa A while the 864 is processed — a Bridging Visa B is required before any travel outside Australia
- Departing Australia on a Bridging Visa A without a BVB causes the bridging visa to cease
- Always seek professional advice before any travel during Stage Two processing
Costs and Processing Times
Subclass 864 Visa Cost and Processing Times
Cost Breakdown (2026)
| Cost Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Stage 2 — Subclass 864 Visa Charge | AUD $19,420 |
| Stage 1 — Subclass 884 (already paid) | AUD $35,610 |
| Combined Two-Stage Visa Charges | ~AUD $55,030 |
| Stage Two Assurance of Support Bond | Higher than Stage One |
| New Health Examinations (Stage Two) | AUD $300–$450 |
| Updated Police Clearances | Varies by country |
| Total Pathway — All Costs | Often exceeds AUD $70,000 |
Processing Times (2026)
- 75% of Subclass 864 applications processed within approximately 4 to 6 years from lodgement
- 90% of applications processed within approximately 6 to 8 years from lodgement
- Combined 884 + 864 total pathway: typically 5 to 9 years
- Still substantially faster than the non-contributory Subclass 804 at 20+ years
- Completeness of the Stage Two application at lodgement is the most important factor in processing efficiency
- During Stage Two processing — parent lives in Australia on the Subclass 884, transitioning to Bridging Visa A if the 884 expires
How We Help
Our Stage Two Visa Process
Stage Two Assessment and Preparation Planning
For clients who have been with us since Stage One, Stage Two begins with a structured review — Balance of Family Test changes since the 884, health examination expiry dates, passport validity, sponsor circumstances, and assurance of support bond requirements. For new clients holding a Subclass 884 from another agent, we conduct a thorough review of the existing application and advise on everything required for Stage Two.
Updated Balance of Family Test Analysis
We conduct a fresh, full Balance of Family Test analysis at the Stage Two point — comparing the current family structure to the position at the time of the 884 and identifying any changes in children's countries of residence, new children, or step-children changes that need to be addressed. This is a non-negotiable step — the test is assessed at grant, not at lodgement of Stage One.
Health Examination Coordination
We coordinate new health examinations for the Subclass 864 application — managing appointment timing with approved panel physicians, ensuring results cover all required components, and confirming that results are properly linked to the Stage Two application before they expire. Proactive management of health examination timing is one of the most important things we do at Stage Two.
Assurance of Support Coordination for Stage Two
We work with the sponsoring child to arrange the new Stage Two assurance of support bond — confirming the required bond amount with the relevant state or territory authority, assisting with financial capacity documentation, and managing the bond lodgement. The Stage Two bond must be in place before the 864 can be granted.
Subclass 864 Application Preparation and Lodgement
We prepare the complete Stage Two application — all updated identity, sponsor, Balance of Family Test, health, and character documentation — review every document carefully, and lodge with the Department of Home Affairs. After everything the family has invested in the contributory pathway, every aspect of the Stage Two application is prepared to the highest standard.
Ongoing Management Through to Permanent Visa Grant
We actively manage the Subclass 864 application from lodgement through to grant — monitoring the 884 expiry and bridging visa arrangements, responding promptly to any Department requests, keeping the family informed throughout, and managing all moving parts of the Stage Two journey through to the day permanent residency is granted.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Migration Republic
Why Choose Migration Republic?
The Subclass 864 is a permanent visa of enormous personal and financial significance. By the time a family reaches Stage Two of the contributory aged parent pathway, they have already invested years of waiting and tens of thousands of dollars. The Stage Two application needs to be handled with the same thoroughness and care as Stage One — because errors or omissions at this point, after everything the family has already invested, are particularly costly and distressing. The Balance of Family Test must be freshly assessed. Health examinations must be renewed. The assurance of support bond must be correctly arranged. The transition from 884 to Bridging Visa A to 864 grant must be actively managed.
Fresh Stage Two Balance of Family Test
We conduct a full, fresh Balance of Family Test analysis at Stage Two — accounting for every change in children's countries of residence, new children, or step-children since Stage One. Changes that affect the test outcome need to be identified and addressed before lodgement, not discovered after.
Complete Stage Two Application Management
We manage every aspect of the Stage Two application — renewed health examinations, updated police clearances, new assurance of support bond, sponsor renewal, and all identity documentation — from initial preparation through to lodgement and active monitoring to permanent visa grant.
Continuous Client Relationship
For clients who have been with us since Stage One, Stage Two is a natural continuation — we know the family, we know the application, and we manage the transition seamlessly. For new clients at Stage Two, we conduct a thorough review of the existing case and take on management to the same standard we apply to every application we handle.
Ready to Complete Your Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent Visa Journey?
The Subclass 864 is the finish line of a journey that has taken years and significant financial commitment. It delivers what the entire pathway has been building toward — full permanent residency in Australia, Medicare access, a pathway to citizenship, and the permanent security of knowing an aged parent's right to live in Australia alongside their family is confirmed and unconditional. Use our free tools to check your eligibility position first, or speak directly with our MARA-registered agents who will manage every aspect of the Stage Two application with the expertise it demands.
