🇦🇺family Visa
Contributory Aged Parent Visa
Australia
Last updated: December 17, 2025
Duration
Permanent
Visa Fee
$32,589
Time
10–12 year
Complexity
High
About this Visa
A permanent onshore visa for aged parents of settled Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens, allowing them to live in Australia indefinitely.[6][5] It is part of the contributory parent stream, requiring a substantially higher application charge in exchange for faster processing than non‑contributory parent visas.[5]
Key Benefits
- Permanent residence with the right to stay in Australia indefinitely.[6][5]
- Full work and study rights in Australia.[5][6]
- Access to Medicare, Australia’s public health care scheme.[5][6]
- Eligibility to apply for Australian citizenship when criteria are met.[1][6]
- Ability to sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence.[1][6]
- Multiple travel facility for up to 5 years from grant, with ongoing travel possible via Resident Return visas.[1][5]
Eligibility & Requirements
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be sponsored by an eligible child (or in some cases a community organisation) who is a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.[1][4][6]
- Applicant must be old enough to qualify for the Australian age pension (currently 67 years for most applicants).[1][3][4]
- Must be in Australia (onshore) and not in immigration clearance at time of application and decision.[2][3][6]
- Must meet the balance‑of‑family test, meaning at least half of the children live permanently in Australia or more children live in Australia than in any other single country.[1][2][4]
- Must meet health and character requirements, including medical examinations and police clearances.[1][2][4][6]
- Must be able to provide or be covered by an Assurance of Support, to ensure the applicant will not rely on certain government payments for a set period.[1][6]
- Must not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused, and must not hold or have applied for a Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa.[2]
- Any family members included in the application must also be in Australia and meet health and character requirements.[2][3][4]
- Must sign the Australian Values Statement if 18 or over.[4]
- No specific nationalities are banned in legislation; however, standard character and security screening can effectively bar individuals from certain countries on a case‑by‑case basis.
Financial Requirement
No fixed income threshold for the applicant, but a substantial second‑instalment visa application charge (over AUD 43,000 per applicant) and an approved Assurance of Support with a bond and adequate assurer income are required.[2][5][6]
Documents
- Identity documentsPassport biodata page, birth certificate and any national identity card to confirm identity and date of birth.
- Sponsor documentsEvidence that the sponsoring child (or eligible community organisation) is a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, such as passport, citizenship certificate, visa grant and proof of residence in Australia.[1][4]
- Relationship evidenceDocuments proving the parent–child relationship, such as full birth certificates, adoption orders or step‑relationship evidence, and where relevant marriage or divorce certificates.[1][2][4]
- Balance‑of‑family evidenceDetails of all children (inside and outside Australia), including their citizenship, visa status and usual residence, to demonstrate satisfaction of the balance‑of‑family test.[1][4]
- Assurance of Support (AoS) documentsEvidence from the assurer (often the sponsoring child) of capacity to provide an Assurance of Support, such as income, employment and assets, and the AoS acceptance from Services Australia.[1][6]
- Health examination resultsPanel‑doctor medical examination reports (eMedical where applicable) and any additional specialist reports required to satisfy health criteria.[1][2][6]
- Police clearance certificatesPolice certificates from every country where the applicant has lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16, to meet character requirements.[2][6]
- Evidence of being aged (pension age) parentDocuments confirming date of birth and, if relevant, retirement or pension‑age status, to show the applicant meets the Australian age pension threshold for an aged parent visa.[1][3][4]
- Evidence of lawful stay in AustraliaCurrent visa grant notice and, if applicable, bridging visa details to show the applicant is lawfully in Australia at time of lodgement and decision.[2][3][6]
- Australian Values StatementSigned Australian Values Statement acknowledging respect for Australian laws and values (for applicants aged 18 or over).[4]
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Visa requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Please verify all information with official government sources and consult a qualified immigration attorney before making decisions.