Contributory Aged Parent visa

What this visa is for#

The Contributory Aged Parent visa, subclass 864, is an onshore contributory parent visa for applicants at pension age. It sits in the Parent stream.

This visa exists as a permanent parent visa pathway lodged in Australia. It is designed for older parents who are in Australia and who want to apply for permanent residence through the contributory parent program.

A contributory parent visa has a much higher government charge than some other parent visa types. In return, it is part of the parent visa system that generally has a shorter queue than non-contributory parent categories.

The category listed for this visa is partner, and the stream is Parent. In practice, the key point is that it is an onshore permanent parent visa for people at pension age.

Who it is generally for#

This visa is for people who are at pension age and are in Australia when they apply. It is for parents using the contributory parent pathway rather than a temporary stay visa.

This visa is for people who want to apply onshore for permanent residence as a parent. It covers main applicants and can also include additional applicants in the same application, including additional applicants aged 18 or over.

This visa is for people dealing with the parent visa process while they are physically in Australia. It is generally used where the parent applicant is already in the country and wants an onshore parent visa process, rather than an offshore parent application.

General parent visa rules can involve matters such as family relationships, identity documents, health checks, police certificates and queue management. The Department of Home Affairs publishes the current legislative requirements and process steps for each parent visa subclass.

What it costs#

The government Visa Application Charge listed here is:

• Main applicant: $49,900
• Additional applicant 18 or over: $49,900

Those are government charges for the visa itself. They are separate from what a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner may charge for preparing, lodging or managing an application.

A migration agent or lawyer sets their own professional fees. Those fees can vary a lot depending on experience, the amount of work involved, whether there are secondary applicants, and how much follow-up is needed after lodgement.

The government charge is the same no matter who lodges it. Using an agent or lawyer does not change the Department's visa charge.

Government visa charges are indexed and usually change on 1 July. Before lodgement, it is sensible to check the current Department schedule so the amount paid matches the charge in force on the day of application.

There can also be third-party costs during the process, such as health examinations, police certificates, translations and document certification. These are not part of the visa application charge and are usually paid to the provider that issues the document or service.

How long it takes#

Processing times for parent visas can be long and can change over time. The contributory parent program is subject to annual planning levels, queueing and case-by-case processing, so published timeframes can move.

For many applicants, the total time is not just the time an officer spends assessing documents. It can also include waiting for a place in the program, responding to requests for more information, arranging fresh police checks or medicals, and dealing with changes in family circumstances during the life of the application.

Delays often happen when the Department asks for further documents and the response takes time. They also happen when a document has expired by the time the file reaches assessment and a new one must be obtained.

The Department publishes current processing information on its website. That information can give a general picture, but it is still only a guide and can change without notice.

What the process involves#

The process usually starts with preparing the application for onshore lodgement. That normally means collecting identity documents, relationship evidence, civil documents and other records required for a parent visa application.

After lodgement, the Department issues acknowledgement and keeps the application in the system for processing. Depending on the applicant's current visa status at the time of lodgement, a bridging visa may be granted automatically or later, with conditions set by law.

During processing, the Department may ask for more information. Common requests include updated passports, police certificates, health examinations, evidence of family details, and forms that confirm current circumstances.

If health examinations or police checks are requested, timing matters. These documents often have limited validity, so getting them too early can mean they expire before they are used, while getting them too late can hold up the file.

The Department also expects the application to stay accurate while it is pending. If there is a new passport, a new address, a change in contact details, a marriage, a separation, a birth, a death, or another major change, the Department normally needs to be told.

Near decision stage, the Department may ask for final checks or updated documents. If the application is ready for grant and all legal requirements are met, the Department grants the permanent visa. If information is missing or a requirement is not met, the Department can refuse the application.

Some applicants use a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner to prepare documents, monitor deadlines and respond to requests. Others lodge on their own. The legal requirements and the government charge are the same either way.

What commonly goes wrong#

Incomplete evidence is one of the most common problems. Applications can be lodged with missing birth certificates, incomplete identity records, unclear family documents or forms that do not match the supporting documents. Even small inconsistencies, such as different spellings of names or dates across documents, can cause requests for more information and long delays.

Documents expiring during the long processing period is another frequent issue. Passports can expire, police certificates can become too old, and health examinations may no longer be current by the time the Department is ready to use them. That can mean paying again and waiting again.

Change of address problems are very common in long-running visa applications. If the Department sends a request to an old address or outdated email and no reply is received in time, the application can be delayed or decided on the information already held. Keeping contact details current is a basic but important part of the process.

Some applicants assume a bridging visa carries the same rights as the substantive visa they held before. That is not always the case. Work rights, travel rights and access to services can be different, and travel outside Australia can have serious effects if the person does not hold the right bridging visa for re-entry.

Out-of-date forms and old checklists also cause trouble. The Department updates forms, online systems and documentary requirements from time to time. Using an old checklist found on a forum or social media post can lead to missing items at lodgement.

Poor quality scans and unreadable uploads are another practical problem. If a passport page is cropped, a stamp cannot be read, or a translated document is uploaded without the original, the Department may not be able to use it. That can trigger a request for further information even where the underlying document exists.

Applicants also sometimes forget that circumstances can change over a long parent visa timeline. A new passport number, a changed name, a new dependent, or the death of a family member may all need to be reported. If the information in the application stops matching reality, further delays often follow.

Finally, some people wait too long to get help after receiving a Department request they do not understand. Requests usually have deadlines. If extra time is needed to obtain a document, that usually needs to be managed before the due date, not after it passes.

Frequently asked questions#

Can I apply for the 864 visa while I am in Australia?#

The subclass 864 is an onshore contributory parent visa. That means the application is made in Australia. The Department's current lodgement rules and location requirements should be checked at the time of application.

Is the 864 visa permanent?#

The subclass 864 is a permanent parent visa in the contributory parent program. Permanent visas generally give ongoing residence status from the date of grant, subject to the travel facility attached to the visa and the general operation of migration law.

How much is the government fee for the Contributory Aged Parent visa 864?#

The listed government charge is $49,900 for the main applicant. It is also $49,900 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over. Government charges are indexed and usually change on 1 July.

Does using a migration agent change the government visa charge?#

No. The government visa charge is the same no matter who lodges it. A registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner may charge a separate professional fee for their work.

What happens after I lodge a subclass 864 application?#

After lodgement, the Department keeps the application for processing and may later ask for more documents, health checks or police certificates. If the applicant is in Australia on another visa at the time of lodgement, a bridging visa may come into effect depending on the legal settings that apply.

About this page. This is general information about how the Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864) works. It is not immigration assistance and it is not advice about your situation. Under section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 only a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner can give you that. Charges are indexed and most change on 1 July, so check any figure against immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before you rely on it, and check any agent's registration on the OMARA register.