The 864 visa is a permanent visa that lets an aged parent live in Australia for good. Your child must be a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. It costs from AUD 49,900 for one applicant, paid in two parts, and there is a long wait in a queue.
This guide explains how the 864 visa works in plain words. You will see who can apply, what it costs, how the queue works and what to plan before you lodge.
In This Guide
- What Is the 864 Visa?
- 864 Visa Quick Facts
- Who Can Apply for the 864 Visa?
- What You Can Do on the 864 Visa
- 864 Visa Cost
- 864 Visa Processing Time and the Queue
- How the 864 Visa Application Process Works
- The 884 to 864 Visa Two-Step Path
- Can You Include Family in an 864 Visa Application?
- Travel on the 864 Visa and What Happens After 5 Years
- Other Parent Visa Options Besides the 864 Visa
- Common 864 Visa Mistakes to Avoid
- Frequently Asked Questions About the 864 Visa
- Plan Your 864 Visa Early
What Is the 864 Visa?
The 864 visa is officially called the Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864). It is one of the parent visa options for people who want to join their children in Australia.
The word “contributory” matters. You pay a much higher visa charge than on the cheaper Aged Parent visa. In return, the queue is faster than the non-contributory option.
Once granted, the visa is permanent. Your permanent residency starts on the day the visa is granted.
864 Visa Quick Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa name | Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864) |
| Type | Permanent |
| Cost | From AUD 49,900 for a single applicant, in 2 instalments |
| Where you apply from | Inside Australia, but not in immigration clearance |
| How you apply | Online through ImmiAccount |
| Travel facility | 5 years from the grant date |
| Processing | Capped and queued, in the order applications arrive |
Who Can Apply for the 864 Visa?
You must meet a few core rules to apply for the visa:
- You have an eligible child who is a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
- You are old enough to receive the age pension in Australia
- You have not already applied for, or hold, a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870)
- You are in Australia when you apply
There are more rules on top of these. They include the balance of family test, health and character checks and an Assurance of Support. Read the full eligibility list on the Home Affairs website before you lodge.
The age pension rule
This rule catches people out. Being a parent of a citizen is not enough. You must be old enough to get the Australian age pension, which is currently 67.
The 870 visa rule
If you hold or have applied for the 870 visa, you cannot apply for the visa. Think about this before you lodge a temporary parent visa application.
What You Can Do on the 864 Visa
This visa gives you the full rights of a permanent resident. You can:
- Stay in Australia without a time limit
- Work and study
- Enrol in Medicare, Australia’s public healthcare scheme
- Sponsor family members to come to Australia
- Travel to and from Australia for 5 years
- Join free English classes through the Adult Migrant English Program, if you are eligible
- Apply for Australian citizenship, if you are eligible
864 Visa Cost
The visa costs from AUD 49,900 for a single applicant. You pay in two instalments.
You pay the first when you apply. You pay the second when Home Affairs asks you to, near the end of the process.
Costs may be lower if you hold a Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884) or a substituted Visitor visa (subclass 600).
Other costs to budget for
The visa charge is not the only cost. Each applicant may also pay for health checks, police certificates and biometrics. Add these to your plan early.
Lower cost for Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens
From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens. The primary applicant must hold a valid passport from one of these countries:
- Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau
- Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands
- Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
Home Affairs spots eligible applicants from the passport. Family members get the lower cost too, based on the primary applicant’s passport.
864 Visa Processing Time and the Queue
Many more people want a parent visa than there are places each year. That is why the wait is long.
Applications for the visa are capped and queued. Home Affairs processes them in the order they arrive. For current dates, check the parent visa queue release dates on its website.
The two assessment stages
- First, Home Affairs checks your eligibility. It then either adds your application to the queue or refuses it.
- When a place opens, your application is released from the queue for the final assessment.
Do not make permanent plans until the visa is granted. Home Affairs will tell you in writing if you get it.
What can slow your application down
- The form was not filled in correctly
- Documents are missing, or Home Affairs needs more information
- Your details take a long time to verify
- You paid the wrong visa charge
How the 864 Visa Application Process Works
The steps are simple on paper. The waiting is the hard part.
- Check your eligibility. Confirm your child, your age and your other requirements.
- Apply and pay the first instalment. Lodge online through ImmiAccount.
- First assessment. Home Affairs checks your application and places it in the queue.
- Wait. Your application waits for a place to open.
- Final assessment. Home Affairs assesses it again.
- Pay the second instalment. This is when they ask you to.
- Visa grant. You become a permanent resident.
The 884 to 864 Visa Two-Step Path
You do not have to apply for the 864 visa directly. You can take two steps. First you apply for a Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884). Then you apply for the visa.
This spreads the cost over several years. That helps if you cannot pay AUD 49,900 in one go.
Two rules matter here:
- You must apply for the visa before your 884 visa expires
- Home Affairs suggests applying straight after the 884 visa is granted, so you meet the lodgement rules
Holders of the 884 visa have already met the balance of family test for this pathway.
Can You Include Family in an 864 Visa Application?
Yes. You can include family members in your application.
You must list every family member on the form, even those who are not coming to Australia. Family members who apply must meet the health and character requirements. Those who are not migrating may also need to meet them.
If your child is born after you apply, Home Affairs has separate steps for a newborn. Check them on its website.
Travel on the 864 Visa and What Happens After 5 Years
The visa comes with a travel facility. You can travel to and from Australia as often as you like for 5 years from the grant date.
After that, you have two main options:
- Apply for a Resident Return visa (RRV) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident
- Apply for Australian citizenship, which means you no longer need a visa to enter
Use VEVO to see exactly when your travel facility ends.
Other Parent Visa Options Besides the 864 Visa
This visa is not for everyone. Compare these before you decide:
- Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (884), then the visa. This two-step path is faster than the Aged Parent visa but costs more. It also costs more than going straight to the visa, though the payments are spread out.
- Aged Parent visa (subclass 804). This one costs less than the contributory route.
- Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870). A temporary visa for stays of up to 3 or 5 years at a time, with a maximum of 10 years in total.
Common 864 Visa Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying before you reach pension age. You must be old enough for the age pension.
- Lodging an 870 visa first. Holding or applying for it blocks the 864 visa.
- Applying from overseas. You must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance.
- Leaving out family members. You must list all of them, even those not migrating.
- Paying the wrong amount. Home Affairs can only process the application with the correct charge.
- Letting the 884 visa run out. Lodge the visa before it expires.
- Making plans too early. The queue is long, so do not arrange to stay permanently until the visa is granted.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 864 Visa
What is the 864 visa?
It is the Contributory Aged Parent visa, a permanent visa for aged parents of settled Australian citizens, permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens.
How much does the 864 visa cost?
From AUD 49,900 for a single applicant, paid in two instalments. Check the current visa pricing page before you apply.
Is the 864 visa permanent?
Yes. You can stay in Australia indefinitely.
Can I apply for the 864 visa from outside Australia?
No. You and any family members applying with you must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance.
How long does the 864 visa take?
Applications are queued, and the wait is long. Check the parent visa queue release dates for the latest timing.
Can I work on this visa?
Yes. You can work and study in Australia.
Can I get Medicare on this visa?
Yes. You can enrol in Medicare.
Can I apply for citizenship after this visa?
Yes, if you are eligible. Your permanent residency starts on the day the visa is granted.
Plan Your 864 Visa Early
The visa is a big step in cost and in time. Check your age, your child’s status and your budget first.
If you are not sure whether the 864 visa or the 884 two-step path suits your family, speak to a registered migration agent before you lodge. A wrong choice is expensive to fix.
Important: This article provides general information only. Visa requirements, charges and processing times change, and your eligibility depends on your individual circumstances. Always check the latest information on the official Department of Home Affairs website before you make a visa application. For advice about your situation, consider speaking with a registered migration agent or qualified legal professional.
