One of the top sites in the world for Australia stay is – not only for professionals and students, but also for families seeking reunion. A route that many Australians use to bring their elderly parents to live with them is through the visa of the old parents. If you are looking for an option to bring your old parents to Australia, then this guide provides a comprehensive observation for the visa: what the visa is, eligibility criteria, processing time, cost and option.

 What is an old parents visa? 

Older parents Visa allows Australian citizens, permanent residents, or the elderly parents of New Zealand citizens to live permanently in Australia. Visa subclass is the most commonly used, which is the old parent visa australia (subclass 804).

 This visa is especially sewn to parents who are in age groups (ie, pension age) and want to live their retirement years with their children in Australia.

 It is worth noting that there is also a contributor old parents visa (subclass 864), which is a sharp but much more expensive option. 

Major features of aged parents (subcontinent 804) Permanent residence: This visa offers a route for permanent residence in Australia. 

Work and study: Visa holders can work in Australia and study. 

Medicare Access: Permanent visa holders are eligible for Australia’s Public Healthcare System, Medicare. 

Reunion of the family: enables elderly parents to reunite with their children in a long-term, stable system. 

Citizenship route: After meeting the residence requirements, visa holders may be eligible for Australian citizenship.

Who is Eligible?

To apply for an aged parents visa (subcontinent 804), the applicant must meet several eligibility criteria:

Age requirement: Parents should have pension age in Australia. By 2025, it is usually 67 years of age or older, which is based on the birth date of the parents.

Spogen: Parents should be sponsored by a child who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. “Settled” usually means having lived in Australia for at least 2 years.

Balance of family test: At least half of the parent’s children must live permanently in Australia, or more children must live in Australia than in any other single country.

Health and character check: With most Australian visas, the applicant will have to meet health and character requirements.

Location: Applicant should be in Australia at the time of application and a visa should be provided at that time.

Processing Time

One of the major downsides of the subclass 804 visa is a long processing time. Due to high demand and limited visa locations, applicants can wait for 30 years or more to finalize this visa. It is placed in queue 2 of the family migration stream, which means that it is not a priority.

However, while waiting for processing, applicants may be given a bridging visa, allowing them to legally live in Australia.

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Cost

Visa duty contribution for old parents visas (subclass 804) is much less than the option, which makes it attractive to many families. However, the cost of waiting for decades on a bridging visa should be considered jointly with the ban on access to public services before the visa is given.

By 2025, the Aadhaar application fee is around $ 4,990, but additional costs may be applicable to secondary applicants and health checkups.

In contrast, the contributor aged parent visa australia (subcontinent 864) costs more than AUD $ 47,825 per applicant, but is usually processed in 3-6 years.

Older parents Visa professionals and opposition

Pros:

Lower application cost compared to contributory visas.

Permanent residency on grant.

Option to live with children in Australia while waiting on a bridging visa.

Cons:

Very long wait time.

Limited access to social services during the waiting period.

No guarantees about processing timelines due to annual caps.

Alternatives to Consider

Due to long waiting time, many families detect other visa options:

Contributing aged parents visa (subclass 864): a sharp, though more expensive, permanent residence.

Visitor Visa (subclass 600): Parents allow to temporarily visit Australia, which have several-edge options available for long stay.

Sponsored parents (temporary) Visa (subclass 870): allows parents to stay up to 10 years (in 3- or 5 years block) in Australia, although it does not reside permanently.

Tips for applicants

Consult a registered migration agent: The visa system is complex, and mistakes can delay or deny processing.

Prepare extensive documentation: This includes proof of parents’ age, child relationship and the child’s situation in Australia.

Be realistic about the deadline: The wait for subclass 804 is too long; Ensure that the family is financially and emotionally prepared for this.

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final thoughts

Older parents Visa (Subclass 804) provides a valuable opportunity for the reunion of the family, allowing the elderly parents to permanently join their children in Australia. While the low cost appeals, the trade-off is a long waiting time, which can spread for decades. If a sharp reunion is required and the family can bear it, the contribution path may be a better fit.