Parent visas
Contributory Aged Parent (864/884)
The onshore contributory route for older parents. If you have reached Australian age pension age, the 864 and 884 mirror the 143 and 173 without leaving the country.
Requirements
What the 864 and 884 ask of you.
Most onshore applicants receive a bridging visa to remain lawfully while the application is queued. Health and character checks apply, and the program is capped.
Contributory Aged Parent
Permanent residence lodged from within Australia. The second instalment of the contribution is paid just before grant, and your place in the capped queue is set at lodgement.
Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary)
A two-year onshore visa that splits the contribution into two stages. Holders then apply for the permanent 864 to complete the pathway.
Old enough for the age pension
The main applicant must have reached the qualifying age for the Australian age pension, and must be in Australia when the application is lodged. We check that your current visa allows an onshore application before anything is prepared.
Sponsor, family test and support
A settled Australian child, or their partner, aged 18 or over sponsors you. The balance-of-family test applies: at least half of your children in Australia, or more than in any other single country, though eligible 884 holders are not tested again at the 864 stage. A ten-year Assurance of Support with an income-tested assurer and a refundable bond completes the picture.
The pathway
How we run your 864 or 884.
Eligibility assessment
Age, your current visa status in Australia, sponsor and balance of family, all assessed before anything is lodged.
Onshore lodgement
We lodge decision-ready while you are in Australia. Your queue date is set from lodgement, and a bridging visa usually follows.
The queue
Places are capped each program year. We keep your details and circumstances current while you wait at home with family.
Support, second instalment and grant
When your turn approaches, the Assurance of Support is arranged, the second contribution is paid and the Department makes its decision.
General information only, not immigration advice. Your circumstances matter. Visa requirements, fees and processing times change regularly. Facts on this page last reviewed 15 July 2026. Check current details with the Department of Home Affairs , or speak with us for advice on your situation. Website terms.
Begin with a conversation.
Speak with a MARA-registered migration agent in Melbourne about your pathway. Book a time that suits you.