Contributory Aged Parent
Subclass 864

The subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent visa is an onshore permanent visa for pension-age parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. It is the onshore equivalent of the offshore subclass 143 (Contributory Parent — permanent).

The 864 involves a large contributory application charge, paid in two instalments. The first instalment is payable at the time of lodging the application. The second instalment (the larger of the two) is payable when the Department notifies the applicant that the visa is ready to grant — which, for new applications, is approximately 12–15 years away.

During the processing period, the parent lives in Australia on a Bridging Visa. On grant of the 864, the parent becomes a permanent resident with full rights, including Medicare access.

After lodging the 864, the parent receives a Bridging Visa A (BVA) that allows them to remain in Australia lawfully throughout the processing period. Given the 12–15 year wait for new applications, the parent will spend a significant period on a Bridging Visa.

The 864 involves two application charge instalments:

Secondary applicants (the parent's partner, if included) pay a reduced second-instalment charge. The second instalment is a substantial sum — families should plan for this expense many years in advance and factor it into their financial planning.

Both the 864 and the 804 are onshore permanent parent visas for pension-age parents. The key differences:

The 864 processes faster than the 804 but costs significantly more. Neither includes work rights or Medicare during the waiting period. For families who need the parent in Australia with Medicare access sooner, neither the 864 nor the 804 is a fast solution — the subclass 870 (Sponsored Parent — Temporary) may be more appropriate.