Requirements to be eligible for Aged Parent visa (Subclass 804)

The requirements are divided into those for the applicant (the aged parent) and those for the sponsor (their child).

Requirements for the Applicant (Aged Parent):

1. Location: You must be inside Australia when you lodge your application and usually when a decision is made on your application.

2. Valid Visa: You must hold a substantive visa at the time of application. If you hold a visa with a “No Further Stay” condition (such as 8503, 8534, or 8535), you must have this condition waived before you can apply.

3. Age: You must be old enough to be granted an Age Pension under the Social Security Act 1991 in Australia. As of May 2025, this age is 67 years (for those born on or after 1 January 1957). You should always confirm the current Age Pension age eligibility criteria on the Services Australia website when preparing your application.

4. Parental Relationship: You must be the parent or step-parent of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen who is settled in Australia and willing to sponsor you. (A step-parent can apply if they are the parent of a step-child who has not turned 18, or if the step-parent was the partner of the child’s parent before the child turned 18 and the child’s parent has since died).

5. Balance of Family Test: You must meet the Balance of Family test. This means:
At least half of your children must live permanently in Australia, OR
More of your children must live permanently in Australia than in any other single country. All children, including step-children and adopted children of both parents, are counted in this test.

6. Sponsorship: You must be sponsored by your eligible child (or their eligible partner who is over 18 and settled in Australia). The sponsorship must be approved by the Department of Home Affairs.

7. Assurance of Support (AoS): An AoS must be provided. This is a legal commitment from someone (usually your sponsor, but can be another person or an organisation) to provide you with financial support so you do not have to rely on social security payments from the Australian government for a certain period after your visa is granted. The Department will let you know when this is required.

8. Health Requirements: You (and any family members included in your application) must meet Australia’s health requirements. This usually involves undergoing medical examinations through Bupa Medical Visa Services in Australia.

9. Character Requirements: You (and any family members included in your application aged 16 or over) must meet Australia’s character requirements. This generally means providing police certificates from every country you have lived in for 12 months or more (cumulatively) during the last 10 years since you turned 16, including an Australian police check.

10. Debts to the Australian Government: If you or any family members included in your application owe the Australian Government money, you must have paid it back or have an approved arrangement in place to pay it back.
Australian Values Statement: If you are 18 years of age or older, you must sign an Australian Values Statement, confirming you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws.

11. No Previous Visa Cancellation or Refusal: If you have had a visa cancelled or an application refused while in Australia, this might affect your eligibility.

Requirements for the Sponsor (Your Child):

1. Relationship to Applicant: You (the sponsor) must be the child or step-child of the visa applicant.

2. Status in Australia: You must be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.

3. Settled in Australia: You have been lawfully living in Australia for a reasonable period, typically at least 2 years. The Department of Home Affairs will assess this based on your specific situation.

4. Age: You must be 18 years of age or older. If the child is under 18, sponsorship can be provided by their partner who is over 18 and an eligible Australian citizen/resident, or a guardian or community organisation in certain circumstances.

5. Provide Sponsorship: You must formally agree to sponsor the applicant (and their accompanying family members). This includes taking responsibilities to assist them with accommodation and financial support for their first two years in Australia.

6. Arrange Assurance of Support (AoS): You will likely be the one to arrange the AoS, even if another person provides it. Bascially, an assurance of support is a legal commitment to repay the Australian Government any welfare payments made to a visa holder or family who come to Australia (the applicant) with them. The Department will let you know when this is required.

7. Character: You may also need to meet certain character requirements and provide police checks if requested. Ultimately, whether you need to provide is dependent on the Department of Home Affairs.

Checklist for Aged Parent visa (Subclass 804)

(This is a general guide. The specific documents required will vary based on your individual circumstances. Always refer to the document checklist provided by the Department of Home Affairs or our migration agent here when you apply.)

A. Applicant’s (Parent’s) Identity and Civil Documents:

• Passport bio-data page (certified copy for you and any migrating family members).
• Recent passport-sized photographs (meeting specific requirements for you and any migrating family members).
• Original or certified copy of your full birth certificate showing both your parents’ names.
• If married or in a de facto relationship, certified copy of your marriage certificate or evidence of your de facto relationship (e.g., joint bank accounts, bills, evidence of cohabitation for at least 12 months).
• National ID card (if applicable).
• Evidence of name change (if applicable).
• Evidence of your current Australian visa.
• If applicable, evidence of “No Further Stay” condition waiver.

B. Balance of Family Test Documents:

• A list of all your children (including full names, dates of birth, and country of permanent residence).
• For each child living in Australia: Evidence of their permanent residence or citizenship in Australia (e.g., copy of their Australian passport, citizenship certificate, or permanent visa).
• For each child living overseas: Evidence of their permanent residence in that country (e.g., copy of their passport, residency permit).
• If any children are deceased, their death certificates.
• Adoption papers if any children are adopted.
• Court orders regarding custody for any children under 18.

C. Sponsor’s (Child’s) Documents:

• Evidence of their Australian citizenship, permanent residency, or eligible New Zealand citizen status (e.g., Australian birth certificate, citizenship certificate, passport, visa grant notice).
• Evidence they are “settled” in Australia (e.g., documents showing residence in Australia for at least 2 years, such as utility bills, rental agreements, employment records).
• Completed sponsorship form (Form 40 Sponsorship for migration to Australia).
• Passport-sized photograph.
• If the sponsor is under 18 and their partner is sponsoring, evidence of the partner’s status and relationship.

D. Relationship Documents (Parent and Sponsoring Child):

• Certified copies of the sponsoring child’s full birth certificate showing your name as a parent.
• If the sponsor is an adopted child, certified copies of adoption papers.
• If the sponsor is a step-child, documents to prove the step-relationship (e.g., your marriage certificate to the child’s other parent, the child’s birth certificate).

E. Health Documents (Applicant and migrating family members):

• Evidence that you have made arrangements for health examinations with Bupa Medical Visa Services. (Do not arrange these until you have lodged your application and are instructed by the Department, or as per current guidelines for onshore applications).

F. Character Documents (Applicant, migrating family members 16+ and potentially Sponsor):

• Australian National Police Check for the applicant (and any migrating family members aged 16 or over).
• Police certificates from every overseas country the applicant (and any migrating family members aged 16 or over) has lived in for a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16.
• If applicable, military service records or discharge papers.
• The sponsor may also need to provide police certificates in some circumstances.

G. Assurance of Support (AoS) Documents:

• These will be requested by the Department at a later stage if the visa application meets other criteria. Documents will relate to the assurer’s financial capacity to provide support.

H. Documents for Accompanying Family Members (Applicant’s Partner and/or Dependent Children):

• Identity documents for each family member as listed in Section A.
• For your partner: Marriage certificate or evidence of de facto relationship (as in Section A).
• For any dependent children: Birth certificates, evidence of dependency (financial, physical), evidence they are in Australia on a valid visa.
• If a dependent child is under 18: Consent forms (e.g., Form 1229) from any non-migrating parent or person with legal custody.
• Health and character documents for each accompanying family member as required.

I. Other Forms:

• Completed visa application form (Form 47PA Application for a parent to migrate to Australia).
• Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (if someone is assisting you with correspondence).
• Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person (if you are using a migration agent).
• Signed Australian Values Statement (for applicants 18 years or older, and any accompanying family members 18 or older).