What Happens After You Apply for Subclass 864 in 2026?

What to expect after lodging a subclass 864 application: acknowledgement, document requests, the second instalment invoice and the decision.

Published: 5 October 2026

After you lodge a Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864) application, four things mark the waiting period: the Department's acknowledgement of your application, any requests for further documents, the invoice for the second instalment, and the written decision. Between those points there is usually silence, because subclass 864 sits in the capped and queued Parent visa stream. The sequence below follows the Department of Home Affairs' Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864) page as at July 2026. It is general information about how the process is described, not advice on your own case — for that, rely on the official page as currently published or on advice from someone qualified to assess your circumstances.

What arrives first after you lodge?

The Department says it will let you know when it has received your application and documents. That acknowledgement matters practically because it carries the application ID you need later.

If you lodged on paper, you can import the application into ImmiAccount once you receive the acknowledgement letter:

Create an ImmiAccount or log in to an existing one.
Import the application using your application ID, date of birth, and identity document number (ImmiCard, passport or Titre de Voyage number).

Both new and on-hand applications can be imported. Once it is in ImmiAccount you can attach supporting documents, read messages the Department sends you, update your details, and check the application status.

For applications lodged on or after 22 April 2026, the online ImmiAccount pathway is the lodgement route; the official page directs applicants who hit a technical problem to the ImmiAccount Technical Support Form, with a paper application considered only if that does not resolve the issue.

Will the Department tell you how your application is going?

Not on request. The Department states it cannot provide progress updates within normal processing times, and that it will contact you if it needs anything more. In practice, that means no news is the expected state rather than a problem.

Two things follow from this. Keep your contact details current — phone number, email and address — and tell the Department when they change. The page notes the Department may contact you directly even where you have nominated your sponsor's email for correspondence, appointed an authorised recipient, or appointed someone to give immigration assistance. And if you have authorised someone to receive correspondence or provide assistance, changes to that arrangement are made on Form 956A or Form 956, either uploaded in ImmiAccount or sent through the Parent visa processing centre form.

What requests can arrive while you are in the queue?

Requests come when the Department needs them, not on a published schedule. The categories named on the official page are:

What may be requested	How the Department tells you	What you do
Health examinations	Notification when you need to complete them	Book the exams as directed
Character documents, including police certificates	Notification when needed	Do not arrange a police check until asked
Biometrics (fingerprints and photo)	Notification if required	Attend as instructed
Further information generally	Message in ImmiAccount	Upload in ImmiAccount, or send via the Parent visa processing centre form

The Department warns against arranging police certificates before it asks, which is worth remembering while the wait stretches out. Costs for health checks, police certificates and biometrics are charged separately on top of the visa application charge.

When does the second instalment invoice arrive, and what if you miss it?

The second instalment is the last financial step before a grant. The Department sends an invoice when it is due, and the visa will not be granted until it is paid. The stated consequence of not paying is refusal of the application.

The visa charge is described as costed "from AUD49,900 for a single applicant", split into two instalments — the first paid when you apply, the second when the Department asks. Costs may be lower for Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) (subclass 884) and substituted Visitor (subclass 600) visa holders. Because charges are indexed and concessions apply in some cases, treat the figure as a starting point and confirm the current amount on the Department's visa pricing page.

What is actually happening inside the queue?

Subclass 864 is subject to capping and queueing, and applications are processed in the order received. The Department describes assessment in two stages: an initial assessment to decide whether the application joins the queue or is refused, then final assessment as places become available.

Demand for Parent visas exceeds the places available each year, so processing is long. Applications can take longer still where the form was not completed correctly, documents are missing or further information is needed, or verification of information takes time. The Department also cautions against arranging to stay permanently in Australia until the visa is granted.

Can you still change the application while it is waiting?

Yes, within limits, and the mechanism depends on what changed.

Adding family members: you may be able to add them before a decision, using Form 1436 (Adding an additional applicant after lodgement), plus evidence of the relationship and a copy of the family member's passport.
Correcting a mistake: tell the Department as soon as you can, using Form 1023 (Notification of incorrect answers).
Notifying changes in situation: phone number, email, address, passport, relationship status, and family composition including the birth of a child. You should also tell the Department if you want to withdraw the application.

If you applied as a retiree, the page places an extra condition on adding a spouse or de facto partner: they must be in Australia when you add them.

Do you have to stay in Australia, and what happens if you travel?

You must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when the Department makes its decision, and you must tell the Department if you want to travel outside Australia while the application is processing. If you leave, you need a valid visa to return. One nuance: the same page notes that retiree applicants can be in or outside Australia when the decision is made — if that pathway is yours, check the current wording before booking travel.

On staying lawful in the meantime: the Department says it is likely to grant a bridging visa when you apply for this visa in Australia. That bridging visa starts if your current visa expires before a decision is made, and lets you remain in Australia while the application is processed. Do not cancel your current visa — doing so may leave you unlawful and may affect eligibility for a bridging visa.

How do you find out the outcome?

The decision comes in writing, in all cases. If the visa is granted, the notification gives your visa grant number, the date the visa starts, and your visa conditions; keep a copy of the decision. Permanent residency for citizenship purposes starts on the day the visa is granted, and the travel facility runs for five years from the grant date, after which re-entry as a permanent resident requires a Resident Return visa (subclass 155/157) unless you have become a citizen.

If the application is refused, the Department tells you why and whether you have a right to review the decision. The application fee is not refunded on refusal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long after lodging does the Department acknowledge a subclass 864 application?

The official page does not state a timeframe; it says the Department will let you know when it has received your application and documents. Paper applicants need that acknowledgement letter because it carries the application ID needed to import the application into ImmiAccount.

Can I get a progress update while my application is queued?

No. The Department states it cannot provide updates on progress within normal processing times. It will contact you if it needs more from you, so silence generally means nothing is required of you at that point.

When will I be asked for health checks and police certificates?

The Department notifies you when health examinations, character documents and biometrics are needed. Police certificates should not be arranged until the Department asks for them, and these checks carry their own separate costs.

What happens if I do not pay the second instalment?

The second instalment must be paid before the visa can be granted, and the invoice is sent when it falls due. The stated consequence of not paying is that the application will be refused.

Do I need to be in Australia when the decision is made?

Generally yes — you must be in Australia, and not in immigration clearance, when the Department decides the application, and you must tell it if you intend to travel while processing continues. The page notes an exception for retiree applicants, who can be in or outside Australia when the decision is made.

Can I add a family member or fix an error after lodging?

Family members may be added before a decision using Form 1436, with relationship evidence and a copy of their passport. Mistakes on the application should be reported as soon as possible using Form 1023, uploaded in ImmiAccount or sent via the Parent visa processing centre form.