Who Can Apply for the Contributory Aged Parent Visa 864 in 2026?

As at July 2026, the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs page “Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864)” says that, under the ordinary route, a parent can apply only with an eligible sponsor whose sponsorship is approved, is old enough to receive the Australian age pension, meets the balance of family test, and can obtain an Assurance of Support unless applying as a retiree under the Retirement visa pathway. The applicant must also meet the health, character and other requirements, and the page excludes anyone who has already applied for or holds a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa.

This is a general summary of the published criteria, not personalised legal advice or a guarantee of approval. Individual circumstances should be assessed against the current official rules and, where appropriate, advice from a suitably qualified professional.

Who must sponsor a parent for subclass 864?

The usual sponsor is the applicant’s eligible child. The Department’s overview describes that child as a settled Australian citizen, settled Australian permanent resident or settled eligible New Zealand citizen.

If the child is under 18, an eligible relative or community organisation can sponsor the parent instead. In every case, the Department of Home Affairs must approve the sponsorship.

Sponsorship and an Assurance of Support are separate requirements. Having a child who is approved as the sponsor does not, by itself, satisfy the separate economic assurance requirement.

Am I old enough to apply for subclass 864?

The applicant must be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia. The subclass 864 eligibility page frames the test by reference to the age pension rather than stating a fixed age in its eligibility wording.

The Department links to Services Australia’s Age Pension information as the relevant benchmark. A remembered or historical pension age should therefore not be substituted for the current rule.

What does the balance of family test require?

The applicant must satisfy at least one of these two tests:

• At least half of the applicant’s children and step-children are eligible children; or
• More eligible children are living in Australia than in any other single country.

These are alternative ways to pass the test, not cumulative requirements. The test is separate from both the sponsor’s status and the applicant’s age.

The Department also treats a person applying as a subclass 884 holder as having already met the balance of family test. That concession does not remove the other subclass 864 requirements.

Must I obtain an Assurance of Support?

Unless applying as a retiree under the Retirement visa pathway, the applicant must be able to obtain an Assurance of Support.

An Assurance of Support gives the Australian Government assurance that the person will not need to rely on government assistance after entering Australia, for the assurance period. The assurance covers the applicant and any family members who come to Australia on this visa.

The sponsor or a family member does not have to provide the assurance. It can be provided by one individual, more than one person or an organisation. Home Affairs will advise when the assurance must be provided.

Does applying for or holding subclass 870 prevent a subclass 864 application?

Yes. The official eligibility page states that a person cannot apply for subclass 864 if they have already applied for, or currently hold, a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa.

This is an express restriction on applying for subclass 864 under the current published criteria.

Can I apply for subclass 864 after holding subclass 884?

The Department identifies three circumstances in which a subclass 884 holder can apply for subclass 864 as the second-stage permanent pathway:

• The applicant holds subclass 884 when applying;
• The applicant held subclass 884 at any time during the 28 days before applying; or
• More than 28 days have passed since subclass 884 ended, and the applicant can provide evidence of compelling and compassionate circumstances that justify regaining the previous visa status.

For the third route, the Minister must be satisfied that those circumstances exist. If none of the three routes applies, the Department says it will process the subclass 884 application as a standard application rather than under the two-stage pathway.

If a subclass 884 sponsor dies, the Department says the visa holder might still be eligible under its change-in-circumstances rules. That possibility is not an automatic approval, and the remaining eligibility requirements still apply.

What other requirements must the applicant and family satisfy?

The published criteria also require the following:

• Health: The applicant and any family members applying with them must meet the health requirement. Home Affairs may also ask non-migrating family members to meet it.
• Character: The applicant and any family members applying with them must meet the character requirement. Non-migrating family members may also be asked to satisfy this requirement.
• Government debts: If the applicant or any family member owes money to the Australian Government, the debt must be repaid or an approved repayment arrangement must be in place.
• Australian Values Statement: An applicant aged 18 or older must have read, or had explained, the Life in Australia booklet and sign the Australian Values Statement.
• Immigration history: Previous visa cancellations or refused applications will be considered and may affect eligibility. The Department notes that in some circumstances, a permanent visa application may still be possible.
• Best interests of a child: Subclass 864 will not be granted if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does an Australian child have to sponsor the parent?

The usual sponsor is an eligible child who is a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. If the child is under 18, an eligible relative or community organisation can sponsor the parent instead. The sponsorship must still be approved by Home Affairs.

What is the age requirement for subclass 864 in 2026?

The applicant must be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia. The subclass eligibility page does not state a fixed numerical age in its test. The current Services Australia age pension information is the relevant benchmark.

Can the sponsor satisfy the family balance test as well?

No. Sponsorship and the balance of family test are separate requirements. The sponsor’s eligibility does not replace the need to meet one of the family balance alternatives based on eligible children and step-children.

Must the sponsor provide the Assurance of Support?

No. The sponsor or a family member does not have to provide it. An assurance can be provided by one individual, more than one person or an organisation, unless the applicant is qualifying under the Retirement visa pathway as a retiree.

Does a subclass 870 visa stop an application for subclass 864?

Yes. The Department states that a person cannot apply for subclass 864 if they have already applied for or hold subclass 870. The restriction applies to both a prior application and a current visa holder.

What if my subclass 884 visa ended more than 28 days ago?

That route remains available only if the applicant can provide evidence of compelling and compassionate circumstances justifying a return to the previous visa status. The Minister must be satisfied that those circumstances exist. Otherwise, the Department treats the application as a standard subclass 884 application, not the two-stage pathway.

Does holding subclass 884 remove all other eligibility tests?

No. The Department treats a subclass 884 holder as having already met the balance of family test, but the applicant must still satisfy the applicable sponsorship, age, Assurance of Support, health, character and other requirements.

What happens if the sponsor dies while the parent holds subclass 884?

The Department says a subclass 884 holder might still be eligible if their sponsor dies. The changed circumstances must be assessed under the relevant rules, so the statement is not an automatic entitlement to subclass 864.

References

Australian Government Department of Home Affairs — Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864)

Services Australia — Age Pension