804 Visa or the Aged Parent Visa Subclass 804 is a Visa pathway available for Australia’s onshore, non-contributory permanent residency option incase of older parents whose child is an eligible citizen in Australia, permanent resident of Australia, or an eligible individual citizen of New Zealand. Avoiding the huge contribution fees, the waiting time for this program is extremely long ranging to 30+ year waiting period in a highly capped queue in the Parents Visa Australia Programs.
This Comprehensive Guide provided by BJay Education and Visa services is catered to provide the complete details on the 804 visa processing time, clarifies the essential 804 visa bridging rights, and helps you in simplifying the crucial eligibility criteria, ensuring you have the complete information required for your family’s migration strategy.
What is 804 Visa?
The 804 Visa or the Aged Parent Subclass 804 is a Visa Program provided by the Australian government which strives to grant permanent residency to parents of eligible Australians who are 67year or older and are holding a substantive visa in Australia (or a Bridging Visa A or B after a timely application) As a non-contributory parent visa, the 804 visa bypasses the massive financial requirement that is required by the Contributory stream (Subclass 864), which makes it easily accessible for budget-conscious families who cannot afford the huge financial loads required in the subclass 864.
What is the 804 Visa Processing Time?
From various opportunities offered by the Australian government for visa program, the 804 visa processing time stands as one among the longest ones within the migration framework offered by Australia. According to the Department of Home Affairs, it would take approximately 33 years for a new non-contributory Parent and Aged Parent visa (804 visa and Subclass 103) as one of the longest wait time for visa processing.
As of late 2025, the DHA is only granting final visas to applications that were initially queued up to June 2013 which clearly shows the backlog of DHA. While the 804 visa processing time to a final grant is over a decade, the application submitted by an individual receives an initial assessment within a few months to ensure validity before it is placed in the queue.
The Aged Parent 804 Visa Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for the 804 visa, the parent must meet various criteria that are beyond having a sponsoring child living in Australia.
Age and Location
- Aged Parent Visa 804 Age Requirement: The applicant or the parent must be at least the age of the Australian Age Pension age. This age is said to be to increase gradually and will be 67 years old by July 2025. This requirement must be met at the time of 804 visa application submission.
- Onshore Status: The parent must hold a valid Visitor visa or temporary visa in Australia without an “8503 No Further Stay” condition or be a Bridging Visa A or B holder who meets specific criteria.
The Balance of Family Test (BoFT)
The Aged Parent Visa Subclass 804 also puts emphasis on the Balance of Family Test. The Balance of Family Test is a Test required by the Australian government that assures that the parent applying for the visa genuinely maintains a strong family tie with Australia. To be eligible, the applicant needs to fulfill any of these following conditions.
- At least 50% of their children are citizens of Australian, Australian permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens who are settled in Australia
- More of their children live permanently in Australia than in any other single country.
Sponsorship and AoS
- Sponsor: For you to be an eligible sponsor you must be an eligible child, should be aged 18 or older and have to be settled in Australia (usually defined as having resided in Australia for at least two years), must submit Form 40PA.
- Assurance of Support (AoS): This is a mandatory financial guarantee for the 804 visa. The assurer (usually the sponsor) or someone who is an eligible candidate commits to supporting the parent for 10 years and must lodge a refundable bond with the Commonwealth Bank.
The AoS bond is AUD $10,000 for the primary applicant and AUD $4,000 for the secondary applicant which is held for 10 years and is fully refundable (with interest) provided the visa holders have not claimed specific Australian social welfare payments (Centrelink).
804 Visa Full Cost Breakdown
| Cost Component | Primary Applicant | Additional Applicant |
|---|---|---|
|
AUD $2,640 |
||
|
Second Installment |
||
|
Total VAC (Approx.) |
AUD $7,345 |
AUD $4,705 |
Source: DHA
804 Visa vs 864 Visa
For a sponsor having an aged parent above the age of 67, already in Australia, the choice between the 804 and 864 visa subclasses is a factor that help in the migration process and reuniting the family. Understanding the difference between 804 and 864 visa options depends entirely on the family’s priority: time or money. As the 804 is usually cheaper than the 864 but has extremely long wait times.
| Feature | 804 Visa (Non-Contributory) | 864 Visa (Contributory Aged Parent) |
|---|---|---|
|
~10 to 15 Years |
||
|
Total VAC (Main Applicant) |
||
|
Bridging Visa Medicare |
Limited (RHCA Required) |
Full Access (Immediate) |
|
Annual Cap |
Very Low (Capped and Queued) |
Higher (Prioritised Stream) |
Step-By-Step Application Process for 804 Visa
- Check Eligibility: The first step in visa application is to confirm if the aged parent visa 804 age requirement is satisfied and the Balance of Family Test requirement are met according to the requirements provided by the Australian government.
- Lodge Application: After the eligibility of Age and BoFT has been confirmed, the next step is to submit the required forms (47PA and 40PA) and pay the First Instalment of the 804 visa fees which ultimately establishes the queue date.
- Receive BVA: After the application has been lodged successfully, the Bridging Visa A is granted automatically which allows the parent to remain in Australia.
- Long Wait: After Receiving the BVA, the long -waiting and never-ending queue begins. The application sits in the queue for 30+ years.
- Final Assessment: After about 3 decades, when the queue date is reached, the DHA requests final documentation, health checks, police checks, and payment of the Second Instalment of the VAC.
- AoS Compliance: Finalize the Assurance of Support bond with Services Australia.
804 Visa Bridging Visa Conditions
The 804 visa bridging visa (BVA) is automatically activated after the moment your current running visa (example: Tourist Visa) expires. The BVA acts as the legal safety net that ensures that the applicant never becomes unlawful while waiting for the permanent grant.
| Right | BVA Status | Key Conditions & Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Stay |
Indefinite Onshore |
Allows the parent to live in Australia for the duration of the wait. |
|
Work |
Unlimited |
Generally granted without work restrictions (Condition 8101). |
|
Study |
Full Access |
Parents can enroll in courses, though international fees typically apply. |
|
Travel |
No Automatic Rights |
Leaving on a BVA will cancel it. You must apply for a BVB to travel. |
|
Medicare |
Conditional |
Only available to those from RHCA countries during the bridge. |
Aged Parent 804 Visa Bridging Visa B
If your parents are required to travel overseas within the duration, they are required to lodge a separate application for an aged parent visa 804 bridging visa b (BVB).
- The Travel Window: A BVB is granted for a specific period (usually 3–12 months). After that the parent must return to Australia before the expiry date is in action.
- Cost & Timing: For this, there is a sum of cost of approximately $190 for a BVB that needs to be paid. Therefore, we recommend applying for the BVB at least 4 weeks prior to the intended departure date.
- Consequences of Expiry: In case of the BVB expiring while the parent is not currently in Australia, their whole 804 application is discarded, and they lose their long-awaited queue date.
Aged Parent Visa 804 Bridging Visa Medicare
A common question that arises in this Visa is the confusion of the 804 visa Medicare eligibility. While the 804 visa a pathway for PR, the Medicare access is generally reserved for the final grant unless you qualify via a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA).
| Country Status | Medicare Access (On Bridging Visa) | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
|
RHCA Countries |
Full Access |
Must provide a passport from a country like the UK, Ireland, Italy, or NZ. |
|
Non-RHCA Countries |
No Access |
Must maintain Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC). |
|
Workaround |
Private Funding |
BVA work rights can be used to fund the mandatory private insurance. |
Rules for the 804 visa bridging visa
If you want to make sure that your 804 visa bridging visa remains valid for the next 30years, your parents are required to follow these strict rules:
1.Notify Change of Address: You must notify the DHA within 14 days of moving houses.
2.Maintain Passport Validity: If the parent’s passport is renewed, you must link the new passport to the BVA immediately.
3.No Criminal Records: Any criminal conviction during the 33-year wait can lead to a character refusal at the final stage.
Step-by-Step Application for the 804 Visa
Given the decades-long wait, delays in lodgment, even by a few months, can result in years of additional waiting time. So here is a step-by-step guide on how you can apply for the 804 Visa successfully:
- Check Eligibility: The first step in visa application is to confirm if the aged parent visa 804 age requirement is satisfied and the Balance of Family Test requirement are met according to the requirements provided by the Australian government.
- Lodge Application: After the eligibility of Age and BoFT has been confirmed, the next step is to submit the required forms (47PA and 40PA) and pay the First Instalment of the 804 visa fees which ultimately establishes the queue date.
- Receive BVA: After the application has been lodged successfully, the Bridging Visa A is granted automatically which allows the parent to remain in Australia.
- Long Wait: After Receiving the BVA, the long -waiting and never-ending queue begins. The application sits in the queue for 30+ years.
- Final Assessment: After about 3 decades, when the queue date is reached, the DHA requests final documentation, health checks, police checks, and payment of the Second Instalment of the VAC.
- AoS Compliance: Finalize the Assurance of Support bond with Services Australia.
Common Pitfalls & Queue Success Strategies of the 804 Visa
If you want to secure a successful outcome of the 804 visa, you should address the following strategies that tend to address the four most common pitfalls for the aged parent visa 804 in 2026, ensuring your family remains protected during the decades-long wait.
| Table Header | Table Header | Table Header |
|---|---|---|
|
8503 Condition |
Immediate Ineligibility |
You must apply for and receive
a formal 8503 waiver from the DHA before your current visa expires to allow for onshore lodgment. |
|
BoFT Failure |
Automatic Refusal |
Provide certified birth certificates and citizenship proof for all children. |
|
AoS Default |
Bond Forfeiture |
Ensure the parent has private savings or a “safety fund |
|
BVA Travel Trap |
Visa Cancellation |
Always lodge an application for an aged parent visa 804 bridging visa b at least 4 weeks before any planned international travel. |
804 Visa FAQs
The 804 visa processing time exceeds 30 years, processing June 2013 EOIs. Bridging rights provide immediate benefits.
The main disadvantages of the 804 visa are Long queues, no automatic travel rights (needs BVB), 10-year AoS bond. 804 bridging visa conditions restrict offshore time.
Permanent upon grant with 5-year travel facility. Bridging allows indefinite onshore stay during processing.
$4,885 VAC plus $5k-$10k AoS bond, totaling $8k-$12k—budget-friendly versus contributory options.
No, 804 Visa holders don’t get access to Medicare immediately. They only get Limited/No Access unless the parent is from an RHCA country.
Yes. Most 804 visa bridging visa holders are granted with null conditions which provide them with full work rights. While many aged parents choose not to work, having the legal right to do it is a advantage for those who wish to do so.
For the 804 visa, the sponsor needs to be settled in Australia. The aged parent’s eligibility for a visa subclass 804 may be compromised if the sponsoring child moves overseas permanently. However, short-term travel or temporary work assignments overseas usually do not affect the application, on the provision that the sponsor maintains their primary residence and “settled” status in Australia.
Get your free Consultation with BJay
Starting your journey in Australia can be hard and overwhelming, when it comes to knowing the requirements of the skill assessment, visa eligibility and the documents required for the process. That’s why we BJay Education & Migration offer you a completely free, no-obligation consultation service so you can get all the support you need and boost the chances of studying or working in Australia.
Take the Free Consultation Today: Book your free consultation with BJay and let us guide you through every hurdle that comes in the path of you and a positive skill assessment in Australia.
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