Eligibility Quiz
Requirements
Age Requirement
You must be old enough to qualify for the Australian Age Pension. The qualifying age depends on your date of birth:
- Born 1 July 1952 – 31 December 1953: 65 years 6 months
- Born 1 January 1954 – 30 June 1955: 66 years
- Born 1 July 1955 – 31 December 1956: 66 years 6 months
- Born 1 January 1957 or later: 67 years
There is no flexibility on this requirement. If you are even one day below the qualifying age, you cannot apply.
Location Requirement
You must be physically in Australia when you lodge your application. You cannot apply from outside Australia. You must not be in immigration clearance (a period where you are not permitted to be in Australia) at the time of application.
Current Visa Status
You must hold a substantive visa (such as a visitor visa, skilled visa, or family visa) or a Bridging Visa A, B, or C at the time you apply. You cannot hold a Subclass 870 (Sponsored Parent Temporary) visa when applying for the 804.
Balance of Family Test
This is the most critical and frequently misunderstood requirement. You must pass the balance of family test, which is assessed numerically:
You pass the test if at least half of your children and step-children are eligible children (Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens), OR if more of your eligible children live in Australia than in any other single country.
This test is purely numerical — it does not account for emotional ties, financial support, caregiving, or how close you are to your children. If you have four children and only one is in Australia (and the others are not Australian citizens or permanent residents), you fail the test and cannot apply, regardless of your relationship with them.
Sponsor Requirements
Your application must be sponsored by an eligible child — an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen who is 18 years or older and settled in Australia. Settlement typically means having lived lawfully in Australia for at least 2 years before your application is lodged. Australian citizens may qualify with a shorter settlement period if there are compelling and compassionate circumstances.
If your eligible child is under 18, an alternative sponsor can be the child's spouse, a relative or guardian, or a community organisation meeting specific criteria.
Health and Character Requirements
You must:
- Pass a medical examination by a Department of Home Affairs–approved panel physician
- Obtain police clearance certificates from every country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years
- Have no outstanding debts to the Australian government
- Have no history of visa cancellation or application refusal while in Australia
- Sign an Australian Values Statement (if 18 or older) confirming you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws
Best Interests of the Child
If you have any dependent children under 18, the Department will not grant your visa if it is not in their best interests.
Conditions & Warnings
Processing time is approximately 30–33 years from lodgement to decision. As of early 2026, applications lodged around July 2013 are being released from the queue. This is not a fast pathway and is only suitable for families prepared for a multi-decade wait.
The balance of family test is strictly numerical: at least half of your children must be eligible (Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible NZ citizens), OR more eligible children must live in Australia than in any other single country. This test is often misunderstood and is a common reason for refusal.
You must be aged 67 or older (or meet the lower age threshold based on your date of birth). There is no flexibility — applicants even slightly below the qualifying age cannot apply.
You must be physically present in Australia on a valid substantive visa when you lodge the application. You cannot apply from overseas. Once lodged, you will typically be granted a Bridging Visa A, but you must maintain lawful status throughout the queue period.
If you leave Australia on a Bridging Visa A without first obtaining a Bridging Visa B, your BVA will cease and you cannot return. Your 804 application may also be affected. Plan any overseas travel carefully.
Unless you are from a country with a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (UK, New Zealand, Italy, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Norway, Slovenia, Malta), you are not eligible for Medicare while on a Bridging Visa. Private health insurance is essential and can cost AUD 200–400+ per month for elderly applicants.
If your sponsoring child dies during the queue period, your visa application is at risk and may be terminated, although a replacement sponsor may be approved in some cases.
All non-English documents must be translated by a NAATI-accredited translator (if in Australia) or by a qualified translator outside Australia. Original police certificates must be submitted; certified copies are not acceptable.
Qualifications
Fees
Paid in two instalments: first instalment (approximately AUD 4,640–5,280) when application is lodged; second instalment (approximately AUD 2,065–2,065) due before visa is granted. Fees are non-refundable if application is refused. Secondary applicants aged 18+ pay AUD 2,320; under 18 pay AUD 1,160.