Aged Dependent Relative visa (subclass 114 offshore / subclass 838 onshore)
Aged Dependent Relative visa (subclass 114 offshore / subclass 838 onshore)
Visa Cost
AUD 5,125
2025-26 financial year primary applicant first-instalment Visa Application Charge about AUD 5,125 (some sources list AUD 5,280; the official Visa Pricing Estimator prevails); a second instalment of about AUD 2,065 is also payable before grant. Accompanying family members add a surcharge. It falls in the 'Other Family' category, subject to an annual cap (about 500 places for the whole category). Offshore it is 114, onshore 838, at the same cost. An Assurance of Support (AoS) and refundable bond are also required.
Processing Time
Extremely long: limited by the cap and queue. As of early 2026 the Department has only released applications lodged around 30 June 2013 to final processing; new applications wait for a decade or decades, with no expediting.
Eligibility
- The applicant is single: no spouse and no de facto partner (including not being in a marriage that is separated but not divorced).
- The applicant has reached Australian Age Pension age (currently 67), generally assessed at grant.
- Over a reasonable recent period (usually about 3 years), the applicant is wholly or substantially dependent on the sponsoring relative in Australia for basic needs such as food, board and clothing.
- The sponsoring relative in Australia is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen settled in Australia, and aged 18 or over.
- Sponsored by the relative or their spouse/de facto partner, who undertakes to provide accommodation and financial support for the first two years.
- 838 (onshore) applicants must be in Australia at application and grant, holding a valid visa (with no 'No Further Stay' condition).
- Meet health and character requirements, and the Assurance of Support and bond requirements.
- No outstanding debt to the Australian government (or it is arranged for repayment), and no refusal/cancellation record affecting grant.
Key Information
Validity / Stay / Residence
Permanent residence, allowing indefinite residence, work and study and Medicare; the travel facility is usually 5 years, with travel rights renewed via 155/157 on expiry.
Eligible Dependants
You can add dependent children to the application; onshore 838 applicants can obtain a bridging visa while waiting.
PR / Permanent Residence Pathway
This visa is permanent residence (PR). Once the aged dependent relative visa is granted you are a permanent resident, and can apply for citizenship once eligible.
View provisional-to-permanent transition overview →Application Steps
Verify single status, age and dependency
Verify single status, age and dependency
Confirm the applicant is single, has reached pension age (67), and is long-term (about 3 years) substantially dependent on the relative in Australia for basic living needs.
- Prepare proof of single/marital status
- Organise about 3 years of evidence of financial support received from the sponsor
- Confirm the sponsoring relative is in an eligible relationship and settled in Australia
Prepare Form 47OF and sponsor's Form 40
Prepare Form 47OF and sponsor's Form 40
Apply on paper forms: the applicant completes Form 47OF and the sponsoring relative completes Form 40.
- The primary applicant completes Form 47OF
- The sponsor completes Form 40 Sponsorship
- Have the dependency evidence ready
Pay first VAC instalment and lodge
Pay first VAC instalment and lodge
Post the forms, dependency evidence and first-instalment visa fee receipt together to the Parent, Child and Other Family Processing Centre.
- Pay the first instalment of about AUD 5,125
- A Bridging Visa A (BVA) is usually granted after 838 is lodged
- From 23 July 2025, some paper applications can be imported into ImmiAccount
Enter the capped queue
Enter the capped queue
Applications queue by lodgement date for the annual places to be released; within the 'Other Family' category they have lower priority than carers and wait longer.
- Watch the official 'Other Family visa queue release dates' page
- 838 holders on a BVA can wait lawfully in Australia and apply for work rights/Medicare
Final processing: health, character, AoS
Final processing: health, character, AoS
After the queue is released, complete the health examination and police clearance, and arrange the Assurance of Support and pay the bond through Services Australia.
- Complete the health examination using the HAP ID (older applicants should mind the health standards)
- Submit police clearances from each country
- An AoS is mandatory for this visa, with a refundable bond
Pay second VAC instalment and grant
Pay second VAC instalment and grant
After receiving the notice, pay the second instalment of about AUD 2,065; permanent residence is obtained on grant.
- Pay the second instalment after receiving the official letter
- PR on grant, with the right to work, study and use Medicare, and free travel within 5 years
Required Documents
| Document Name | English Name | Required | Description | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form 47OF - Application for migration to Australia by other family | Form 47OF - Application for migration to Australia by other family | The main application form for the aged dependent relative visa. | Complete on paper; the details must match the passport. | |
| Form 40 - Sponsorship for migration to Australia | Form 40 - Sponsorship for migration to Australia | Completed by the sponsoring relative in Australia (or their spouse/de facto partner), undertaking to provide accommodation and financial support. | The sponsor must be aged 18 or over, an Australian citizen/PR/eligible New Zealand citizen, and settled in Australia. | |
| Evidence of single status | Evidence of single status | Prove the applicant has no spouse and no de facto partner (this visa is limited to single people). | A single declaration/divorce certificate/widowhood certificate, notarised and translated; if separated but not divorced you usually do not qualify. | |
| Proof of age (age pension age) | Proof of age (age pension age) | Prove the applicant has reached Australian Age Pension age (currently 67). | Passport/notarial birth certificate showing the date of birth. | |
| Evidence of financial dependency on the relative (~3 years) | Evidence of financial dependency on the relative (~3 years) | The core of this visa: proving the applicant is long-term wholly or substantially dependent on the sponsoring relative in Australia for basic needs such as board and clothing. | Provide about 3 years of remittance records, bank statements, support evidence, and shared-living/bill evidence. | |
| Evidence of relationship to the Australian sponsor | Evidence of relationship to the Australian sponsor | Prove the relationship between the applicant and the sponsor. | Notarial birth certificate, household register and kinship certificate, NAATI-translated. | |
| Applicant's income and assets evidence | Applicant's income and assets evidence | Corroborate that the applicant's own income/assets are insufficient for self-support, thereby establishing dependence on the sponsor. | Provide a statement of pension/superannuation, savings, property, etc. | |
| Police clearance certificates | Police clearance certificates | Meet character requirements; where you have lived in any country for a cumulative 12 months after age 16, that country's clearance is required. | The Chinese police clearance must be notarised and translated; submit it as directed at the final processing stage. | |
| Health examination via HAP ID | Health examination via HAP ID | The applicant must pass the Australian-standard health examination. | Older applicants especially should mind the health cost assessment; have the examination at a designated clinic with the HAP ID. | |
| Assurance of Support and refundable bond | Assurance of Support and refundable bond | This visa mandatorily requires an AoS, administered by Services Australia, with the assurer paying a refundable bond. | Arrange and pay the bond as advised by Services Australia; the sponsor need not be the assurer. | |
| Evidence of valid visa (subclass 838 onshore only) | Evidence of valid visa (subclass 838 onshore only) | Onshore 838 applicants must prove they held a valid visa at lodgement with no 'No Further Stay' condition. | Provide the current visa grant notice/VEVO record. | |
| Declaration of no outstanding debts to the Commonwealth | Declaration of no outstanding debts to the Commonwealth | Prove the applicant has no outstanding debt to the Australian government or has arranged repayment. | If there are old debts, provide proof of a repayment arrangement. | |
| Passport and recent photographs | Passport and recent photographs | Basic identity verification materials. | A colour scan of the passport bio-data page + a white-background passport photo. |
FAQ
What hard 'single' and 'age' requirements does the aged dependent relative visa have?
How do I prove 'financial dependency'? How long does it take?
How long is the wait for this visa?
What is the difference between onshore 838 and offshore 114?
What benefits do you get after grant?
Common Refusal Reasons
- Not reaching Australian Age Pension age (the threshold adjusts with year of birth), failing the 'aged' requirement
- The unmarried/single requirement is not met (married or in a de facto relationship)
- Insufficient dependency evidence: failing to prove long-term (usually about 3 years) full/substantial dependence on the relative in Australia for basic needs such as board and clothing
- Lacking sponsorship (Form 40) or the required Assurance of Support
- The Other Family category is capped with an extremely long queue (queue dates released to around June 2013), changed circumstances while queued; health/character not met; location mismatch as 114 must be offshore and 838 onshore
Can you appeal after a refusal? See the Visa Refusal & Review (ART) Guide.