What the Aged Dependent Relative Visa Grants
The Aged Dependent Relative visa recognises a specific family situation: a single, pension-age relative overseas who is genuinely reliant on an Australian citizen or permanent resident for their basic living expenses. Both subclass 114 (for applicants offshore at time of decision) and subclass 838 (for applicants already in Australia) grant permanent residence with full work rights and Medicare access.
Permanent residence
Full work rights and Medicare access from the date of grant. The holder can live in Australia indefinitely.
Offshore or onshore
Subclass 114 is for applicants outside Australia at decision; subclass 838 is for applicants already in Australia. Eligibility criteria are the same.
Pathway to citizenship
On grant, the holder begins accruing the residence needed for citizenship — eligible after 4 years of lawful residence including 12 months as a permanent resident.
Who Can Apply
There are three core criteria for the primary applicant — and each must be satisfied at the time of application.
1. Pension age
The applicant must be of Australian age pension age at the time of application. The current age pension age is 67. Confirm the current threshold on the Department of Social Services or Services Australia website before assessing eligibility.
2. Single status
The applicant must be single — widowed, divorced, legally separated, or never married. Having a de facto partner is treated the same as being married for this purpose and will disqualify the applicant. The single status must be genuine.
3. Financial dependency for 3 continuous years
The applicant must have been financially dependent on their Australian relative for basic needs — food, clothing, and shelter — for at least the 3 years immediately before the application is lodged. Partial financial support or irregular contributions may not satisfy the test. The dependency must be for basic needs, not merely gifts or discretionary support.
4. Australian sponsor
The applicant must have a sponsoring relative in Australia who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. The sponsor must be willing and able to provide an Assurance of Support.
5. Health and character
All applicants must meet Australian health requirements (medical examination at a Department-approved panel physician) and character requirements (police clearances from all relevant countries).
Proving Financial Dependency
The financial dependency requirement is the most commonly contested aspect of an Aged Dependent Relative application. The Department assesses whether the applicant genuinely relied on the Australian relative for basic needs over the 3-year period. Strong, contemporaneous evidence is essential.
Queue Reality
The Aged Dependent Relative visa is capped and queued, with a very small annual allocation. New applications lodged today realistically face a multi-decade wait. Even where all eligibility criteria are clearly met, a decision may be 20 years or more away. This is an important consideration for a pension-age applicant. Confirm current processing time estimates on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Visitor patterns as an interim measure
While in the queue, the relative may be able to visit Australia on a Visitor visa (subclass 600) for periods of up to 12 months at a time, subject to visa conditions and the Department's assessment of genuine temporary entry intent. Repeated long visits may attract scrutiny. This is not a long-term substitute for permanent residence, but may allow significant time with family during the queue period.
Onshore applicants on a Bridging Visa
An applicant who lodged the subclass 838 while in Australia on a substantive visa will generally receive a Bridging Visa A (BVA) allowing them to remain in Australia while the application is processed. The conditions of the BVA depend on the underlying substantive visa. Note that the BVA does not confer a right to work unless the substantive visa included work rights.
Consider lodging early to secure a queue position
Some families choose to lodge as early as possible to secure a queue position — even if alternative visa strategies are also being pursued in parallel. If an alternative pathway succeeds first, the Aged Dependent Relative application can be withdrawn. The government charge for the Aged Dependent Relative visa is not refunded if the application is withdrawn, so this decision should be made carefully.
Alternatives Worth Considering
Given the long queue, families should consider whether any other pathways might be more realistic or could run in parallel.
The Application Process
Frequently Asked Questions
This information is general in nature and does not constitute immigration assistance or legal advice for any individual situation. Requirements including occupation lists, fees and processing criteria change without notice.
Nanak Migration Group Pty Ltd makes no representation that information on this site is complete, current or applicable to your circumstances. Nothing here guarantees, implies or represents any visa outcome, approval likelihood or processing time.
Obtain advice tailored to your situation from a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner. Navpreet Aulakh, MARN 2619467, is registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority.
Information current as at August 2026. Verify all requirements with the Department of Home Affairs (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au) before lodging any application.