Last Updated on March 1, 2013

This visa allows aged persons who rely on a relative in Australia for all, or most, of their living costs to migrate to Australia.

This visa requires that the applicant is sponsored by their relative in Australia.

Who is this visa for?

This visa is for people who are:

 

• aged (age requirements apply)
• financially dependent on a relative in Australia for a reasonable period of time
• single, having never married, or is widowed, divorced or formally separated from their spouse.

Family members of the aged dependent relative may also be included in the application if they meet certain requirements.

How much does this visa cost?

You must pay a visa application charge when you lodge your visa application. This will usually not be refunded if your application is unsuccessful, or if you decide to withdraw your application after you have lodged it. A second visa application charge is also required before the visa is granted.

What does this visa let me do?

This visa allows you (and your dependent family members) to live as permanent residents in Australia.

You can also:

 

• work and study in Australia
• receive subsidised healthcare through Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
• access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods)
• be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship (subject to the residency eligibility criteria)
• sponsor people for permanent residence (subject to waiting periods).

Age

To meet the age requirements for this visa:

Men must be 65 years or older.

Women should use the following table:

 

• Before 1 July 1935 60 years old
• 1 July 1935 – 31 December 1936 60.5
• 1 January 1937 – 30 June 1938 61
• 1 July 1938 – 31 December 1939 61.5
• 1 January 1940 – 30 June 1941 62
• 1 July 1941 – 31 December 1942 62.5
• 1 January 1943 – 30 June 1944 63
• 1 July 1944 – 31 December 1945 63.5
• 1 January 1946 – 30 June 1947 64
• 1 July 1947 – 31 December 1948 64.5
• 1 January 1949 and later 65

Example: A woman born in 1943 will have to wait until 2006 (when they turn 63) before they can apply for this visa.

Marital status

You must demonstrate that you do not have a spouse (married or de facto). To establish your current marital status, you should provide official documents such as the death certificate of your previous spouse, divorce certificate, or family status certificates or family books (if these documents are officially issued and maintained).

Relative in Australia

You must have a relative in Australia who is settled in Australia as one of the following:

 

• an Australian citizen
• an Australian permanent resident
• an eligible New Zealand citizen.

Eligible sponsor

You must be sponsored by an eligible sponsor. Your sponsor will be your relative in Australia.

Dependency

You must demonstrate that you have been wholly or substantially dependent on your relative in Australia for financial support for your basic needs of food, shelter and clothing or because you have a disability which prevents you from working. This support must have been continuing for at least three (3) years.

Assurance of Support

You must have a commitment by a person prepared to provide them with an Assurance of Support.

Health

You must meet health requirements and will need to undergo a health examination.

Character

You must meet character requirements.

Debts to the Australian Government

Before the applicant can be granted this visa they must repay, or have made arrangements to repay, any outstanding debts to the Australian Government.

Australian Values Statement

If you are aged 18 years or over, you are required to sign an Australian values statement. The statement is included in your visa application form and all applicants aged 18 years and over will need to sign it to confirm that they will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws. Before signing this statement you are required to have read, or had explained to you, material made available by the government on life in Australia which is contained in the Life in Australia book.