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Australia · Family

Australia Aged Dependent Relative visa (Subclass 838)

19 facts quoted from the official source

This permanent visa lets a single older person stay in Australia if they rely on a relative living in Australia for financial support.

Route type
Family
Can bring
dependants, children +1
from the official record
Requirements
10
each quoted below
Who qualifies

Who this route is for

Every item below is the government’s own wording, quoted from the official source. Whether you personally qualify depends on your full profile.

10 requirements quoted from the official source.

The conditions that decide it
  • Age RequirementYou must be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia .
  • Australian Government Debt ClearedIf you or any family members owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or have an approved arrangement in place to pay it back.
  • Be DependentYou must have been dependent on your relative in Australia for basic needs like food, shelter and clothing for at least the last 3 years before you apply for the visa. You could be dependent on your relative due to disability that prevents you from working.
  • Best Interests Of The ChildWe will not grant this visa if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18.
  • Character and securityYou, and family members who apply for the visa with you, must meet our character requirement . We might also ask that other non-migrating family members also meet the requirement.
  • Have Assurance Of SupportYou must be able to obtain an assurance of support. An assurance of support assures us that you will not have to rely on government assistance after you enter Australia on this visa. The assurance is for you and any family members who come to Australia with you on this visa. We will let you know when you need to the assurance of support. Learn more about assurances of support .
  • Have No PartnerTo be eligible for this visa you must have no partner .
  • Health RequirementYou and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health requirement . We might also ask that other family members also meet the requirement.
  • Not Have Had A Visa Cancelled Or A Previous Application RefusedWe will consider your immigration history when we make a decision on your application, which means you might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused. In some circumstances you may still apply for a permanent visa if you have had a visa cancelled or an application refused, see Limitations on applications in Australia . If applying for a visa from outside Australia,
  • Sponsor RequiredYou must be sponsored by an eligible relative or a relative's partner. We must approve the sponsorship.
Also stated by the source
  • Eligibility summaryYou must be sponsored by an eligible relative or a relative's partner. We must approve the sponsorship.
  • Official Rights Textstay in Australia indefinitely work and study in Australia enrol in Australia's public healthcare scheme, Medicare sponsor your relatives to come to Australia attend free English language classes provided by the Adult Migrant English Program , if eligible apply for Australian citizenship , if eligible.
  • Official source basisYou must be sponsored by an eligible relative or a relative's partner. We must approve the sponsorship.
  • Report summaryYou must be sponsored by an eligible relative or a relative's partner. We must approve the sponsorship.
  • Visa SubclassThe official page identifies this route as subclass 838.
Family

Who you can bring

dependantschildrenpartner
Costs & timelines

What the source prices

Fees
1 proven from the official source.
  • Official Cost TextFrom . Concessions apply in limited circumstances. Cost concession From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid visa application. See About this visa .checked 2026-07-26
Validity
2 proven from the official source.
  • Must Not Have A No Further Stay ConditionThe visa you currently hold must not have a no further stay condition on it. See your conditions in VEVO .
  • Official Stay TextPermanently
Processing time
1 proven from the official source.
  • Processing timeFor an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool . This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application. For more information, see Other Family Visa Queue
How it works

From here to a yes

See if you qualify — freeThe 3-minute check scores your profile against every Australia route at once, this one included. No signup, no card.
Get your full report — €10One personalised report ranks every route you can actually get, with the full requirement set for your profile — so you apply for the right one.
Apply with the official sourceThe application itself always happens with the government — the enacting authority linked below. The report points you straight at it.
FAQ

Straight answers

01Who qualifies for the Subclass 838 to Australia?
The official source states: This permanent visa lets a single older person stay in Australia if they rely on a relative living in Australia for financial support.
02Can I bring my family?
The official record lists: dependants, children, partner.

Every answer is quoted from the official immi.homeaffairs.gov.au page for this route, last read 2026-07-26.

We checked 19 points against the official source; 19 are quoted on this page. The other 0 are either not addressed by the source or not yet backed by a quote — we would rather show you the edge of the record than fill it with a plausible guess.

See the 0 open points

Not stated in the official source — the official source names no exclusion for this route.

The source

Where every quote comes from

Official government source immi.homeaffairs.gov.auLast read 2026-07-26 Every quote on this page is from this Australia government page.
Compiled from official sources · pending independent re-check · Last checked 2026-07-26 · Our methodology
 · Compiled by António Mira · How we verify · Not legal advice — rules change; confirm with the official source before deciding.
Same category, same country

Other family routes to Australia

25 other family routes to Australia.

Adoption visa (Subclass 102)Aged Dependent Relative visa (Subclass 114)Aged Parent visa (Subclass 804)Carer visa (Subclass 116)Carer visa (Subclass 836)Child visa (Subclass 101)
Same category, elsewhere

Family routes in other countries

201 other countries publish at least one family route. Nearest first.

New Zealand25 family routes Norway42 family routes France40 family routes Nigeria32 family routes Germany27 family routes Belgium26 family routes

Does the Subclass 838 fit your numbers?

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