Subclass 114 Aged Dependent Relative Visa
The Subclass 114 Aged Dependent Relative visa is a permanent visa for older relatives who are financially dependent on an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, and who have no other close family support overseas. It allows them to live permanently in Australia with their supporting relative.
Subclass 114 Aged Dependent Relative Visa
Overview
The Aged Dependent Relative visa (subclass 114) allows older relatives who are financially dependent on an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to migrate to Australia permanently.
This visa is offshore only, meaning the applicant must be outside Australia when the application is lodged and when the visa is granted.
It is part of the Family Migration Program and includes a lengthy processing time due to the low annual quota allocated for this visa subclass.
Key Features
- Permanent residency for aged relatives dependent on family in Australia
- Access to Medicare, social security (after waiting periods), and eventual citizenship
- May include travel facility for 5 years
- No work rights requirement — the visa is not based on employment or skills
Who Can Apply
Applicant (Aged Relative)
The aged dependent relative must:
- Be aged, meaning eligible for the Australian Age Pension (currently 67 for those born after Jan 1, 1957)
- Be financially dependent on their sponsor for at least 3 years immediately before the visa application
- Have no spouse or de facto partner
- Be outside Australia when applying and when the visa is granted
- Meet health and character requirements
Sponsor
The sponsor must:
- Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
- Be aged 18 or over
- Usually reside in Australia
- Be the applicant’s eligible relative (e.g., child, sibling, niece/nephew, or grandchild)
- Agree to provide support, accommodation, and financial assistance
A sponsorship undertaking must be submitted with the application.
Financial Dependency Criteria
The applicant must demonstrate that they:
- Regularly received financial support from the sponsor (remittances, paying rent, utility bills, medical expenses, etc.)
- Were dependent due to lack of income, disability, or unemployment
- Lived in a situation where the sponsor’s assistance was essential for their well-being
Application Process
Step 1: Gather Documentation
Key documents include:
- Evidence of age (passport, birth certificate)
- Proof of dependency (bank statements, remittance receipts, utility bills, rent documents)
- Statement explaining how the dependency exists
- Police certificates
- Medical examinations
- Sponsorship form (Form 40)
Step 2: Lodge Application
- Application must be submitted by post to the Department of Home Affairs
- All documentation must be certified and translated (if not in English)
Step 3: Wait for Allocation and Assessment
- Due to queueing arrangements, this visa can take up to 25+ years to process
- You’ll receive a queue date confirming when your application will be considered
Step 4: Final Decision
- After the applicant reaches the front of the queue and passes health and character checks, the visa is granted
- The applicant must be outside Australia at time of grant
Processing Time
| Stage | Time Estimate |
|---|---|
| Queue Date Allocation | 12–18 months |
| Total Processing Time | 20–30 years (est.) |
Note: This is one of the longest processing visas due to very limited places available under the family migration cap.
Visa Conditions
- Grants permanent residency
- Enables access to public health (Medicare)
- May apply for citizenship after four years of lawful residence
- Includes a 5-year travel facility
- Must remain dependent on sponsor for initial settlement support
Costs
| Fee Type | Amount (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Base application charge | $4,990 |
| Additional applicant (18+) | $2,495 per person |
| Additional applicant (<18) | $1,250 per person |
| Health checks | ~$300–600 (varies) |
| Police certificates | ~$100 per country |
| Document translation/legal | Varies ($300–1,000) |
| Agent/legal fees (optional) | $2,000–6,000 |
Common Use Cases
✅ Case 1: Elderly Parent Without Other Relatives
A 70-year-old widow in Sri Lanka receives monthly financial support from her daughter in Sydney. After three years of documented financial support, she applies for the 114 visa. She understands the wait will be decades but is not eligible for any faster stream due to age and circumstances.
✅ Case 2: Elderly Uncle Supported by Niece
A man in Nepal is being cared for by his niece in Melbourne. With no partner or children of his own and documented reliance on her for years, he applies for the visa under her sponsorship. He understands this is for long-term planning.
✅ Case 3: Sibling Sponsorship
A 68-year-old man in the UK with no other family and ongoing financial support from his brother in Perth applies for the 114 visa. He includes financial dependency evidence and receives a queue date after 15 months.
Common Hurdles
- Lack of evidence of dependency over the required period
- Applicant has a spouse or de facto partner
- Misunderstanding of the extreme wait times
- Inability to prove that the sponsor is a close eligible relative
- Poor documentation and lack of legal clarity around financial dependency
FAQs
Can I visit Australia while the 114 visa is processing?
You may apply for a Visitor Visa (subclass 600), but approval is not guaranteed. Visiting Australia does not speed up the 114 processing timeline.
Is this the same as a parent visa?
No. Parent visas (subclass 103, 804, 143, etc.) are separate. The 114 visa is strictly for aged relatives who are financially dependent and not parents.
Can my sponsor support more than one relative?
Yes, but each application must meet the dependency and sponsorship requirements. Multiple applications may affect the sponsor’s capacity to provide support.
Will the visa be processed faster if my situation is urgent?
Unfortunately, no priority processing is available for this visa subclass. The wait is governed by annual caps and queue position only.
What happens if the sponsor passes away during processing?
If the sponsor dies before visa grant, the application may be withdrawn unless another eligible relative steps in and meets sponsorship requirements.
Trends and Statistics
- This visa is most commonly used by applicants from:
- India
- Sri Lanka
- Nepal
- Philippines
- Vietnam
- Bangladesh
- Increasing interest comes from widowed or single relatives living alone in developing nations
- Some applicants treat this visa as long-term family reunification planning, understanding the decades-long wait
Useful Resources
- Subclass 114 on Home Affairs
- Australian Age Pension Age Table
- Form 47PA (Application)
- Form 40 (Sponsorship)
Need Help Understanding the 114 Visa?
If you're exploring the Aged Dependent Relative Visa and feeling overwhelmed by the process, you're not alone. With complex documentation and very long wait times, it's essential to plan wisely and understand your options clearly.
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