Who counts as an 'aged dependent relative' for visa 114 in 2026?
An "aged dependent relative" for Australia's visa 114 is a relative of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen who has reached the Australian age pension age, has depended on that Australian relative for basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing for at least 3 years before applying, and has no partner. This answer comes from the Australian Department of Home Affairs' official Aged Dependent Relative visa (Subclass 114) page, as of August 2026, read together with the Subclass 114 criteria in the Migration Regulations 1994. The explanation below is general information only and not advice tailored to your personal circumstances, so always check your situation against the latest Home Affairs guidance or seek a qualified migration professional's opinion.
Who must you be related to, and who can sponsor you?
To be an aged dependent relative, you must be the relative of the Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen who anchors the application. Put another way, the visa exists for the family-reunion case where your essential support in later life comes from that Australian relative. The Australian side must therefore hold one of those three statuses both when you apply and when Home Affairs decides the application, because the relevant clauses require the relationship to continue to exist at each stage.
Can the sponsor be the relative's partner instead?
Normally the Australian relative themselves sponsors you, but this requires them to be at least 18 and settled. If they cannot sponsor directly, their spouse or de facto partner may do so, provided that partner lives with the Australian relative, has turned 18, and is a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. Whichever eligible person sponsors you, Home Affairs must approve the sponsorship, and PAM3 procedural material indicates the sponsorship cannot simply be transferred to a different person later if the original sponsor can no longer act.
In the Migration Regulations 1994 and PAM3 procedural material, "settled" is described as usually meaning the sponsor has lived lawfully in Australia for at least 2 years. Check the meaning of settled that the Department of Home Affairs applies when it assesses the sponsorship, as that is the definition that governs your application.
What does "aged" mean for this visa?
You must be old enough to receive the Australian age pension. The Home Affairs page does not set its own figure; instead it points to the official age pension rules published by the Australian Department of Social Services. The qualifying age is commonly expressed as 65 or 67 depending on your date of birth, but the decisive test is the current age pension age set out in the rules published by the Australian Department of Social Services. Approaching that age is not enough — you must satisfy the requirement when the eligibility conditions are assessed.
What kind of dependency does Home Affairs look for?
The dependency limb is about real reliance, not occasional help. You must have depended on your Australian relative for basic needs — specifically food, shelter and clothing — for at least 3 years before you apply. The dependency can be linked to a disability that prevents you from working, which is one way the relationship of reliance is recognised.
PAM3 procedural guidance indicates that if you have your own income sufficient to cover your basic living needs, you will look financially independent and are unlikely to meet the test. The support from your Australian relative should therefore be sustained and necessary for your essentials.
Do you need to have no partner?
Yes. To be eligible for Subclass 114 you must have no partner. This is a strict, separate condition: if you are married or in a de facto relationship, you do not meet the "no partner" requirement that attaches to the aged dependent relative pathway. Because a partner is not treated as the relevant dependent relative for this visa, having one removes the basis of the application.
Can your dependent child or stepchild be included?
For this visa, your family members are your dependent child and stepchild. You can include them in your application when you apply, and you may also add them at any time before Home Affairs makes a decision. You will have to give details of all family members in the form, whether they are migrating or not, and those who apply with you must meet the health and character requirements; even non-migrating family members might have to meet the health requirement.
Where must you be when you apply and when the visa is decided?
You and every other applicant must be outside Australia when you apply and when Home Affairs decides the application. If the visa is granted, you must enter Australia before the date in your grant letter, and the first entry date is generally set at 12 months from the date of grant. Once you enter on the visa you become a permanent resident, may stay indefinitely, can work and study, enrol in Medicare if eligible, and later apply for Australian citizenship if you meet those separate criteria.
What else must be true before the visa can be granted?
Meeting the definition is necessary but not sufficient. You must be able to obtain an assurance of support, which tells Home Affairs you will not have to rely on government assistance after you enter Australia; the assurance covers you and any family members who come with you, and Home Affairs will tell you when to provide it. You, and any family members applying with you, must meet the health and character requirements, and you must have repaid any debt owed to the Australian Government or have an approved arrangement to repay it.
Home Affairs will also consider your immigration history, so a cancelled visa or refused application can affect eligibility, and it will not grant the visa if doing so would not be in the best interests of an applicant under 18. Finally, the visa cost is paid in two instalments, with an extra charge for each accompanying family member; the Home Affairs page directs applicants to its Visa Pricing Estimator to see the current amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be outside Australia to apply for visa 114?
Yes. You and all applicants included in the application must be outside Australia both when you apply and when Home Affairs decides the case. After a grant, your first entry must occur before the date in your grant letter, which is generally 12 months from the date of grant.
What basic needs count toward the 3-year dependency test?
The test covers food, shelter and clothing. You must show you depended on your Australian relative for these essentials for at least 3 years before applying, and the reliance can also be explained by a disability that stops you from working.
Can I still qualify if I have a partner?
No. A requirement of Subclass 114 is that you must have no partner. If you are married or in a de facto relationship, you cannot meet this condition, so the aged dependent relative basis for the application does not exist.
Can my children join me on this visa?
Your family members for this visa are your dependent child and stepchild. They can be included when you apply or added before a decision, and they must meet the health and character requirements; even family members who are not migrating might have to meet the health requirement.
How long can I travel after the visa is granted?
You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want for 5 years from the date the visa is granted, until that travel validity ends. After it expires, you would need a Resident Return (subclass 155 or 157) visa to re-enter as a permanent resident, unless you have become an Australian citizen.
Must the Australian relative sponsor me personally?
The Australian relative normally sponsors you if they are at least 18 and settled, but their spouse or de facto partner can sponsor instead if that partner lives with them, is 18 or older, and is a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. Sponsorship must be approved, and procedural guidance indicates it cannot simply be changed to another person later.