Is the subclass 114 age requirement 65 or 67 in 2026?
Neither 65 nor 67 is written into the subclass 114 criteria as a fixed number. As of the August 2026 version of the Australian Department of Home Affairs' Aged Dependent Relative visa (subclass 114) page, the age rule is stated in a single sentence: you must be "old enough to receive the age pension in Australia." That is a pointer to another set of rules, not a standalone visa age — so the accurate answer to "65 or 67?" is: whichever age the Australian age pension rules set for the applicant is the age that matters.
Why both 65 and 67 keep appearing in search results
The two numbers circulate because the age pension qualifying age itself has moved in steps rather than sitting at one permanent value. The Migration Regulations 1994 describe the relevant retirement age as typically 65 or 67 depending on date of birth, and that is where most of the "65 or 67" wording online comes from.
Because the visa text points outward, the figure can change without any change to the visa criteria themselves. The Department of Social Services age pension page is the place the Home Affairs page links to for this element, and it is the source to check for the current qualifying age.
| Common assumption | What the criteria actually say | Why it matters in practice |
|---|---|---|
| "The age is 65" | The Home Affairs page sets no fixed figure; it requires age pension eligibility age | A 66-year-old applicant is not automatically eligible or ineligible — the pension age test decides |
| "The age is 67" | Same reference-based test, not a hard-coded 67 | Someone who qualifies for the age pension at a lower age is not excluded by the higher figure |
| "My home country's retirement age counts" | The test is Australian age pension age, not another country's retirement age | Reaching retirement age at home does not satisfy this criterion |
Does the age test apply at lodgement, at decision, or both?
Both. The regulations split subclass 114 into criteria to be satisfied at time of application and criteria to be satisfied at time of decision: clause 114.211 requires the applicant to be an aged dependent relative of an eligible Australian relative at the time of application, and clause 114.221 requires that relationship to continue to be met at the time of decision.
The practical consequence is straightforward: lodging before you reach the age pension age is a risk, because the age element sits inside the time-of-application criterion. Reaching the age while the application is being processed does not repair an application that was short on the day it was lodged.
What else has to be true besides age
Age is one line among several. On the Home Affairs page, an applicant must also:
- be sponsored by an eligible relative or that relative's partner, with the sponsorship approved;
- have been dependent on that relative in Australia for basic needs — food, shelter and clothing — for at least 3 years before applying, with dependency possibly arising from a disability that prevents the applicant from working;
- have no partner;
- be able to obtain an assurance of support, which the department asks for when it is needed;
- meet the health requirement and the character requirement, along with family members applying with them;
- have repaid, or have an approved arrangement to repay, any money owed to the Australian Government;
- have an immigration history that does not count against them, since a cancelled visa or a previously refused application can affect eligibility;
- not be granted the visa where doing so would be against the best interests of an applicant under 18.
Under the regulations, the visa is also granted while the applicant is outside Australia (clause 114.411).
If you are not old enough yet, what are the realistic options
The first option is to wait. The waiting period is not wasted time, because the dependency element is the one most applicants struggle to document: at least 3 years of reliance on the Australian relative for food, shelter and clothing, evidenced by things like remittance records, payment of household and medical costs, and living arrangements. Building that record before lodging is usually more valuable than lodging early.
While waiting, the other criteria must stay intact. The applicant must remain without a partner, the dependency must continue rather than stop, and the sponsor must remain eligible and able to support an assurance of support.
The second option is to look at whether a different family-stream route fits better — parent migration, for example, operates on its own criteria and its own queue. Subclass 114 is a narrow category built around age plus long-term dependency, and it is not the only family pathway, so it is worth checking which one actually matches the situation before committing years to one application.
This is general information about published criteria rather than advice on any individual case, and because eligibility turns on personal facts and on rules that can be updated, the current official pages — or a registered migration professional — should be the final check before acting.
Where the age rule sits in the regulations
For readers who want the structure behind the visa page, the regulations set it out by clause: 114.211 and 114.212 cover the relationship and sponsorship at time of application; 114.221 to 114.227 cover the decision stage, including approval of the sponsorship (114.222), the public interest criteria (114.223), acceptance of the assurance of support by the Secretary of the Department of Social Services (114.225), and the position of family members (114.226, 114.227). Secondary applicants run through 114.311 to 114.326.
Once granted, clause 114.511 describes the visa as permanent with travel to Australia available for 5 years from the date of grant, clause 114.611 sets a first-entry date specified by the Minister, and clause 114.612 allows conditions 8502 (entry by a specified date) and 8515 (notifying an address within 28 days of arrival) to be attached.
The subclass 114 page does not state assurance of support bond amounts or periods; the department links to the Services Australia Assurance of Support page for further details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the subclass 114 age requirement 65 or 67?
Neither number is fixed in the criteria. The Home Affairs page requires the applicant to be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia, so the applicable age is the one set by the age pension rules. The Migration Regulations 1994 describe that as typically 65 or 67 depending on date of birth.
Where can I confirm the current age pension age?
The subclass 114 page links to the Department of Social Services age pension page for this element. Because the visa criteria point to those rules rather than restating a number, that page is the one to check for the current qualifying age.
Do I have to meet the age test only when I apply?
No. Clause 114.211 requires the aged dependent relative relationship at the time of application, and clause 114.221 requires it to continue to be met at the time of decision. Being short of the age on the day you lodge is therefore a problem, even if you reach the age during processing.
Can I still apply if I am a few months short?
The safer reading of the criteria is no, because age forms part of the time-of-application test. PAM3 lists "applicant approaching but not yet at age pension age" among the scenarios that lead to requests for further information or to refusal, so waiting until the age is met avoids that risk.
Does being over the age pension age on its own make me eligible?
No. Age is one criterion among several: you also need an approved sponsor, at least 3 years of dependency for basic needs, no partner, an assurance of support, and satisfaction of the health, character, debt and immigration-history requirements.
Do I have to be outside Australia when the visa is granted?
Yes. Clause 114.411 requires the applicant to be outside Australia at the time of grant. After grant, clause 114.511 provides a permanent visa with travel available for 5 years, and clause 114.611 sets a first-entry date specified by the Minister.
Who assesses the assurance of support?
The Home Affairs page says the department will tell you when the assurance of support is needed, and clause 114.225 refers to it being accepted by the Secretary of the Department of Social Services. Bond amounts and periods should be taken from current official guidance, since they are not published on the subclass 114 page itself.