Contributory Aged Parent Visa 884
You want your parent here permanently. But $48,000 upfront for the direct permanent visa isn’t possible right now.
The contributory aged parent visa 884 offers another way. Your parent comes to Australia on a 2-year temporary visa, lives with you while you save, then converts to permanent residency when finances allow.
Same destination. Different route. Payments spread over years instead of months.
Key Facts
Visa Type
Temporary Residency
Balance of Family Test:
Mandatory - at least half your children must live in Australia
Sponsor Requirement:
Must be sponsored by an eligible child (Australian citizen/PR/eligible NZ citizen settled in Australia)
Family Inclusion
Opportunity to include eligible family members
What is a Contributory Aged Parent Temporary Visa 884?
The subclass 884 visa is a temporary visa designed as step one of a two-step permanent residency pathway.
Your parent lives in Australia for 2 years through this parent visa. During this time, they can work, study, and travel freely. Before the visa expires, they apply for the permanent Contributory Aged Parent Visa (subclass 864) and stay in Australia while that application processes.
This isn’t a standalone visa. It’s a strategy.
The two-step logic:
Direct 864 (permanent) costs approximately AUD $48,640.00 upfront. Not every family has that available.
The subclass 884 + subclass 864 pathway costs more in total, but spreads payments across years. Your parent gets to Australia now. You handle the permanent visa cost when your circumstances allow.
Benefits of Visa 884?
The aged parent visa Australia pathway through subclass 884 provides genuine residency rights—not just visitor status.
Live in Australia
Two years of legal residence. No 3-month visitor visa limits. No mandatory departures. Your parent is home, not visiting.
Work Without Restrictions
Full work rights protected by Australian workplace law. If your parent wants to work—or needs to—they can.
Study Freely
Access to education at any level. Language courses, vocational training, university—whatever they choose.
Travel Unlimited
Multiple entry visa. Your parent can leave Australia and return as many times as needed during the 2-year period.
Path to Permanence
Before the 884 expires, apply for subclass 864. Your parent stays in Australia on a bridging visa while the permanent application processes.
What they cannot do:
Access government welfare payments (Centrelink) Stay beyond 2 years without applying for another visa Extend the 884—it cannot be renewed
What Are Subclass 884 Visa Requirements?
The contributory aged parent visa is exclusively for parents old enough to receive the Australian age pension. Currently, this is 67 for most people.
If your parent is younger, the standard Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 173 → 143) may be appropriate instead.
This is an onshore visa. Your parent must be physically in Australia—not at airport immigration—when they:
- Lodge the application
- Receive the decision
If your parent is overseas, they cannot apply for the 884. Consider subclass 143 (offshore contributory) or arranging a visitor visa first.
Your parent needs a child who is:
- An Australian citizen, OR
- An Australian permanent resident, OR
- An eligible New Zealand citizen
That child must be settled in Australia—actually living here, not just holding citizenship while overseas.
If the eligible child is under 18, an adult relative or community organisation can sponsor instead.
Your parent must prove that:
- At least half their children live permanently in Australia, OR
- More of their children live in Australia than in any other single country
This counts ALL children worldwide—biological, step-children, adopted. Missing documentation for even one child can cause refusal.
Medical examinations will be requested. Your parent must meet Australia's health standards. The Department notifies you when health checks are due.
Police certificates and character verification apply. Don't arrange these until the Department requests them.
If your parent holds or has applied for the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870), they cannot apply for the 884. These pathways are mutually exclusive.
Previous visa cancellations or application refusals affect eligibility. The Department considers complete immigration history.
Applicants 18 and older must read the Life in Australia booklet and sign the Australian Values Statement.
Not Sure Which Parent Visa You Qualify For?
How to Apply: Step by Step
Step 1: Before You Begin
Non-negotiable. They must be physically present (not in immigration clearance) when lodging AND when the decision is made.
Your parent needs a valid visa when applying. The 884 application typically triggers a bridging visa—but only if lodged while lawful. If their current visa expires first, complications arise.
Confirm your parent meets the age requirement before investing in documentation.
If your parent has applied for a different parent visa without a decision, they must withdraw it when applying for the 884. Use Part B of Form 47PA.
Only registered migration agents (MARA), legal practitioners, or exempt persons can provide immigration assistance legally.
Step 2: Gather Documents
- Current passport (photo page, personal details, issue/expiry dates)
- National identity card (if applicable)
- Proof of name changes (marriage certificates, divorce decrees, official documents)
Warning: Identity issues mean refusal—and potential 10-year bans for you and listed family members.
- Form 40 – Sponsorship for migration to Australia (your child completes)
- Evidence of sponsor's citizenship/permanent residency
- Proof sponsor is settled in Australia
For balance of family test you need to show:
- Birth certificates proving parent-child relationship
- Evidence of each child's citizenship or permanent residence country
- Death certificates for deceased children
- Identity and character documents
- Marriage certificate, OR
- 12+ months de facto relationship evidence
- Under 18: identity, relationship evidence, consent from non-migrating parent (Form 1229)
- 18-22: proof of financial dependency (Form 47A, 12+ months evidence)
- Over 23: evidence disability prevents earning a living
Photographs 4 per person: 45mm x 35mm, less than 6 months old, colour, head and shoulders, light background.
- Translate all non-English documents (NAATI-accredited in Australia)
- Certify all copies as true copies
- Send originals only for police certificates
- Keep copies of everything
Step 3: Lodge Your Application
Paper submission required. No online lodgement available.
- Form 47PA – Application for a parent to migrate to Australia
- Form 40 – Sponsorship for migration to Australia (sponsor completes)
- Form 47A – For each family member 18+ (migrating or not)
All forms must be in English.
Pay the first installment with your application.
Send by post or courier to the Parent Visa Centre in Perth (address on forms). Include all forms, documents, and payment evidence.
Incomplete applications are invalid and returned without processing.
Step 4: After Lodgement
When you apply while holding a valid visa, you'll typically receive a Bridging Visa. If your current visa expires before the 884 decision, the bridging visa activates—keeping you lawful in Australia.
Do not cancel your current visa. This makes you unlawful and ineligible for bridging visa protection.
From April 2025, import your paper application into ImmiAccount after receiving acknowledgement. This allows you to:
- Upload additional documents
- View Department messages
- Update contact details
- Check application status
The Department cannot provide processing updates within normal timeframes. They'll contact you if they need anything.
You'll be notified when medical checks are required—this happens at final assessment, not lodgement.
Before grant, the Department invoices the second instalment. Non-payment results in refusal.
You can travel, but you MUST be in Australia when the decision is made. Inform the Department of travel plans. Ensure you have a valid visa to return.
Tell the Department about changes to:
- Contact details
- Passport
- Relationship status
- Family composition
- Decision to withdraw
Step 5: Visa Decision
You must be in Australia—not in immigration clearance—when the Department decides.
Written notification with:
- Visa grant number
- Start date
- Conditions
- 2-year validity period
You're told why and whether review rights exist. Application fees are not refunded.
What Happens After the 884 is Granted?
The clock starts. You have 2 years.
Before your 884 expires, apply for the permanent Contributory Aged Parent Visa (subclass 864). The 864 application triggers a bridging visa—your parent stays in Australia while it processes.
If you don’t apply for 864 in time, your parent must leave Australia or find another valid visa. The 884 cannot be extended or renewed.
In exceptional circumstances, the Department may allow late 864 applications. But don’t rely on exceptions—they’re rare and discretionary.
Contributory Aged Parent Visa Cost
Subclass 884 Visa Cost
- From AUD34,170.00 over 2 instalments for a single applicant.
- AUD $34,170
- Second instalment (When Department Asked)
- Remainder
- Additional family members and documnets
- Extra charges apply
What is the Difference Between Visa 884 and 864?
| Factor | Subclass 884 | Subclass 864 |
|---|---|---|
|
Type |
Temporary |
Permanent |
|
Stay |
2 years
|
Indefinitely |
|
Cost |
AUD $34,170
|
AUD $48,640.00
|
|
Work rights |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Medicare |
Limited |
Full access
|
|
Citizenship pathway
|
No (must convert first)
|
Yes |
|
Government benefits
|
No |
Yes (after waiting period)
|
The 884 is the bridge. 864 is the destination.
You apply for 884 to get your parent to Australia affordably. You apply for 864 before the 884 expires to secure permanent residency.
🎯 99% Success Rate
Our clients get their 190 visas approved
⚡ Faster Processing
Complete applications reduce delays
🛡️ MARA Protection
Fully licensed MARA agents
Why Families Work With The Migration
The Australian grandparent visa pathway through 884 involves substantial investment—over $34,000. Mistakes are costly. Documentation errors mean refusals. This is about your family, your children, your grandchildren, your future. These are not just documents to us—we understand what is at stake.
We have helped parents navigate straightforward applications and complex situations. Parents with health concerns. Families with children in multiple countries. Cases where circumstances changed during the long wait. Applications requiring assurance of support planning.
Eligibility Review
We confirm you meet all requirements before you invest time and money gathering documents
Balance of Family Assessment
We analyse your family structure and compile evidence for children in every country
Document Preparation
We ensure every form is completed correctly and every document is properly certified
Application Lodgement
We submit your application to the Parent Visa Centre with complete documentation on the behalf of You
Queue Monitoring
We track your position and notify you of queue movements and policy changes of Parent Visas
Alternative Planning
We advise on visitor visas for family time during the wait, and discuss faster pathways if your circumstances change
The Deal You're Making With the Australian Government
The Government grants your parent a 2-year temporary visa. In exchange, you promise—in writing—that your parent won’t become a public burden.
No Centrelink. No welfare payments. No government housing assistance. If your parent needs support during those 2 years, you provide it. Not the taxpayer.
This covers:
- Your parent
- Any family members included in their application
This lasts:
- The entire 884 visa period (2 years from grant)
You can sponsor multiple parents. Applying for both your mother and father? You can be the sponsor for both applications.
Requirements to be a Suitable Sponsor
You (or your cohabiting spouse/de facto partner) must be:
Temporary visa holders cannot sponsor. If your own status isn't permanent, sort that first.
Citizenship alone isn't enough. The Department wants evidence you're here—paying rent or a mortgage, working, paying taxes, living an Australian life.
Holding an Australian passport while living in London? You don't qualify.
Minors cannot take on sponsorship obligations.
The Department will want to see:
- Residential lease or mortgage statements
- Utility bills at your Australian address
- Employment documentation
- Australian bank account activity
- ATO tax records
These documents tell a story: Australia is your home, not just your citizenship country.
What If the Qualifying Child is Too Young to Sponsor?
Sometimes the child who makes a parent eligible under the balance of family test is under 18. That child can’t legally sponsor—but an adult can step in.
- The child's spouse (if cohabiting)
- A relative or guardian of the child
- A relative or guardian of the child's spouse
Requirements remain the same: citizen/PR/eligible NZ citizen, settled in Australia, 18+.
Community organisations can also sponsor in specific circumstances—where there's a genuine relationship with the applicant's child, proper registration, at least one year of active Australian operation, and demonstrated financial capacity.
The Three Things You're Promising
Your sponsorship obligation has three components. All three apply for the full 2 years.
Accommodation is your responsibility. This doesn't mean your parent must live with you—but if they're renting independently, ensuring they can afford it falls under your obligation.
If housing falls through, the Department expects you to solve it.
Your parent can work on the aged parent visa Australia pathway, but they cannot access government payments. If their income doesn't cover expenses—medical bills, groceries, transport—you fill the gap.
This isn't theoretical. If your parent faces financial hardship during the 884 period, the Government's position is clear: that's your problem, not theirs.
Beyond money and housing, you're agreeing to help your parent settle in. Banking setup. Understanding Medicare limitations. Finding healthcare providers. General guidance on how things work here.
Parent Visa Rules Can Be Complex — We Make Them Simple
The Paperwork: Step by Step Process
Step 1: Confirm Everyone Qualifies
Before gathering documents, verify:
- You meet sponsor requirements
- Your parent meets 884 applicant requirements (pension age, in Australia, balance of family test passed)
One side failing means the whole application fails.
Step 2: Build Your Evidence Package
- Your birth certificate showing your parent's name
- Adoption papers (if applicable)
- Marriage certificates explaining any name changes
- Death certificates (if needed to establish family connections)
- Citizenship certificate or Australian passport
- Visa evidence (for eligible NZ citizens)
- Address documentation (lease, mortgage, utility bills)
- Employment records
- Bank statements
- Tax returns
Translation requirement: Non-English documents need translation. Australian translators must be NAATI-accredited. Overseas translators must include their credentials on each translation.
Step 3: Complete Form 40
Form 40 – Sponsorship for migration to Australia.
This is your formal commitment. Read it carefully. Your signature carries legal weight.
You don’t submit Form 40 yourself. Hand the completed form and your evidence to your parent. They include your sponsorship package in their visa application.
Step 4: Wait
The 884 visa processing time depends on queue position. Contributory visas process faster than non-contributory alternatives, but “faster” still means patience. The Department won’t provide status updates within normal processing times. They’ll contact you if something’s needed.
Step 5: Decision
What If You Change Your Mind?
Before the Visa is Granted
You can withdraw. Submit written notice to the Parent Visa Centre in Perth with your full name, date of birth, and file reference number.
But understand the consequences:
- Your parent’s visa will likely be refused
- They may be asked to find another sponsor (often impossible)
- The contributory aged parent visa cost—over $34,000—is gone
This isn’t a decision to make lightly. Your parent committed financially based on your sponsorship promise.
After the Visa is Granted
You cannot withdraw.
Locked in. Two years. No exit.
If you fail to meet obligations after grant, the Department may cancel your parent’s visa. Even if they eventually release you from sponsorship, cancellation typically follows.
The message is clear: don’t commit unless you mean it.
Thinking Beyond the 884
The subclass 884 visa is temporary by design. It’s step one of a two-step pathway.
Before the 884 expires, your parent should apply for the permanent Contributory Aged Parent Visa (subclass 864). That application triggers a bridging visa, allowing them to stay in Australia while it processes.
Here’s what that means for you:
The 864 requires fresh sponsorship. New Form 40. New commitment period. New obligations.
If you sponsor for the 884, expect to sponsor again for the 864. Your role doesn’t end after 2 years—it evolves into the permanent visa phase.
Plan your capacity accordingly. The total commitment spans both visas.
🎯 99% Success Rate
Our clients get their 190 visas approved
⚡ Faster Processing
Complete applications reduce delays
🛡️ MARA Protection
Fully licensed MARA agents
The Two-Step Strategy Starts Here
The contributory aged parent visa 884 isn’t the cheapest option. It isn’t the fastest. But it’s the pathway that gets your parent to Australia NOW while keeping permanent residency achievable.
Two years together. Time to save for the next step. A realistic path to permanence.
Contact us today and let’s get started!
What is a contributory aged parent temporary visa 884?
A 2-year temporary visa for pension-age parents of Australian citizens/PRs. It’s designed as step one of a two-step pathway—live in Australia temporarily, then convert to permanent subclass 864 before the 884 expires.
What is the difference between visa 884 and 864?
The 884 is temporary (2 years). The 864 is permanent. You apply for 884 first to get your parent to Australia, then apply for 864 to make their stay permanent. The 884 cannot be extended—conversion to 864 is the only path to staying longer.
What is the cost for aged parent visa?
The 884 costs approximately $34,170. The permanent 864 costs approximately $47,955 additional. Total two-step pathway exceeds direct 864 cost, but payments are spread over years.
Is visa 864 eligible for Medicare?
Yes. The permanent 864 provides full Medicare access. The temporary 884 has limited healthcare access—maintain private insurance during the 2-year period.
What are the disadvantages of an 804 visa?
The non-contributory 804 has 30+ year processing times. Your parent could wait their entire remaining lifetime without receiving permanent residency. The contributory pathway (884/864) costs more but delivers results within realistic timeframes.
Can my parent work on the 884?
Yes. Full work rights with Australian workplace law protections. They cannot access government welfare payments, but they can earn income.
What happens if we can't afford 864 before 884 expires?
Your parent must leave Australia or find another valid visa. In exceptional circumstances, the Department may allow late applications—but this is discretionary, not guaranteed. Plan your finances carefully before committing to the 884 pathway.
Can my parent travel during the 884?
Yes. Multiple entry visa with unlimited departures and returns during the 2-year period. However, they MUST be in Australia when the Department makes any decisions on their applications.