884 Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884)

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa
Subclass	884
Stay	Up to 2 years
Cost	From AUD35,430, two instalments
Apply from	Australia, outside immigration clearance
Decision location	Australia, outside immigration clearance
Key eligibility	Aged parent with eligible sponsor
Work rights	Work permitted
Study	Study permitted; no government support
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Multiple entry for 2 years
Permanent pathway	Apply for subclass 864
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Eligible child usually sponsors
Family inclusion	Eligible family members may apply
Visa record	Digitally linked to passport
Application method	Paper application only
Processing	Capped, queued, long processing

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Purpose

This temporary visa lets an aged parent of a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen stay in Australia temporarily.

It can form the first stage of a two-stage pathway to the permanent Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864).

Stay and travel

The visa is valid for 2 years from the grant date.

You can leave and return to Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.

You cannot extend or reapply for this visa. To remain in Australia permanently, apply for subclass 864 before the subclass 884 visa expires.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when applying and when a decision is made.
• Have an eligible sponsor approved by the Department.
• Usually be sponsored by an eligible child. If the child is under 18, an eligible relative or community organisation may sponsor.
• Have an eligible child who is a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Meet the balance of family test.
• Be old enough to receive the Australian age pension.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Repay any Australian Government debt, or have an approved repayment arrangement.
• Not already have applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870).
• Meet any applicable immigration-history requirements.

Applicants aged 18 or over must read, or have explained to them, the Life in Australia booklet and sign an Australian Values Statement.

The visa will not be granted if this is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18.

Balance of family test

You meet this test if either:

• At least half of your children and step-children are eligible children; or
• More eligible children live in Australia than in any other single country.

Family members

You can include family members in your application.

You must list all family members in the application, including those not migrating. Non-migrating family members may also need to meet health and character requirements.

Dependent children can include:

• Children under 18.
• Children aged 18 to under 23 who are dependent.
• Children aged 23 or over who cannot support themselves because of physical or cognitive limitations and are dependent.

A dependent adult child generally requires evidence of at least 12 months’ financial dependency.

For applicants under 18, obtain migration consent from anyone with legal authority over where the child lives who is not migrating with them. Use Form 1229 or provide accepted alternative evidence.

Cost

The visa costs from AUD35,430 for one applicant, paid in two instalments:

1. First instalment when applying.
2. Second instalment when requested before grant.

Additional charges apply for family members. You may also need to pay for health examinations, police certificates, and biometrics.

Limited concessions apply.

From 1 July 2026, eligible citizens of specified Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste may receive a lower visa cost when lodging a valid application using an eligible passport. This also applies to family members based on the primary applicant’s passport.

Eligible passport countries are:

• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Nauru
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Republic of the Marshall Islands
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

Processing

Parent visa demand exceeds available places, resulting in long processing times.

Applications are subject to capping and queueing and are generally processed in order received. Assessment occurs in two stages:

1. Initial assessment for queue placement or refusal.
2. Final assessment when a place becomes available.

Processing may take longer if the application is incomplete, documents are missing, information needs verification, or the correct charge is unpaid.

Do not make permanent living arrangements in Australia until the visa is granted.

Rights and conditions

With this visa, you can:

• Live in Australia for up to 2 years.
• Work in Australia.
• Study in Australia.
• Receive Australian workplace-law protections.
• Apply for permanent subclass 864.

You will not receive government support for work or study.

You and any family members must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws. Check visa conditions, expiry, work rights, and study rights through VEVO.

Documents

Provide documents for yourself and any applying family members, including:

• Valid passport identity pages.
• National identity card, if available.
• Name-change evidence, if applicable.
• Four recent passport-size photographs per applicant.
• Health and character documents when requested.
• Evidence of family relationships.
• Evidence for the balance of family test.
• Sponsor documents.
• Evidence of dependency for dependent adult children.
• Partner relationship evidence, where applicable.
• Child-consent or parental-responsibility documents, where required.

Your sponsor must complete Form 40 Sponsorship for migration to Australia.

All non-English documents must be translated into English. Submit original police certificates, but submit certified copies of other documents and translations.

Do not arrange police certificates until requested.

How to apply

Temporary Contributory Aged Parent visa applications must be lodged on paper.

1. Complete Form 47PA Application for a parent to migrate to Australia.
2. Have the sponsor complete Form 40.
3. Have each family member aged 18 or over complete Form 47A, including non-migrating family members.
4. Attach certified copies of required evidence and original police certificates where requested.
5. Pay the first visa instalment.
6. Send the application by post or courier to the address on the form.

You cannot apply in person. Forms must be completed in English.

An incomplete application may be invalid and will not be processed.

After applying

After receiving an acknowledgement letter, you can import the paper application into ImmiAccount to:

• Upload documents.
• View messages and application status.
• Update details.

You must tell the Department about changes to your contact details, passport, relationship status, family composition, or any application mistakes. Use Form 1023 to notify incorrect answers.

You may be able to add family members before a decision using Form 1436. Added family members must be in Australia when added.

The Department will tell you if health examinations, biometrics, further documents, or the second instalment are required. Failure to pay the second instalment when invoiced will result in refusal.

Important warnings

• Do not apply if you have applied for or hold subclass 870.
• An application may be invalid if you hold a temporary visa with a no further stay condition, unless that condition is waived.
• If you have an undecided application for another Parent visa, withdraw it when applying for this visa using Part B of Form 47PA.
• Stay lawful while the application is processed. A bridging visa is likely if your current visa expires, but do not cancel your current visa.
• Tell the Department before travelling while the application is processing. You must be in Australia when the decision is made.
• A refused application does not result in a refund of the application charge.
• Your visa is digitally linked to your passport; no passport label is issued.