Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884)

Main criteria

The Australian Department of Home Affairs operates a Parent Visa that is for people who have children living in Australia as permanent residents or citizens who are “settled” in Australia. “Settled” means a person must have been a resident in Australia for a reasonable period, which under policy is usually two years.

In order to qualify for this visa the applicant must meet what is referred to as the balance of family test. This test states that the applicant must have at least half of their children living in Australia as an Australian citizen or permanent resident or that more of your children live in Australia than any other country. All children, including step children and adopted children of both parents are included in the balance of family test.

In addition to the balance of family test you must be sponsored by an eligible person, usually your child and you must meet the health and character requirements.

Visa types

Subclass 864 (Permanent) – This is a permanent visa referred to as a “Contributory” visa. This is because the initial application fee is $6,300 for the first applicant and $3,145 for additional applicant over 18 and $1,580 for additional applicant under 18. However the second instalment for each applicant is $43,600.  Home Affairs estimates that new contributory parent applications will take around 18 years to be released for final processing. As at 31 August 2026, 864 and 884 applications queued up to November 2020 had been released.

The large “Contribution” of money that is called for upon the second instalment is in order to offset the rights that are awarded to the visa holder under permanent residency such as health care that they have not contributed towards throughout their lives as ordinary Australians have throughout their life by way of tax.

Subclass 884 (Temporary) – This is a temporary visa with an initial Australian government fee of $6,300 and $3,145 for any additional applicant. Before the visa is granted the second instalment of $29,130 is required to be paid. The applicants are granted a 2 year temporary visa. Before this visa expires they must pay an additional $19,420 and apply for the permanent visa subclass 864. Home Affairs estimates that new contributory parent applications will take around 18 years to be released for final processing. As at 31 August 2026, 864 and 884 applications queued up to November 2020 had been released.

In all cases the second instalment of monies paid is only called for after each applicant has passed health and character tests and the AoS (Assurance of Support, see below for AoS details) has been lodged with the Australian government. In no case will a second instalment be paid and a visa not granted.  Second instalments are non-refundable in all cases.

Fees

 The fees for Permanent Parent Visas are as follows; note all fees are in AUD and that that VisaEnvoy fees are payable in full prior to lodgement of your visa application.

VisaEnvoy Professional Fee – Contributory Parent Visa (Permanent- SC864)	$4,500
Application Fee – Main Applicant (at time of application)* Dependent Application Fee (Spouse)*	$6,300 $3,145
2nd Visa Application Charge (at time of decision)* Main Applicant 2nd Visa Application Charge (at time of decision)* Spouse	$43,600 +  $43,600

*1.4% Credit card surcharge applies.

As noted above if you wish to stagger the process, you can apply for the Temporary Parent Visa (subclass 884) which is granted for 2 years and then apply for the Permanent Visa. The advantage is a lower 2^nd VAC fee of $29,130. At the permanent stage 2 years later a second payment of $19,420 is payable. Once the first stage is approved the visa holder can live in Australia as the holder of the subclass 884 visa.

Fees for the subclass 884 > subclass 864 pathway are as follows;

VisaEnvoy Professional Fee –Contributory Parent Visa (Temporary-SC884)	$4,500
Application Fee – Main Applicant (at time of application)* Dependant Application Fee (Spouse)*	$6,300 $3,145
2nd Visa Application Charge (at time of decision)* Main Applicant 2nd Visa Application Charge (at time of decision)* Spouse	$29,130 $29,130
VisaEnvoy Professional Fee –Contributory Parent Visa (Permanent- SC864)	$2,000
Application Fee – Main Applicant (at time of application)* Dependant Application Fee (Spouse)*	$555   +  $280
2nd Visa Application Charge (at time of decision)* Main Applicant 2nd Visa Application Charge (at time of decision)* Spouse	$19,420 + $19,420

*1.4% Credit card surcharge applies.

Assurance of Support (AoS)

 Additionally there is an AoS which is payable toward time of decision. The bond is $10,000 for the main applicant and $4,000 for each additional adult, so $14,000 for a couple. The bond is refunded ten years after you enter Australia as the holder of the contributory parent visa, less any debts owed to the Australian government.

Bridging Visas

If you are in Australia as the holder of a valid visa (e.g. Visitor visa) and you make an application for a Contributory parent visa (subclass 884/864) visa, you can be granted what is called a Bridging Visa “A” (BVA). The BVA enables you to remain lawfully in Australia while your visa application is being processed.

If you travel outside Australia your BVA may cease (depending on your situation), so you may have no ‘right of re-entry’ into Australia. Therefore, if you need to travel during the processing of your visa you may first need to obtain what is called a Bridging Visa “B” (BVB). The BVB will allow limited travel during the processing of your application in Australia. The standard period of time allowed for travel during the processing of an application is three (3) months. You have full work rights while your bridging visa is in effect.

Health Insurance

 Both holders of Subclass 864 (Permanent) and Subclass 884 (Temporary) visas are eligible for domestic health cover known as Medicare. If you’ve applied for a Contributory parent visa you may get a Medicare card. If you’ve applied directly for the permanent Contributory visa without holding the temporary Contributory visa you’re not eligible until your permanent Contributory visa is granted. For more information please see our Medicare guide.

Length of stay

Cost

Fees for the 864 and 884 visa

Parent Visa Places 2026-27

Parent visas are capped each year under the Migration Program planning levels. For 2026-27 there are:

• 7,060 Parent places (contributory and non-contributory combined), down from 8,500 in 2025-26. The split for 2026-27 has not yet been published. In 2025-26 it was 6,800 Contributory Parent and 1,700 Parent places.
• 400 Other Family places, down from 500.

Processing priority

Since 25 July 2026, contributory parent visas (including the 864 and 884) are processed after partner, child and orphan relative visas, but ahead of carer, non-contributory parent and other family visas. 884 holders applying for the permanent 864 are processed separately and much faster. Applications lodged up to May 2026 were being assessed at 31 August 2026.

Who the 884 Visa Suits

The 884 is the temporary first stage of the onshore contributory aged parent pathway. It is usually chosen by parents who:

• have reached Age Pension age (currently 67) and are in Australia
• want permanent residence through the 864 visa but would prefer to split the large government charge into two payments
• want to hold a visa with work and study rights and Medicare access while the permanent stage is processed, rather than waiting on a bridging visa

The age requirement applies to the main applicant. A younger partner can generally be included as a member of the main applicant’s family unit. If you are not yet of Age Pension age, the equivalent pathway is the 173 followed by the 143.

Key Checks Before You Apply

You must be in Australia when you apply for the 884 and when it is decided, so your current visa needs to allow an onshore application.

• No further stay conditions. If your current visa has a “no further stay” condition such as 8503, you generally cannot apply in Australia unless the condition is first waived. Visitor visas in the Sponsored Family stream always carry this condition, and many tourist stream visitor visas for parents do too. See our guide to condition 8503.
• Subclass 870 holders and applicants. If you hold or have applied for a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870), you generally cannot apply for the 884 or 864 in Australia.
• Previous refusals or cancellations. A visa refusal or cancellation while you were in Australia may stop you from applying onshore.
• Lodge while your visa is valid. Applying after your visa has expired brings in extra criteria. See our page on Schedule 3 criteria.
• Balance of family test. Count every child, including stepchildren and adopted children. Children in Australia on temporary visas count as living overseas. Read our balance of family test guide.

How the 884 to 864 Pathway Works

1. Confirm eligibility. Check the balance of family test, your current visa conditions and the sponsor’s status.
2. Lodge the 884 in Australia and pay the first instalment. The sponsorship is lodged with your application. If you hold a substantive visa, you will usually be granted a Bridging Visa A.
3. Wait for a queue date and queue release. The 884 is released from the same queue as the 864. Keep your details up to date with Home Affairs while you wait.
4. Complete final processing. When your application is released, complete health examinations and police certificates, and arrange the Assurance of Support and bond.
5. Pay the 884 second instalment and receive the visa. You must be in Australia when the visa is granted.
6. Apply for the 864 before the 884 expires. Pay the reduced 864 first instalment.
7. Pay the 864 second instalment and become a permanent resident.

Moving From the 884 to the 864

The 884 lasts for two years and cannot be extended or granted again. To stay permanently, you need to lodge your 864 application while you still hold the 884. Most families lodge well ahead of the expiry date so there is time to gather updated documents.

The permanent stage is much faster than the first stage. Applications from 884 holders for the 864 are not placed back in the long contributory parent queue. As at 31 August 2026, Home Affairs was assessing these temporary to permanent applications (884 to 864 and 173 to 143) lodged up to May 2026.

As an 884 holder, you pay lower charges for the 864: a first instalment of $555 for the main applicant, $280 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over and $135 for each child under 18, then a second instalment of $19,420 per applicant.

If the 884 expires before you apply for the 864, you lose access to these lower charges and would generally need to make a new application. Diarise the expiry date as soon as your 884 is granted.

Total Cost: 884 Then 864 vs Applying Directly for the 864

Applicants	884, then 864	Direct 864	Difference
One parent	$55,405 ($6,300 + $29,130 for the 884, then $555 + $19,420 for the 864)	$49,900 ($6,300 + $43,600)	About $5,505 more via the 884
Two parents (a couple)	$107,380 ($6,300 + $3,145 + $29,130 x 2 for the 884, then $555 + $280 + $19,420 x 2 for the 864)	$96,645 ($6,300 + $3,145 + $43,600 x 2)	About $10,735 more via the 884

These are government visa application charges from 1 July 2026, and they are usually indexed on 1 July each year. The Assurance of Support bond ($10,000 for one parent or $14,000 for a couple) is payable on top and is refundable after ten years, less any debts recovered. Health examinations, police certificates, translations and professional fees are extra. See our parent visa fees page.

884 or Direct 864: Which Is Better?

Because the 884 and 864 share the same queue (released up to November 2020 as at 31 August 2026), the 884 does not get you a visa sooner. The choice comes down to cost, cash flow and what you need while you wait.

Consideration	884, then 864	Direct 864
Total government charges	Higher	Lower
Payment at queue release	$29,130 per person, then $19,420 per person later	$43,600 per person in one amount
Status after queue release	Two year temporary visa, then permanent	Permanent straight away
Number of applications	Two, with a deadline to apply for the 864	One
Medicare access	Once you hold the 884 and have applied for the 864	Only once the 864 is granted

If your family can comfortably pay the full second instalment when it is requested, the direct 864 is usually the cheaper option. If that payment would be a stretch, the 884 spreads it out. We can model both options for your family in a consultation.

Common Mistakes With the 884

• Assuming the 884 is processed faster than the 864.
• Arriving on a visitor visa with a “no further stay” condition and then being unable to apply in Australia.
• Applying for a subclass 870 visa first without realising it can rule out the 884 and 864.
• Being outside Australia when the 884 is ready to be granted.
• Missing the deadline to lodge the 864 before the 884 expires.
• Travelling on a Bridging Visa A without first getting a Bridging Visa B.
• Not planning for the Assurance of Support income test, which is assessed years after you lodge.

Contributory Aged Parent Temporary Visa 884: Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for the 884 from overseas?

No. You must be in Australia when you apply and when the visa is decided. Parents outside Australia usually look at the 173 or 143 instead.

Is the 884 quicker than the 864?

No. Both are released from the same queue. The 884 splits the cost into two stages, but the total cost is higher.

Can I extend my 884 visa?

No. The 884 cannot be extended or granted again. To stay, apply for the 864 before the 884 expires.

Can I travel overseas on the 884?

Yes. You can travel in and out of Australia as often as you like while the 884 is in effect. Plan trips around your 864 application, because you must be in Australia when you lodge the 864 and when it is granted.

Can I include my partner if they are younger than 67?

Generally yes. The Age Pension age requirement applies to the main applicant, and a younger partner can usually be included as a member of the family unit. Each applicant pays the second instalment, so include both parents in your cost planning.

Family visa guides

• Partner visa Australia
• Onshore partner visa (820 and 801)
• Offshore partner visa (309 and 100)
• Prospective Marriage visa (300)
• Partner visa costs
• Parent visa Australia
• Sponsored Parent visa (870)
• Parent visa costs
• Child visa Australia
• Relative visa options
• Family visa processing times
• Partner visa assessment