Subclass 884 and 864
The Subclass 884 and 864 visas are temporary and permanent pathways for aged parents to reside in Australia with their settled children.
Contributory Aged Parent Visas
The Contributory Aged Parent stream is designed for parents aged 67 or older (Pension Age)who are already in Australia. This stream allows for a much faster processing time (approx. 15 years) compared to the 33-year wait of the non-contributory Subclass 804.
The primary difference between the 884 and 864 is the payment structure and residency status. The 884 allows you to spread the high costs over two stages, while the 864 is lodged directly for permanent residency.
Key Factors:
- Age Requirement: The applicant must be at least 67 years old at the time of application.
- Balance of Family (BoF) Test: This is a mandatory numerical test. At least half of your children must be eligible children (Australian citizens, PRs, or eligible NZ citizens in Australia), or more of your eligible children must live in Australia than in any other single country.
- Sponsorship: Must be sponsored by an eligible child or their spouse.
- No Subclass 870: Applicants must not hold or have applied for a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Subclass 870 visa.
- Health and Character: All applicants and non-migrating family members must meet mandatory standards.
Subclass 884 - Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary)
Applicant Requirements
What it is for: Aged parents seeking a two-stage, lower-initial-cost pathway to permanent residency.
What it allows: 2-year stay in Australia; full work/study rights; access to Medicare; and the ability to apply for a Subclass 864.
Key Requirements:
- Must satisfy the Balance of Family test.
- Must have an eligible, settled sponsor.
- Must meet health and character standards.
Length of Stay: 2 years.
Work Rights: Unrestricted.
Sponsor Requirements
Eligibility: Must be an Australian citizen, Australian Permanent Resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
Key Limitations:
- The sponsor must be settled (usually residing in Australia for at least 2 years).
- If the child is under 18, their spouse or a legal guardian over 18 may act as the sponsor.
- Sponsors must declare any criminal convictions; significant records may result in refusal.
Subclass 864 - Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent)
Applicant Requirements
What it is for: Aged parents seeking immediate permanent residency via a one-stage payment or transitioning from an 884.
What it allows: Permanent stay; full work and study rights; access to Medicare; and a pathway to Australian citizenship.
Key Requirements:
- Must satisfy the Balance of Family test (unless already holding an 884).
- Must have an eligible, settled sponsor.
- Must meet health and character standards.
Length of Stay: Permanent.
Work Rights: Unrestricted.
Sponsor Requirements
Eligibility: Must be an Australian citizen, Australian Permanent Resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
Key Limitations:
- The sponsor must be settled (usually residing in Australia for at least 2 years).
- If the child is under 18, their spouse or a legal guardian over 18 may act as the sponsor (exemptions apply for 884 holders where a sponsor has died).
- Sponsors must declare any criminal convictions; significant records may result in refusal.
CPNC: Contributory Parent Newborn Child
Special provisions exist for children born while a parent holds or held a Subclass 884 visa.
Eligibility: A child born to a parent who holds/held a Subclass 884 visa can apply as a CPNC applicant.
Visa Period: The CPNC child is granted a visa period similar to the parent’s current or previous visa.
Pathway: CPNC holders with a Subclass 884 visa can apply for the Subclass 864 permanent visa alongside their parents.
Conditions: The child can be born inside or outside Australia and must undergo mandatory health checks.
Maintaining compliance
- 884 to 864 Transition: Holders of the 884 must apply for the permanent 864 before their 2-year temporary visa expires.
- AoS Commitment: For the 864, the Assurance of Support remains in force for 10 years after the visa is granted (Approx AUD 10,000).
- Bridging Visas: Applicants generally remain in Australia on a Bridging Visa while the 15-year queue progresses.
The 884 & 864 Application Process
Eligibility Audit
Verify the applicant is aged 67 or older and satisfies the Balance of Family test.
Sponsorship & Lodgement
Secure sponsorship from a settled Australian child and lodge the application while the applicant is in Australia.
Queue Assessment
The Department performs an initial assessment against core criteria (BoF, health, and character).
Queue Placement
Once core criteria are met, the application is assigned a "Queue Date" and placed in the official contributory queue.
Final Assessment
When a place becomes available under the annual cap (based on the November 2018 queue release date), the visa is released for final decision.
For 884 & 864 Applicants
The Subclass 884 and 864 require strict adherence to the Balance of Family (BoF) test. At Immilex, we assess your family structure and the residency status of your children to ensure this numerical benchmark is logically documented and supported by verifiable evidence.
It is also important to plan for the 15-year processing queue. While significantly faster than the 804 Visa, these visas are still subject to annual capping. Applicants must prepare for the high second instalment costs (approx. AUD 43,600 per person). For those looking for a staged financial commitment, the Subclass 884 allows you to pay a lower initial amount and move to the 864 within two years.
Frequently Asked Questions
You meet the test if at least half of your children are eligible (AU citizens/PRs) or if more eligible children live in Australia than in any other single country.
You must be 67 or older at the time of application. If you apply before reaching pension age, the application is invalid.
No. Holding or having applied for a Subclass 870 visa makes you ineligible to apply for a Contributory Parent visa.
Yes, as long as they also meet the health and character requirements. However, only the primary applicant must be "Aged" (67+) for the onshore 864/884.
No. The AoS (a bond of AUD 10,000 for the primary applicant) is only required for the permanent Subclass 864 visa stage.
No. The 884 allows you to pay a portion of the contribution upfront. When you apply for the 864 within the 2-year period, you pay the remaining balance of the second instalment.
Manage Your Parent Visa with Care
The Parent visa involves complex requirements. Contact us at Immilex for an assessment of your evidence to ensure your application meets the Department's high standards.