Contributory aged parent (Temporary) visa
(subclass 884)
The Subclass 884 – Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa is a temporary visa designed for parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. It offers the opportunity for parents who are eligible for the aged pension to temporarily live in Australia while they await the grant of a permanent Subclass 864 – Contributory Aged Parent (Residence) Visa. This temporary visa allows parents to be closer to their family in Australia, and it serves as the first step in the process for obtaining permanent residency.
Key Benefits of the Subclass 864 Visa
- The Subclass 884 visa allows you to stay in Australia temporarily while you apply for the permanent Subclass 864 visa. It is a pathway to living in Australia permanently with your family.
- Be able to live in Australia for up to 2 years.
- Have the ability to work and study in Australia, although you won’t receive government support.
- Be eligible to apply for a permanent Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864).
- As a temporary resident, you are granted permission to work during your stay in Australia, allowing you to support yourself while you await your permanent visa approval.
- While on this visa, you may be eligible for Australia’s public healthcare system, Medicare, which covers many medical services.
- The Subclass 884 visa provides the opportunity for parents to live with their children who are Australian citizens or permanent residents. It allows for family reunification in Australia.
Eligibility Criteria:
To qualify for the Subclass 884 visa, you must meet several requirements:
- Age: You must meet the Australian government’s age requirement for receiving the aged pension, which is generally 65 years or older, depending on your gender and date of birth.
- Eligible Child: You must have a child who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. Your child must be settled in Australia, which means they have lived in Australia for at least 2 years.
- Sponsorship: Your child must sponsor your application and provide evidence of their status in Australia. They must be willing to support you financially during your stay.
- Health and Character: You and any family members included in your application must meet the health and character requirements set by Australian immigration authorities. This involves undergoing medical examinations and providing police clearance certificates.
- Location: You must apply for the visa while you are in Australia, but you cannot be in immigration clearance at the time of application.
- 870 Visa: You cannot apply for this visa if have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 870) visa.
How to Apply:
The application for the Subclass 884 visa involves the following steps:
- Submit Your Application: Apply online or through a paper application. You must provide all necessary documentation, including evidence of your age, the eligibility of your child, and your health and character details.
- Temporary Stay: Once your application is approved, you will be granted a temporary visa, allowing you to stay in Australia for up to 2 years. During this period, you will be able to live and work in Australia.
- Apply for the Permanent Subclass 864 Visa: After holding the Subclass 884 visa for the required period (typically 2 years), you can then apply for the Subclass 864 permanent residency visa. The Subclass 864 visa will allow you to remain in Australia permanently.
Cost of the Subclass 884 Visa:
The cost of the Subclass 884 visa is divided into two instalments:
First Instalment: This is paid when you submit your application.
- Base Application Charge: AUD 4,895
- Additional Applicant Charge for Applicants 18 or Older: AUD 2,445
- Additional Applicant Charge for Applicants Under 18: AUD 1,225
Second Instalment: This is due before the permanent visa is granted.
- For most applicants who are transitioning to the Subclass 864 permanent visa, the second instalment will be AUD 19,420.
The total cost for the primary applicant is AUD 34,025, including both instalments.
Visa Duration:
The Subclass 884 visa is a temporary visa that allows you to stay in Australia for up to 2 years. During this time, you can live, work, and study in Australia. After this period, you must apply for the Subclass 864 visa to remain in Australia permanently.
Include Family
You can include your family members, such as your partner or dependent children, in your Subclass 884 visa application. Family members must meet the same health and character requirements and will be subject to additional charges based on their age and status.
- Children Under 18: If you have children under the age of 18, they can be included in your application. If your child is born after you submit your application, you must inform the immigration authorities and pay any applicable additional charges to include the newborn in the visa application.
Health and Character Requirements:
All applicants, including any family members included in the application, must meet health and character requirements set by the Australian government. These requirements include:
- Health Checks: You will need to undergo a health examination to prove you meet Australia’s health standards.
- Police Certificates: You and your family members must provide police clearance certificates from any country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.
Processing times
The processing time for the Subclass 884 visa can be quite lengthy due to several factors. Applicants should be aware that the overall processing time for both the Subclass 884 and the Subclass 864 (Contributory Aged Parent (Residence)) visa pathway can extend up to 12 years. Here’s an overview of the key elements that influence this timeframe:
Factors Affecting Processing Time:
Completeness of Your Application: A complete application with accurate information will help prevent delays. Missing documents or incorrect information may result in processing delays, as additional evidence may be required.
High Application Volume: The Department of Home Affairs processes a high volume of visa applications. When demand is high, processing times can be longer, which is important to consider when planning your application.
Additional Information Requirements: If the immigration authorities request more information or documentation, this can lengthen the processing time. Make sure to submit all the required documents at the start to avoid delays.
Visa Capping and Queuing: The Subclass 884 visa, being part of the Contributory Parent visa program, is subject to capping and queuing. This means there are a limited number of visas granted each year, which can cause delays in processing, especially if there are many applications in the queue.
You can learn more about the Parent visa queue and processing priorities for additional information.
Other Visa Options:
Other Parent visas available include:
Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864): This is a permanent visa option, but it comes with higher costs compared to other visas in this category.
Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884), followed by the permanent Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864): This pathway involves a two-step visa process. While it incurs higher costs than the subclass 804 visa, the expenses are spread across the two visas over a longer period.
Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870): Sponsored Parent visa is temporary and allows parents to visit their children in Australia for up to three or five years at a time, with a cumulative maximum stay of 10 years.
You can explore all available visa options on our Visa list page for more information. Each visa has its own eligibility criteria, benefits, and requirements, so it’s essential to review them carefully before making a decision.
Final Thoughts:
Eligibility
Not have this visa
You cannot apply for this visa if you have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa.
Have a sponsor
You must be sponsored by an eligible sponsor to apply for this visa. Typically, the sponsor is an eligible child. However, if your child is under 18 years old, you can be sponsored by an eligible relative or a community organization. It’s important to note that the sponsorship must be approved by us before you proceed with your visa application.
Be this age
You must be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia.
Must not have a no further stay condition
The visa you currently hold must not have a “no further stay” condition on it in order for you to apply for this visa. You can check the conditions of your current visa using VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online).
Meet the health requirement
You and any family members applying for the visa with you must meet the health requirement set by the Australian authorities. Additionally, we may also request that other family members who are not migrating meet this health requirement.
Meet the character requirement
You and any family members included in your visa application must meet the character requirement set by Australian authorities. Additionally, other non-migrating family members may also be asked to meet this requirement.
Sign the Australian values statement
If you are 18 years of age or older, you must comply with the following requirements:
- You must have read, or had explained to you, the Life in Australia book.
- You must sign an Australian Values Statement confirming that you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws.
Meet the balance-of-family test
To meet the balance-of-family test, you must fulfill one of the following conditions:
- At least half of your children and stepchildren are eligible children.
- There are more eligible children living in Australia than in any other single country.
You can refer to examples of how the balance-of-family test is applied for further clarification.
Have paid back your debt to the Australian Government
If you or any member of your family owe money to the Australian Government, you or they must have either paid it back or have a formal arrangement in place to repay it.
Best interests of the child
The issuance of this visa is contingent upon its alignment with the best interests of any applicants under 18 years old. If granting the visa is deemed contrary to their best interests, it will not be approved.
Once your subclass 884 visa expires, you cannot extend or reapply for this visa. However, you may explore other visa options if you wish to remain in Australia beyond the validity period of your subclass 884 visa.