Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884)
Overview
Individuals awarded this visa are permitted to:
- live, work and study in Australia (without government support) for up to 2 years
- travel freely to and from Australia while the visa is valid
- use the visa as a bridge to a permanent Contributory Aged Parent (subclass 864) visa
Applicants must be at least Australia’s statutory Pension Age (currently 67).
Primary criteria
The Contributory Aged Parent Visa is intended for individuals whose children live in Australia, either as settled (resident for at least two years) citizens or permanent residents.
Applicants will be expected to successfully meet something called the balance of family test to be eligible for this visa. The balance of family test requires that half or more of the applicant’s children should be resident in Australia, or that more of their children are resident in Australia than in another country. The test includes all children, biological or adopted, as well as any step-children.
Applicants must be sponsored by their child living in Australia, and both the applicant and their sponsor will be expected to meet the Australian government’s health and good character requirements.
Types of Visa
Subclass 864 (Permanent) : This visa is permanent and is sometimes also called a ‘Contributory visa’. The first instalment is $6,300, with a further $3,145 for a jointly-applying spouse. There is then a second, larger charge of $43,600 per applicant, which is a contribution towards the benefits of permanent residence, such as access to public healthcare, which applicants have not contributed to earlier in life through working and paying taxes in Australia.
Subclass 884 (Temporary) : This visa is temporary and lasts for two years. The first instalment is $6,300 for the main applicant and $3,145 for a spouse, and a second instalment of $29,130 per applicant is payable before the visa is granted. Before the visa expires, holders apply for the permanent Subclass 864 visa and pay a further $19,420 per applicant.
Waiting times for new applications for both permanent and temporary Contributory Aged Parent visas are extremely long. At present, we estimate that it could take around 14 years for eligible applications to be granted even once they have been assessed by Australian authorities.
Fees
Permanent Contributory Aged Parent visa fees and charges are summarised below.
| Main applicant | Spouse | |
|---|---|---|
| VELawyers professional fee: Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864) | $4,500 | |
| First instalment (payable on application) | $6,300 | $3,145 |
| Second instalment (payable before grant) | $43,600 | $43,600 |
If you wish to spread out the cost of a permanent contributory parent visa, you can apply first for the temporary subclass 884 visa, which lasts for two years, and then apply for the permanent subclass 864 visa. This splits the second instalment into two payments ($29,130, then $19,420).
The full schedule of fees for the subclass 884 to subclass 864 pathway is below:
| Main applicant | Spouse | |
|---|---|---|
| VELawyers professional fee: Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884) | $4,500 | |
| 884 first instalment (payable on application) | $6,300 | $3,145 |
| 884 second instalment (payable before grant) | $29,130 | $29,130 |
| VELawyers professional fee: moving from the 884 to the permanent 864 | $2,000 | |
| 864 second instalment (payable before grant) | $19,420 | $19,420 |
Assurance of Support (AoS)
In addition to the above fees, applicants will have to arrange for payment of an Assurance of Support (AoS) bond, which must be paid after a decision to grant the visa has been made. The cost of an AoS for two concurrent applicants is currently around $14,000.
The full amount of this bond will be refunded after the applicant has been in Australia for ten years after entering the country on a contributory parent visa, unless any outstanding debts to the Australian government need to be deducted from the total.
Bridging Visas
Individuals already in possession of a valid Australian visa who wish to apply for either the subclass 864 or subclass 884 visa can be granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA). The BVA gives the holder the ability to remain in Australia while their application for the Contributory Aged Parent Visa is being considered.
Holders of Bridging Visa A should take note that this visa does not provide for right of re-entry into Australia if they leave the country. They may therefore need to obtain a Bridging Visa B (BVB) if they intend to undertake limited overseas travel while they are waiting for their visa application to be processed. Bridging Visas do not limit any right to work in Australia that the holder may already have.
Health Insurance
If granted, both the Subclass 864 (Permanent) and Subclass 884 (Temporary) visas allow for access to the Australian public healthcare system, Medicare. However, individuals who have applied for a Permanent Contributory Aged Parent Visa without first holding a visa that provides access to Medicare will not be eligible until their application has been accepted and their permanent visa granted.
Length of stay
Two years for the Subclass 884 visa; permanently for the Subclass 864 visa.
Cost
Please refer to the fee structure for both subclass 864 and subclass 884 visas.
Book your no-obligation consultation today with our Registered Migration Agents in Melbourne, and find out the right visa options for your unique circumstances.
Permanent Parent Visas
Temporary Parent Visas
Related
To determine whether you or a loved one might be eligible for this visa, please complete our Parent Visa assessment form. VELawyers are industry leaders with trusted migration agents and immigration lawyers in Melbourne, and offices across Australia.
