Subclass 804 vs 864 vs 884: Which Aged Parent Visa Pathway Fits Your Family?
Subclass 804, 864 and 884 are all aged-parent pathways, but they are not interchangeable. The differences affect permanent versus temporary status, government charges, queueing, lodgement method, bridging-visa strategy and the ability to move from a temporary contributory visa to permanent residence.
This guide compares the Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 804), the Contributory Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 864) and the Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 884). For a broader comparison of all Parent visa options, see our Parent Visa Lawyers Australia hub.
Quick comparison: Subclass 804 vs 864 vs 884
| Visa | Status | Typical role | Lodgement | Queue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 804 | Permanent | Non-contributory aged-parent pathway | Online through ImmiAccount | Capped and queued |
| 864 | Permanent | Contributory aged-parent pathway | Online through ImmiAccount | Capped and queued |
| 884 | Temporary, up to 2 years | First stage before 864 for some families | Paper application | Capped and queued |
What all three pathways have in common
These are aged-parent visas. In general, the primary applicant must be old enough to receive the Australian Age Pension and must have an eligible sponsor. The Balance of Family Test is also relevant to these pathways. Applicants must satisfy the applicable health and character requirements.
They are also part of the Parent visa program, which is subject to capping and queueing. Home Affairs does not provide a guaranteed individual processing time for these visas. Instead, it publishes queue-assessment and queue-release information.
Subclass 804: the non-contributory aged-parent pathway
The Subclass 804 Aged Parent Visa is a permanent visa. It is often considered by aged parents who are in Australia and can make a valid onshore application.
The government charge is substantially lower than the contributory aged-parent pathway, but that lower cost comes with a significantly older queue. Home Affairs states that Parent and Aged Parent visas are capped and queued, and the queue can be very long.
Subclass 804 is one of the Parent visa products for which an eligible onshore applicant may receive a bridging visa. This can be strategically important, but a bridging visa is not a substitute for checking whether the applicant can validly lodge the 804 application in the first place. Current visa conditions, including any no-further-stay condition, should be reviewed before lodgement.
For a detailed guide, see our Subclass 804 Aged Parent Visa service page and our article on the 804 Aged Parent Visa process.
Subclass 864: the permanent contributory aged-parent pathway
The Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent Visa is also permanent, but it involves a much higher government charge. As at September 2026, Home Affairs lists the visa cost from AUD49,900 over two instalments for a single applicant, subject to concessions and additional charges where applicable.
Although the contributory queue is more recent than the non-contributory aged-parent queue, Subclass 864 is still capped and queued. It should not be described as an immediate or guaranteed fast-track visa.
Like Subclass 804, Subclass 864 is an onshore aged-parent product and is one of the Parent visa subclasses for which an eligible applicant may be able to hold a bridging visa while the application is being processed.
For strategy and eligibility, see our Subclass 864 Contributory Aged Parent Visa page.
Subclass 884: the temporary contributory aged-parent pathway
The Subclass 884 Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa can allow an eligible aged parent to stay in Australia for up to two years. It can be used as the first stage before applying for the permanent Subclass 864 visa.
Subclass 884 applicants can work and study in Australia, subject to the conditions applying to the visa. Services Australia also identifies temporary Contributory Parent subclasses 884 and 173 as visas that may be covered by a Ministerial Order for Medicare enrolment, subject to its enrolment requirements.
Importantly, the Balance of Family Test applies to Subclass 884. If an eligible Subclass 884 holder later applies for the corresponding Subclass 864 visa under the second-stage pathway, Home Affairs states that the Balance of Family Test is not re-assessed.
New Subclass 884 applications continue to be lodged by paper. Home Affairs states that temporary Contributory Parent applications remain paper-based even though subclasses 103, 143, 804 and 864 have moved to online ImmiAccount lodgement.
See our Subclass 884 service page and our guide to the Subclass 884 process.
804 vs 864: lower cost versus contributory pathway
The core strategic difference is usually cost and queue position. Subclass 804 has a much lower Visa Application Charge, while Subclass 864 has a substantially higher contributory charge. Both remain capped and queued.
A family should not choose solely on the headline application fee. Relevant questions include:
- Can the parent make a valid onshore application?
- How important is preserving lawful status in Australia during a potentially lengthy wait?
- Can the family meet the contributory visa charges?
- Does the parent satisfy the Balance of Family Test?
- Are there health, character or Assurance of Support issues?
- Does the current visa contain a no-further-stay condition?
884 vs 864: temporary first stage or direct permanent application?
Subclass 884 can spread the cost of the contributory aged-parent pathway over two visas. The trade-off is that the family pays for both stages and must manage the transition carefully.
Home Affairs encourages eligible temporary contributory Parent visa holders to apply for the corresponding permanent stage promptly after grant so they can meet the applicable lodgement criteria. The temporary visa has limited validity and cannot simply be extended indefinitely.
Can you switch from Subclass 804 to a contributory aged-parent visa?
Home Affairs has a specific switching process for changing from a non-contributory Parent visa, including Subclass 804, to a contributory Parent visa before a decision is made. Where the switching rules apply, the original lodgement and queue dates may be retained.
However, the Department expressly distinguishes this from moving from a temporary Parent visa such as Subclass 884 to Subclass 864. That is a second-stage pathway, not the same type of queue-date switching.
Current queue context in 2026
As at 31 May 2026, Home Affairs reported that Contributory Parent applications, including contributory aged-parent subclasses, had been released for final processing up to queue dates around November 2018. Aged Parent Subclass 804 applications had been released up to approximately April 2014. These dates are snapshots and do not guarantee the processing time of any individual application.
Which aged-parent visa should your family consider?
There is no universal answer. A parent who can validly apply onshore but needs a lower-cost permanent pathway may consider Subclass 804. A family willing and able to meet higher contributory charges may compare Subclass 864. A family wanting to stage the contributory cost may consider Subclass 884 followed by Subclass 864.
The correct strategy depends on the parent’s current visa, age, location, family composition, financial position, health and character circumstances and whether any visa condition prevents an onshore application.
Related Parent Visa Services
- Aged Parent Visa 804
- Contributory Aged Parent Visa 864
- Contributory Aged Parent Visa 884
- Parent Visa Lawyers Australia hub
Why families choose Emigrate Lawyers for Parent Visa matters
Parent Visa strategy is rarely just a form-filling exercise. The choice between temporary, permanent, contributory and non-contributory pathways can affect cost, queue position, bridging-visa strategy and long-term family planning.
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Madhab Kharel — Principal Lawyer
Madhab Kharel is Principal Lawyer and Director of Emigrate Lawyers. His migration practice includes Parent Visas, contributory and aged-parent pathways, complex onshore strategy, visa conditions, health and character issues, refusals and Administrative Review Tribunal matters.
Legal review: Madhab Kharel, Principal Lawyer. Reviewed 28 September 2026. General information only; not legal advice. Visa criteria, fees, queue dates and procedures can change.
Official sources: Department of Home Affairs Parent visa pages, Parent Visa Processing Centre guidance and queue release dates; Services Australia Medicare eligibility guidance.
