Direct Subclass 864 vs 884 Then 864: Cost and Speed Compared 2026
Compares direct Subclass 864 and 884-then-864 parent PR paths on cost, instalments, speed and queueing per the August 2026 official page
If you are deciding between a direct Subclass 864 and the 884-then-864 route, the direct 864 gives you permanent residence in one application and a lower combined cost, while the 884-then-864 route lets you spread the cost across two visas over several years but costs more in total and adds a two-year temporary visa before you apply for the permanent visa. According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 884) official page, as at the August 2026 official page, the 884 costs from AUD 35,430 for a single applicant, is paid in two instalments, and the department states the two-stage process costs more than applying directly for the Subclass 864, although the cost is spread across the two visas over a longer period.
This comparison is general information only and is not personalised migration or legal advice, so confirm the current charges and rules against the Department’s official page or seek advice tailored to your circumstances.
What is the difference between a direct Subclass 864 and the 884-then-864 route?
The direct Subclass 864 is the permanent Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864). It is a single application for permanent residence.
The 884-then-864 route is a two-stage process. You first apply for the temporary Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884), and then apply for the permanent subclass 864. The department describes the 884 as allowing you to live in Australia for up to 2 years, work and study (without government support), and travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want within those 2 years.
You must apply for the permanent Subclass 864 before your Subclass 884 visa expires to ensure you meet all applicable lodgement criteria.
Which route costs less in total?
Applying directly for the Subclass 864 costs less in total. The department states the 884-then-864 two-stage process costs more than applying directly for the Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864).
The trade-off is timing rather than the headline total. The two-stage route spreads the cost across the two visas over a longer period, whereas the direct route does not use that spreading mechanism.
For the 884 stage, the cost is from AUD 35,430 for a single applicant. There are additional charges for each family member who applies with you, and concessions apply only in limited circumstances. From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid application. Eligibility is recognised through a valid passport from a specified country held by the primary applicant, and family members are also eligible based on that passport. The specified countries are Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
How is the cost paid and spread over time?
The 884 is paid in two instalments. You need to pay the first instalment when you apply, and the second instalment when the department asks you to.
Because the 884 comes before the 864 in the two-stage route, the combined cost is spread over several years rather than being incurred in a single permanent application. Each applicant may also need to pay other costs, such as health checks, police certificates and biometrics, and the department directs applicants to current visa pricing for the exact amount.
Which route reaches permanent residence sooner?
Neither route avoids the parent visa queue. Demand for parent visas is greater than the number of places available each year, so applications are subject to capping and queueing and are processed in the order received, and the department states there are long processing times for these applications.
The direct 864 is a single application for the permanent visa. The 884-then-864 route adds a temporary stage: the 884 is granted for 2 years, cannot be extended or reapplied for, and you must apply for the 864 before it expires.
The Department also notes that it may process Contributory Aged Parent visas faster than non-contributory parent visas, but that they cost more; it does not state that a direct Subclass 864 reaches permanent residence sooner than the 884-then-864 route. For the 884, assessment runs in two steps: an initial assessment to check eligibility to either add the application to the queue or refuse it, then release from the queue for final assessment as places become available.
What 884 rules do you need to plan around if you take the two-stage route?
You, and any family members who apply with you, must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when you apply for the 884 and when the department makes a decision on the application. If you apply for this visa in Australia while on a temporary visa with a no further stay condition, your application will be invalid unless you apply for a waiver of that condition.
The visa period starts on the date the visa is granted and runs for 2 years, with multiple entry. You cannot stay in Australia longer by extending or reapplying for the 884; you can apply for a different visa instead.
You can include members of your family in your application when you apply, and you must include details of all your family members in the application form even if they are not migrating. Family members who apply must meet health and character requirements, and family members who are not coming to Australia might also need to meet them.
Do not arrange to stay permanently in Australia until the Department of Home Affairs grants the Subclass 884 visa; it will let you know in writing if it grants the visa.
How do the two routes compare side by side?
| Comparison point | Direct Subclass 864 | Subclass 884 then 864 |
|---|---|---|
| Outcome | Permanent visa in one application | Temporary 884 (up to 2 years) first, then permanent 864 applied for before the 884 expires |
| Combined cost | Lower; the department states the two-stage route costs more than applying directly | Higher than the direct 864, but spread across two visas over several years |
| Cost spreading | No two-visa spreading mechanism is used | 884 paid in two instalments; cost spread across the 884 and 864 over a longer period |
| 884 component cost | Not applicable | From AUD 35,430 for a single applicant, plus additional charges per family member; two instalments |
| Temporary stage | None | 884 is temporary, valid 2 years from grant, multiple entry, cannot be extended or reapplied for |
| Processing | Parent visas are capped and queued; contributory parent visas may be processed faster than non-contributory parent visas, but cost more | Same capping and queueing; initial assessment, then release from the queue for final assessment |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 884-then-864 route cheaper than applying directly for the 864?
No. The department states the two-stage 884-then-864 process costs more than applying directly for the Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864). The trade-off is that the two-stage route spreads the cost across the two visas over a longer period. The 884 stage itself costs from AUD 35,430 for a single applicant, with additional charges for each family member.
How much does the Subclass 884 cost and how is it paid?
The Subclass 884 costs from AUD 35,430 for a single applicant, with additional charges for each family member who applies with you. It is paid in two instalments: you pay the first instalment when you apply, and the second instalment when the department asks you to. Concessions apply in limited circumstances, and from 1 July 2026 a lower cost may apply to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens.
When must I apply for the 864 if I hold an 884?
You must apply for the permanent Subclass 864 before your Subclass 884 visa expires. The 884 is a temporary visa that allows you to stay in Australia for 2 years from the date it is granted. It cannot be extended or reapplied for, so the 864 application must be lodged within that 2-year window.
Can I stay in Australia permanently once the 884 is granted?
No. The 884 is temporary and lets you live in Australia for up to 2 years, with work and study rights but no government support. You must not arrange to stay permanently in Australia until the Department of Home Affairs grants the Subclass 884 visa; it will let you know in writing if the visa is granted. You must also apply for the 864 before the 884 expires.
Are parent visa processing times short?
No. Demand for parent visas is greater than the number of places available each year, so applications are subject to capping and queueing and are processed in the order received. The department states there are long processing times for these applications. It also notes it may process contributory aged parent visas faster, but they cost more.
Can family members be included in the 884 application?
Yes, you can include family members in your 884 application when you apply. You must include details of all your family members in the application form, even if they are not migrating. Family members who apply must meet health and character requirements, and those not coming to Australia might also need to meet them.
Is there a reduced visa cost for some Pacific Island or Timor-Leste applicants?
From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid application. The department recognises eligible applicants through a valid passport from a specified country held by the primary applicant. Family members are also eligible for the lower cost based on that passport.