Subclass 884 Document Checklist: What to Prepare in 2026
What documents a Subclass 884 application needs in 2026 — identity, sponsor, balance of family, dependants, partner and photos, per Home Affairs.
A Subclass 884 (Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa) application succeeds or fails on paperwork before anyone looks at your circumstances. The Australian Department of Home Affairs sets out the document set on its Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 884) page, and you need six clusters: proof of identity, sponsor documents, balance of family evidence, documents for any partner or dependant applying with you, photographs, and the correct forms. This checklist is general information about published requirements rather than advice on your own case, so confirm the details against the department's current pages or take professional advice before lodging — a missing item can make an application invalid rather than merely slow.
Money and sequencing also matter here. Home Affairs requires the first instalment at the time you apply and the second instalment before it will grant the visa, and it does not process applications it considers invalid. Under Schedule 2 Part 884 of the Migration Regulations 1994, this temporary visa is the stage that precedes the permanent Subclass 864, which requires its own application.
Which forms travel with your documents?
Forms are the skeleton of the paper application; documents attach to them. Each form below is named on the department's own Subclass 884 page.
| Form | Who completes it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Form 47PA Application for a parent to migrate to Australia | You, as the applicant | The application itself; Part B withdraws another pending Parent visa application |
| Form 40 Sponsorship for migration to Australia | Your sponsor | Records the sponsorship the visa requires |
| Form 47A Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over | Every family member aged 18 or over, even those not migrating | Establishes relationship and, where relevant, dependency |
| Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person | You, if someone gives you immigration assistance | Nominates the person assisting you |
| Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient | You, if someone receives correspondence for you | Nominates the person who receives documents |
You must complete all forms in English. If someone is helping you, only limited categories of people may give immigration assistance — a registered migration agent, a legal practitioner, or an exempt person — while anyone may be appointed simply to receive documents.
How do you prove your identity?
Identity comes first because failure here carries the heaviest published consequence. Provide the pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates. Also provide a national identity card if you have one, and proof of any change of name — a marriage or divorce certificate, change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages or the relevant overseas authority, or documents showing other names you have been known by.
If you cannot prove your identity, Home Affairs states it will refuse the application, it might not grant you another visa for 10 years, and it might not grant a visa for 10 years to any family members you listed. Your passport must also remain valid: you and everyone applying with you must hold valid passports before the visa can be granted.
What does your sponsor need to supply?
An eligible sponsor must sponsor your application, and the sponsor completes Form 40. Eligibility itself is set by the Regulations: where the sponsoring child is 18 or over, the sponsor is generally that child or the child's partner; where the child is under 18, sponsorship may come from the child's partner, a relative or guardian of the child or of the child's spouse (each of whom must be 18 or over and a settled Australian citizen, settled Australian permanent resident or settled eligible New Zealand citizen), or a community organisation.
Practically, this means your document set should include evidence of the sponsor's own status and their relationship to you and to the sponsoring child, alongside the completed Form 40. The sponsorship must still be approved at the time of decision, so changes in the sponsor's circumstances are material, not administrative.
What evidence satisfies the balance of family test?
You must show you meet the balance of family test, and the department accepts three categories of evidence:
- evidence of how you are related to each child;
- evidence of each child's Australian citizenship or country of permanent residence;
- evidence that a child should not be counted in the test — for example, their death certificate.
The test itself sits under Subclass 884 criteria in the Regulations, and the department publishes a separate page explaining how it is calculated. Work from a complete list of your children first, then match one or more documents to each name, because a child whose residence status is undocumented cannot be placed on either side of the calculation.
Which documents do accompanying partners need?
If your partner is included in the application, provide their identity documents, character documents if applicable, evidence of your relationship — your current marriage certificate, or documents proving you have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months before you apply — and documents about either party's other relationships, if applicable.
Evidence of a de facto relationship can include joint bank account statements, billing accounts in joint names, joint leases or mortgages, and documents showing you have lived at the same address as your partner.
What about dependent children, at every age?
Children are divided by age, and each age band carries different proof obligations. For every dependant under 18 applying with you, provide identity documents, evidence of your relationship with them (for example a birth or marriage certificate), and character documents if applicable.
Dependent children must qualify to be included at all. The department accepts three cases: under 18; 18 or over but not yet turned 23 and dependent on you or your partner; or 23 or over, unable to earn a living to support themselves because of physical or cognitive limitations, and dependent on you or your partner. For every dependant aged 18 or over, provide identity documents, evidence of your relationship (a birth certificate or marriage certificate), documents about their other relationships if applicable, character documents, and proof of dependency.
How do you prove dependency?
Dependency has a documentary definition rather than an intuitive one. You must provide a completed Form 47A and proof of your relationship with the dependant, such as a birth certificate or adoption papers. You must also prove the person has been financially dependent on you for at least 12 months before you apply; the department suggests proof they live with you, their tax records, or proof they are currently studying.
One timing trap deserves attention: if your child is likely to turn 23 while the application is being processed, you will need to provide evidence that they are dependent on you because of disability. Processing for parent visas is queued, so this is a realistic scenario rather than an edge case.
What character and health documents apply — and when?
Character documents are requested, not front-loaded. Home Affairs states it might ask you for character documents, including police certificates, and instructs applicants not to arrange a police check until asked. Health examinations work the same way: the department will tell you when they are required. It may also request biometrics — fingerprints and photos — and will notify you if it does.
Police certificates are also the single exception to the copy rule; everything else goes to the department as a certified copy.
Do photographs still matter, and what are the exact rules?
Yes, and photo specifications are among the easiest requirements to fail. Provide four recent photos of anyone included in the application.
| Requirement | Rule as published |
|---|---|
| Size | Passport-size, 45mm x 35mm |
| Age of photo | Less than 6 months old |
| Quality | Good quality colour; laser copies are not accepted |
| Framing | Full face view against a plain light-coloured background |
| Glasses | Untinted prescription glasses are allowed |
| Head coverings | Worn for religious reasons, showing only the face, are allowed |
Count four photos per person, including dependants and any partner — not four for the application.
How do you lodge so the application is not treated as invalid?
The Subclass 884 pathway is intentionally paper-based, and several conditions are absolute rather than procedural preference.
Online lodgement is not available for this visa. You must apply on paper, and you must be in Australia but not in immigration clearance when you submit. You cannot apply if you have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa. If you have another Parent visa application that has not been decided, you must withdraw it by completing Part B of Form 47PA when you apply.
Complete Form 47PA, have your sponsor complete Form 40, and have each family member aged 18 or over complete Form 47A — including those who are not migrating. Pay the first instalment when you apply. Send the application by post or courier to the address on the form, including all documents, forms and evidence of payment. Send certified copies only, not originals, with the exception of police certificates. Keep your own copy of the completed application and supporting documents.
If any of these steps are incomplete, Home Affairs warns your application may be invalid; it does not process invalid applications, and it will notify you and return the application if requested.
What documents can be requested after you lodge?
Lodging is not the end of the paper trail. After you receive your acknowledgement letter you can import the paper application into ImmiAccount using your application ID, date of birth and identity document number, which lets you attach further documents, read messages and update details. Otherwise, additional documents can be sent using the Parent visa processing centre form.
Expect requests for health examinations, biometrics and police certificates when the department reaches your application. If you make a mistake, notify the department using Form 1023; if you want to add a family member before a decision, use Form 1436 together with evidence of the relationship and a copy of that person's passport, and note that anyone added after lodgement must be in Australia when added. You must also report changes to your phone number, email, address, passport, relationship status and family composition, including the birth of a child. A second instalment invoice arrives when it is due, and the application will be refused if it is not paid.
While a decision is pending you must remain lawful, in Australia and not in immigration clearance at the moment of decision. Applying onshore is likely to result in a bridging visa that begins if your current visa expires first; cancelling your current visa yourself can leave you unlawful and ineligible for that bridging visa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to include police certificates with my Subclass 884 application?
No. Home Affairs asks for character documents, including police certificates, only when it reaches your application, and it specifically instructs applicants not to arrange a police check before being asked. If you lodge early evidence voluntarily, you risk it being out of date by the time it is assessed.
How many photographs do I need, and can I wear glasses?
You need four recent photographs for each person included in the application, each passport-size at 45mm x 35mm, less than six months old and printed in good quality colour rather than laser-copied. Untinted prescription glasses are permitted, as is a head covering worn for religious reasons provided only your face is shown.
Does an adult child need Form 47A even if they are not migrating?
Yes. Every member of your family aged 18 years or over must complete Form 47A Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over, and this applies whether or not they are migrating with you. Leaving it out leaves the family unit incompletely documented.
What happens if I have another Parent visa application still undecided?
You must withdraw it at the same time as you apply for Subclass 884, using Part B of Form 47PA. This reflects the criterion that an applicant must not have an outstanding application for another parent visa, so lodging the new paper application does not by itself close the old one.
Can I submit my 884 application online?
No. Online lodgement is not available for temporary Contributory Aged Parent visa applicants; you must apply on paper and must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when you submit. The completed application goes by post or courier to the address printed on the form.
What evidence shows a dependent child over 18 relies on me?
You need a completed Form 47A plus proof of the relationship, such as a birth certificate or adoption papers, and proof of at least 12 months of financial dependence before you apply. Suitable items include proof the dependant lives with you, their tax records, or proof they are currently studying.
Do I get my application fee back if the visa is refused?
No. Home Affairs states it will not refund the application fee if it refuses your application, and it also refuses applications where the second instalment invoice is not paid. Refund expectations are a poor basis for deciding whether to lodge an incomplete application.