How to Apply for Subclass 884 on Paper in 2026: Step-by-Step

Subclass 884 has no online lodgement: complete Form 47PA, pay the first instalment and post it from inside Australia.

Published: 9 October 2026

There is no online lodgement for the Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 884). You must apply on paper using Form 47PA Application for a parent to migrate to Australia, pay the first instalment when you apply, and send the whole package by post or courier to the address printed on the form. This is set out on the Australian Department of Home Affairs official page for the Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 884), current as of August 2026.

This article is general information about the published lodgement process, not advice on your own circumstances; check the current official page or get professional advice before you rely on any of it.

Why can’t this visa be lodged online?

Because the Department has not made online lodgement available for temporary Contributory Aged Parent visa applicants. The paper route is the only route.

The same page also sets three location and eligibility limits on the moment you lodge:

You must be in Australia when you submit the application.
You must not be in immigration clearance when you submit.
You cannot apply if you have already applied for, or you hold, a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870).

Where do you have to be when you lodge and when the decision is made?

In Australia, but not in immigration clearance, at both moments.

You must be in Australia when you submit the application, and you must also be in Australia — again, not in immigration clearance — when the Department makes its decision. If you need to travel while the application is being processed, you must tell the Department, and you should make sure you hold a valid visa to return.

One further validity trap appears on the visa page: if you apply while you hold a temporary visa with a "no further stay" condition, your application will be invalid unless you have applied for a waiver of that condition.

Which forms go into a paper Subclass 884 application?

Form	Who completes it	Note
Form 47PA Application for a parent to migrate to Australia	You	Also contains Part B, used to withdraw another Parent visa application
Form 40 Sponsorship for migration to Australia	Your sponsor	An eligible sponsor must sponsor the application
Form 47A Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over	Each family member aged 18 or over	Required even if that person is not migrating

All forms must be completed in English.

If you have already applied for a different Parent visa and no decision has been made on it, you must withdraw that application when you apply for Subclass 884. You do this by completing Part B of Form 47PA.

If someone is helping you, the relevant appointment forms are Form 956 (Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person) for immigration assistance and Form 956A (Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient) for someone who receives your correspondence. Only a registered migration agent, a legal practitioner or an exempt person can give immigration assistance; anyone can be appointed to receive documents. Send the written notification or the forms with your paper application.

What documents must you send with the forms?

Gather documents for yourself and for any partner or dependants applying with you, plus your sponsor's documents. The categories on the official page are:

Identity: the pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details, and issue and expiry dates; a national identity card if you have one; and proof of change of name if applicable (such as a marriage or divorce certificate, or change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages or the relevant overseas authority).
Sponsor: completed Form 40.
Balance of family: evidence of how you are related to each child, evidence of each child's Australian citizenship or country of permanent residence, and evidence that a child should not be counted in the balance of family test (for example, a death certificate).
Partner: identity and character documents, evidence of the relationship (a current marriage certificate, or documents showing a de facto relationship of at least 12 months before you apply), and documents about other relationships if applicable.
Dependants under 18: identity documents, evidence of your relationship with them, and character documents if applicable.
Dependants 18 or over: identity documents, evidence of the relationship, documents about their other relationships if applicable, character documents, and proof of dependency. Proof of dependency means a completed Form 47A plus proof that the person has been financially dependent on you for at least 12 months before you apply — for example proof they live with you, their tax records, or proof they are currently studying.
Photographs: four recent passport-size (45mm x 35mm) photos of each person included, less than 6 months old, good quality colour (laser copies are not accepted), showing the full face against a plain light-coloured background.

If you cannot prove your identity, the Department will refuse the application, and it might not grant you — or any family members you listed — another visa for 10 years.

Do not arrange a police check until the Department asks you to. Character documents, health examinations and biometrics are requested later.

How do you pay, and what happens if the payment is wrong?

You must pay the first instalment when you apply, and you must include evidence of payment of the application charge with your paper application. The Department's "how to pay" page lists the payment options.

The official page also warns that it can only process your application if you pay the correct visa application charge. If you have not paid the correct amount, it will notify you and return the application if necessary.

On cost, the visa page states that the visa costs from AUD35,430 for a single applicant, with additional charges for each family member who applies with you and concessions in limited circumstances. It is paid in two instalments: the first when you apply and the second when the Department asks. You might also need to pay other costs per applicant for health checks, police certificates and biometrics. From 1 July 2026 a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid application, recognised by a valid passport from a specified country; family members are eligible based on the primary applicant's passport. The current official pricing page is the place to confirm the amount that applies to you.

How do you send it, and what makes an application invalid?

You cannot apply in person. Follow these steps in order:

Complete every form in English.
Attach all required documents, forms and evidence of payment.
Send certified copies only, not original documents.
Send the package by post or courier to the address on the form.
Keep a full copy of the completed application and supporting documents for your own records.

The only original documents you should send are police certificates, if the Department has asked for them.

If any of these steps are incomplete, your application may be invalid. The Department does not process invalid applications; it will notify you, and return the application if requested.

Note the practical consequence of a paper lodgement: you need a delivery method you can track, because you are sending certified copies rather than originals and you need to keep your own copy.

What happens after the Department receives your paper application?

The Department will let you know when it has received your application and documents. After that:

Import into ImmiAccount. After submission, once you receive your acknowledgement letter, you can import the application into a new or existing ImmiAccount by entering your application ID, date of birth, and identity document number (ImmiCard, passport or Titre de Voyage number). This gives you online access to attach supporting documents, view messages, update your details and check status. You can import both new and on-hand applications.
Status updates. The Department cannot provide updates on progress within normal processing times; it will contact you if it needs anything more. Parent visa applications are subject to capping and queueing and are processed in the order received. The Department points to its Parent visa queue release dates page for processing time information.
Travel. Tell the Department if you want to travel outside Australia while it processes your application, and hold a valid visa to return.
Health and biometrics. Wait to be told when to complete health examinations, and whether biometrics (fingerprints and photos) are needed.
More information. Upload additional documents in ImmiAccount, or send them using the Parent visa processing centre form.
Second instalment. You must pay the second instalment before the visa is granted. The Department sends an invoice when it is due; if you do not pay it, the application will be refused.
Adding family. You may be able to add family members before a decision by sending Form 1436 Adding an additional applicant after lodgement, together with evidence of the relationship and a copy of that family member's passport. Anyone added after you apply must be in Australia when you add them.
Mistakes. Tell the Department as soon as you can using Form 1023 Notification of incorrect answers, uploaded in ImmiAccount or sent using the Parent visa processing centre form.

What happens at the decision?

You must be in Australia, and not in immigration clearance, when the decision is made. The Department tells you in writing.

If granted, it tells you your visa grant number, the date the visa starts, and your visa conditions. If refused, it tells you why, and whether you have a right to a review of the decision. The application fee is not refunded if the application is refused.

While you wait, stay lawful. If you apply in Australia, the Department is likely to grant you a bridging visa; if your current visa expires before a decision is made, the bridging visa starts and lets you stay while the application is processed. Do not cancel your current visa — doing so may leave you unlawful and may make you ineligible for a bridging visa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I lodge Subclass 884 online in 2026?

No. Online lodgement is not available for temporary Contributory Aged Parent visa applicants, so the paper Form 47PA is the only lodgement route. You must also be in Australia, and not in immigration clearance, when you submit.

Can I hand the application in at a Department office?

No. The Department states you cannot apply for this visa in person. You must send the application by post or courier to the address printed on the form, with all forms, documents and evidence of payment included.

Does every adult family member need Form 47A even if they are not migrating?

Yes. Each member of your family aged 18 years or over must complete Form 47A, and this applies even if they are not migrating. You must also list details of all family members in the application form, whether or not they are coming to Australia.

Should I send original documents with the paper application?

Generally no. Send certified copies only, because the official instruction is not to send original documents with the application. The stated exception is police certificates.

What happens if something in my package is incomplete?

Your application may be invalid, and the Department does not process invalid applications. It will notify you if this happens, and return your application if requested. The same applies if you do not pay the correct visa application charge.

Will I get progress updates while the application is queued?

Not within normal processing times — the Department says it cannot provide updates on progress and will contact you if it needs more from you. Applications are subject to capping and queueing and are processed in the order received.