Subclass 884 vs Subclass 870 Parent Visas: Key Differences in 2026
How subclass 884 and subclass 870 parent visas differ in 2026 on stay length, the route to permanent residence and whether you can hold both.
The difference that decides most cases is simple: the Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 884) is built as the first stage of a two-stage route to permanent residence, while the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870) is a long-stay visiting visa with no permanent stage attached. This comparison is based on the Department of Home Affairs' published requirements for each Parent visa. It is general information only, not advice on an individual case.
Which visa can lead to permanent residence?
Only subclass 884 is designed to lead somewhere permanent. The official page states that holders can apply for the permanent Contributory Aged Parent visa (Subclass 864), and that applying for 884 first allows the cost of the two visas to be spread over several years.
Subclass 870 is described on the same page as a temporary visa that allows parents to visit their children in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years at a time, for a maximum total of 10 years. There is no permanent subclass attached to that description, and a long total stay should not be read as a residence outcome — the visa ends when the maximum is reached.
How long can parents actually stay?
| Subclass 884 | Subclass 870 | |
|---|---|---|
| Visa type | Temporary, first stage of a two-stage process | Temporary |
| Stay per grant | 2 years | Up to 3 or 5 years at a time |
| Maximum total | 2 years | 10 years |
| Extendable | No — cannot be extended or reapplied for | Not covered by the Subclass 884 requirements |
| Route to permanence | Yes, by applying for Subclass 864 | No permanent stage described |
The 884 visa period starts on the date the visa is granted, and it allows multiple entry, so travel outside Australia and return is possible as many times as wanted within the 2 years. Once it expires, the official page is explicit that you cannot stay longer by extending or reapplying for the same visa; you would need to apply for a different visa.
What happens if the 884 visa expires before the permanent application is lodged?
The permanent application has to come first. The official page states that you must apply for the Subclass 864 visa before your subclass 884 visa expires, to ensure you meet all applicable lodgement criteria. Missing that window removes the advantage of having paid for the temporary stage.
The two-stage route also costs more than applying directly for the Subclass 864 visa, although the official page notes the cost is spread across the two visas over a longer period. It also costs more than the Aged Parent visa (Subclass 804).
Can you hold or apply for both at the same time?
No, in the direction that matters most for planning. Under the eligibility criteria, you cannot apply for the subclass 884 visa if you have already applied for or hold a Subclass 870 visa. Choosing 870 first therefore closes off the 884 application, and the choice is effectively one-way.
What does subclass 884 require that the comparison turns on?
Several of the 884 criteria have no counterpart stated for 870 on the subclass 884 page, and they are the ones most likely to decide whether 884 is even available to a family.
- An approved sponsor. Usually an eligible child sponsors the parent; if the child is under 18, an eligible relative or community organisation can sponsor instead. The Department must approve the sponsorship.
- The balance of family test. At least half of your children and step-children must be eligible children, or there must be more eligible children living in Australia than in any other single country.
- Age. You must be old enough to receive the Age Pension in Australia, per the Department of Social Services Age Pension page.
- Health and character. Applicants and any family members applying with them must meet both requirements, and non-migrating family members may also be asked to meet them.
- Debts to the Australian Government. Any debt owed by the applicant or included family members must be repaid, or there must be an approved arrangement to repay it.
- Immigration history. A cancelled visa or refused application can affect eligibility, and the Department considers this history when deciding.
- Australian Values Statement. Applicants aged 18 or over must have read, or had explained to them, the Life in Australia booklet and sign the statement.
- Best interests of the child. The visa will not be granted if doing so would not be in the best interests of an applicant under 18.
Family members can be included in the application, and details of all family members must be given in the form even if they are not migrating.
Where must you be when you apply, and can you work?
For subclass 884, you and any family members applying with you must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, both when you apply and when the decision is made. Applying in Australia while on a temporary visa with a no further stay condition makes the application invalid, unless you apply for a waiver of that condition.
Once granted, the 884 visa allows work and study in Australia, with the note that holders will not receive government support.
What does the 884 visa cost?
The visa costs from AUD35,430 for a single applicant, with additional charges for each family member who applies. Concessions apply in limited circumstances.
Payment is split into two instalments: the first is paid when you apply, and the second when the Department asks for it. Other costs may apply 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 through a valid passport from a specified country; family members are also eligible, based on the passport of the primary applicant.
How long will an 884 application take?
Demand for Parent visas exceeds the number of places available each year, so processing times are long. Applications are subject to capping and queueing and are processed in the order received, against the Parent visa queue release dates published by the Department.
Assessment happens in two stages. First, an initial assessment checks eligibility, and the application is either added to the queue or refused. Later, as places become available, applications are released from the queue for final assessment. Applicants are advised not to arrange to stay permanently in Australia until the visa is granted, and the Department gives written notice of the outcome.
Applications can take longer where the form is incomplete, required documents are missing or more information is needed, or verification of information is slow. An application cannot be processed unless the correct visa application charge is paid.
How do you choose between them?
Start from the outcome you need. If the goal is permanent residence for an aged parent who meets the balance of family test and has an eligible sponsor, subclass 884 is the route that keeps the Subclass 864 pathway open, and the lodgement deadline for 864 — before the 884 visa expires — is the practical constraint to plan around. If the goal is a long visit with family without a residence outcome, subclass 870 is the visa the official page describes as allowing up to 3 or 5 years at a time to a maximum of 10 years.
Assume a parent has already lodged a subclass 870 application. On the criteria set out above, that parent cannot then apply for subclass 884, so the two-stage permanent pathway is not available to them through this route.
Where a visa holder is granted 884, the obligations are to meet all visa conditions and obey Australian laws, and the visa is digitally linked to the passport rather than issued as a label.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is subclass 884 or subclass 870 better for getting permanent residence?
Subclass 884 is the only one of the two designed to lead to permanent residence, because holders can apply for the permanent Contributory Aged Parent visa (Subclass 864). Subclass 870 is described as a temporary visa for visiting children, with a maximum total of 10 years and no permanent stage.
Can I apply for subclass 884 if I already hold a subclass 870 visa?
No. The eligibility criteria state that you cannot apply for subclass 884 if you have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa. The choice between the two is therefore effectively one-way in that direction.
How long can each visa keep a parent in Australia?
Subclass 884 allows a stay of 2 years from the date of grant, with multiple entry and no option to extend or reapply for the same visa. Subclass 870 allows stays of up to 3 or 5 years at a time, for a maximum total of 10 years.
What happens when the subclass 884 visa expires?
You cannot extend or reapply for subclass 884, so you must apply for a different visa if you want to remain. To continue the two-stage route, the Subclass 864 application must be lodged before the 884 visa expires, so that all applicable lodgement criteria are met.
Does subclass 884 let parents work in Australia?
Yes. The official page states that holders can work and study in Australia, but will not receive government support.
How much does subclass 884 cost and how is it paid?
It costs from AUD35,430 for a single applicant, with additional charges for each family member and concessions in limited circumstances. Payment is made in two instalments: the first when you apply, and the second when the Department asks for it.
Why are Parent visa applications so slow?
Demand for Parent visas is greater than the number of places available each year, so subclass 884 applications are subject to capping and queueing and are processed in the order received. Assessment is done in two stages, with final assessment occurring only as places become available.
Where do I need to be to apply for subclass 884?
You and any family members applying with you must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, both when you apply and when the decision is made. Applying while on a temporary visa with a no further stay condition makes the application invalid unless a waiver of that condition is applied for.