Subclass 884 Evidence Requirements: Full Checklist and Proof Rules 2026

A Subclass 884 (Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa) application succeeds or fails on documents. You have to prove who you are, who is sponsoring you, that you pass the balance of family test, that you and everyone applying with you meet character requirements, and that any partner or dependant included is genuinely related to and dependent on you. According to the Department of Home Affairs' Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 884) page, as of the August 2026 official page, the application is also paper-only, and documents must be sent as certified copies rather than originals, except for police certificates. This is general information about published requirements, not advice on an individual case, so your own circumstances should be checked against the current official pages or with a registered migration agent or legal practitioner.

What does a Subclass 884 application actually have to prove?

Proof required	Evidence the Department lists	What it decides
Identity	Current passport pages, national identity card if held, change-of-name proof	Whether the application can be granted at all
Sponsorship	Form 40 completed by an eligible sponsor	Whether the application has a valid sponsor
Balance of family	Relationship to each child, each child's citizenship or residence country, exclusion evidence	Whether the balance of family test is met
Character	Police certificates, once requested	Character clearance
Partner relationship	Marriage certificate, or de facto evidence covering at least 12 months	Whether a partner can be included
Dependant status and dependency	Relationship evidence, Form 47A, 12-month financial dependency proof	Whether an adult child can be included
Photographs	Four recent photos per person	The identity record for everyone in the application

Two rules cut across every row: all forms must be completed in English, and documents are lodged as certified copies.

Which identity documents are required, and what if identity can't be proven?

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 change of name if that applies to you.

Documents that prove a change of name include:

a marriage or divorce certificate
change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or the relevant overseas authority
documents that show other names you have been known by

The consequences of failing on identity are heavier than a request for more information. If you cannot prove your identity, the Department states it will refuse the visa application, it might not grant you another visa for 10 years, and it might not grant any family members you listed on your application a visa for 10 years.

Who has to sponsor you, and how is that evidenced?

An eligible sponsor must sponsor your application, and your sponsor must complete Form 40 Sponsorship for migration to Australia. Sponsorship is not a one-off formality either: Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994 sets the sponsorship criterion for this subclass (clause 884.212) and requires the sponsorship to be approved at the time of the decision (clause 884.222), which is worth reading in its current published form.

What evidence satisfies the balance of family test?

You must show that you meet the balance of family test. The Department says you can do this by giving:

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 included in the balance of family test, for example their death certificate

The same requirement appears in the Regulations as clause 884.213, framed for applicants who are not holders of a substituted Subclass 600 visa.

What does a partner have to prove?

For a partner included in the application, provide identity documents, character documents, evidence of your relationship, and documents about other relationships if applicable.

Relationship evidence means your current marriage certificate, or documents proving you have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months before you apply. De facto evidence includes:

joint bank account statements
billing accounts in joint names
joint leases or mortgages
documents showing you have lived at the same address as your partner

What do dependent children have to prove?

For every dependant under 18 applying with you, provide identity documents, evidence of your relationship with them (such as a birth or marriage certificate), and character documents if applicable.

To be included as a dependent child, your child must be:

under 18 years of age
over 18 but not yet turned 23, and dependent on you or your partner
over 23, unable to earn a living to support themselves due to physical or cognitive limitations, and dependent on you or your partner

For every dependant aged 18 or over applying with you, provide identity documents, evidence of your relationship, documents about their other relationships if applicable, character documents, and proof of dependency.

How is dependency proven?

Complete Form 47A Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over, and prove your relationship with the dependant, for example with 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, using evidence such as proof they live with you, their tax records, or proof they are currently studying.

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 due to disability.

What are the photograph rules?

Provide four recent photos of anyone included in the application. Photographs must be:

passport-size (45mm x 35mm)
less than 6 months old
good quality colour — laser copies are not accepted
a view of your full face
taken against a plain light-coloured background

Untinted prescription glasses may be worn. If you wear a head covering for religious reasons, you can show only your face.

Do you need police certificates and health exams before lodging?

No. The Department may ask you for character documents including police certificates, and it says not to arrange a police check until it asks you to. Health examinations work the same way: the Department will tell you when you need to complete them. Biometrics (fingerprints and photos) may also be requested, and you will be told if that applies.

Originals or certified copies — which ones go in?

Do not send original documents with your application, with one exception: police certificates. Everything else must be sent as a certified copy, prepared according to the Department's own guidance on certified copies. Keep a copy of your completed application, including any supporting documents, for your own records.

What happens if a document is missing?

If any of the lodgement steps are incomplete, your application may be invalid, and the Department states that it does not process invalid applications. It will notify you if this is the case and, if requested, return your application. There are also consequences for information that is not accurate or complete, separate from the question of validity.

Money failures carry the same weight as document failures. You must pay the first instalment when you apply, and you must pay a second instalment before the visa can be granted — the Department sends an invoice when it is due, and if you do not pay it, it will refuse your application. No refund of the application fee is given if the application is refused.

Who is allowed to help you prepare the application?

Only some people can help. If you appoint someone to give you immigration assistance, they must be a registered migration agent, a legal practitioner, or an exempt person. You can appoint anyone to receive documents on your behalf relating to your visa matter.

To nominate someone to receive your correspondence, complete Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient. To nominate someone to give you immigration assistance, complete Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person. Send written notification or your forms with your paper application.

How is the application lodged, and what must go in the parcel?

Online lodgement is not available for temporary Contributory Aged Parent visa applicants. You must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when you submit, and you cannot apply in person. Work through the steps in order:

Complete Form 47PA Application for a parent to migrate to Australia.
Have your sponsor complete Form 40 Sponsorship for migration to Australia.
Have each family member aged 18 or over complete Form 47A, even if they are not migrating.
Complete all forms in English.
Pay the first instalment.
Send the application by post or courier to the address on the form.
Include all required documents, forms and evidence of payment of the application charge.

Two eligibility traps sit at this step. You cannot apply for this visa if you have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa. And if you have applied for a different Parent visa that has not been decided, you must withdraw that application when you apply for this one, using Part B of Form 47PA.

What can you still add or correct after lodgement?

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. That lets you attach supporting documents, view messages, update your details, and check your application's status. Documents can also be sent using the Parent visa processing centre form.

You might be able to add family members before a decision is made, by completing Form 1436 Adding an additional applicant after lodgement and giving evidence of your relationship plus a copy of the family member's passport. Anyone added after you apply must be in Australia when you add them. If you made a mistake on your application, tell the Department as soon as you can using Form 1023 Notification of incorrect answers.

Being in Australia remains the through-line. You must tell the Department if you want to travel outside Australia while the application is processed, and you must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when the decision is made — so make sure you hold a valid visa to return. Applying in Australia means a bridging visa is likely to be granted, starting when your current visa expires and letting you stay while the application is processed; do not cancel your current visa, or you may be unlawful and lose eligibility for that bridging visa. You also need to report changes to your phone number, email, address, passport, relationship status, and family composition, including the birth of a child.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to send original documents with a Subclass 884 application?

No. The Department's page states that you must only send certified copies, and that you should not send original documents with your application. The single exception is police certificates, which are sent as originals once the Department asks for them.

Can I lodge Subclass 884 online?

No. Online lodgement is not available for temporary Contributory Aged Parent visa applicants, and you cannot apply in person. You complete Form 47PA and post or courier the application to the address on the form, together with the sponsor's Form 40, Form 47A for each family member aged 18 or over, and evidence that you paid the first instalment.

When should I arrange a police check?

Only after the Department asks you for character documents. Its instruction on this visa is explicit: do not arrange a police check until asked. Health examinations work the same way — the Department will tell you when they are required.

How many photos does each person need, and what size?

Four recent photos of anyone included in the application. They must be passport-size (45mm x 35mm), less than 6 months old, good quality colour rather than laser copies, a view of the full face, and taken against a plain light-coloured background.

What happens if I leave out a required document?

If any of the lodgement steps are incomplete, your application may be invalid, and invalid applications are not processed. The Department will notify you if that happens and will return the application if you request it. Missing identity evidence is more serious still: it leads to refusal and possible 10-year bars on further visas for you and for family members listed on your application.

Can an adult child be included in my application?

Yes, if they are over 18 but not yet 23 and dependent on you or your partner, or over 23 and unable to earn a living because of physical or cognitive limitations while dependent on you or your partner. You complete Form 47A and prove at least 12 months of financial dependency before you apply. If your child is likely to turn 23 during processing, you will need evidence of dependency due to disability.

Do I need to withdraw another Parent visa application first?

If you have 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, using Part B of Form 47PA. Separately, you cannot apply for Subclass 884 if you have already applied for or hold a Subclass 870 visa.