Form 47A and Dependency Evidence for Subclass 884 in 2026

For an 18-plus child on a Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 884) application, dependency is proved as a bundle, not a single paper: a completed Form 47A, proof of your relationship to that person, and documents showing they have been financially dependent on you for at least the 12 months before you apply. According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs' Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 884) official page, as of the August 2026 official page, all three sit under the "Dependants over 18 documents" section, and missing any one of them weakens the whole claim. This article is general information about published requirements rather than personalised advice for your circumstances, so the Department's current page — or a qualified professional's view on your case — should be your final check.

Who counts as a dependent child for Subclass 884 in 2026?

The Department applies three age pathways, and a child must fit one of them to be included as a dependent child:

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 because of physical or cognitive limitations, and dependent on you or your partner.

The dependency element only bites for the second and third pathways. A child over 23 who can support themselves does not come within the third limb, however close the family relationship is, because the page ties that limb to an inability to earn a living due to physical or cognitive limitations.

What does Form 47A actually do in the application?

Form 47A, titled "Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over", is the form the Department uses to record the dependency claim itself. It is not optional paperwork for the migrating family only: the official page states that each member of your family aged 18 years or over must complete Form 47A, and that this applies even if they are not migrating. All forms must be completed in English.

That wider reach matters in practice. A son or daughter who stays behind is still part of the family composition the Department assesses, and Form 47A is where their circumstances are declared. Treating the form as "only for whoever boards the plane" is the most common way this section goes wrong.

What relationship evidence has to accompany Form 47A?

Form 47A on its own is a declaration, so the Department pairs it with documents that establish the underlying relationship. For every dependant aged 18 or over applying with you, the page requires identity documents, evidence of your relationship with them (for example a birth or marriage certificate), documents about their other relationships if applicable, character documents, and proof of dependency.

Within the proof-of-dependency item itself, the Department names two things: the completed Form 47A, and proof of your relationship with the dependant, given as a birth certificate or adoption papers. Where an adoption is the basis of the relationship, adoption papers carry the same function as a birth certificate.

How do you prove 12 months of financial dependency?

The financial limb is a separate and stricter requirement: you must prove the person has been financially dependent on you for at least 12 months before you apply. The page gives three examples of what you could provide:

Proof they live with you.
Their tax records.
Proof they are currently studying.

Because these are offered as examples rather than a fixed checklist, the practical test is whether your documents, read together, cover the same 12-month window from more than one direction. Living arrangements show day-to-day reliance, tax records show income position, and study evidence explains why the person is not self-supporting. A single document that covers only part of the period leaves a gap the Department cannot fill from your statement alone.

What if your child turns 23 while the application is being processed?

The Department anticipates this. If your child is likely to turn 23 while the application is processed, you will need to provide evidence they are dependent on you due to disability. The page points applicants to the Parent visa queue release dates information for processing times, which reflects the reality that family visa queues can run long enough for an 18-to-23 dependency claim to age out mid-assessment.

The practical consequence is that age is assessed on facts that can change during processing, so an applicant near the 23-year threshold should not file a claim that only works if the decision arrives quickly.

How do these documents fit into one paper application?

Online lodgement is not available for this visa, so everything travels together by post or courier.

Complete Form 47PA, Application for a parent to migrate to Australia.
Have your sponsor complete Form 40, Sponsorship for migration to Australia.
Have every family member aged 18 or over complete Form 47A, including those not migrating.
Attach identity, relationship, character and dependency documents for each dependant aged 18 or over.
Send certified copies rather than originals, except for police certificates.
Pay the first instalment when you apply and include evidence of payment.
Post or courier the application to the address on the form, while you are in Australia but not in immigration clearance.

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

What happens if the dependency evidence is missing or thin?

A refusal follows the same cost rule as any other refusal on this visa: the Department states it will not refund the application fee if it refuses your application. There is also a second instalment payable before the visa can be granted, and failure to pay that invoice leads to refusal as well. Nothing in the published requirements suggests dependency evidence can be supplied after the fact to cure a gap that existed at lodgement, which is why the 12-month window should be documented before the forms are signed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child need Form 47A if they are not coming to Australia?

Yes. The official page states that each member of your family aged 18 years or over must complete Form 47A, and that this applies even if they are not migrating. The form supports the family composition assessment, not only the travel arrangements.

Is Form 47A required for a child under 18?

No dependency form is required for them. The page lists identity documents, evidence of your relationship (such as a birth or marriage certificate) and character documents where applicable for dependants under 18.

What documents can show 12 months of financial dependency?

The Department names proof that the person lives with you, their tax records, and proof they are currently studying. These are examples rather than a mandatory set, so documents should be chosen to cover the same 12-month period before you apply.

Can a child over 23 be included if they are simply unemployed?

Not on that basis. The over-23 pathway on the page requires that the person is unable to earn a living to support themselves due to physical or cognitive limitations, and is dependent on you or your partner.

What if my child is 22 now but turns 23 during processing?

The Department says you will need to provide evidence they are dependent on you due to disability if they are likely to turn 23 while the application is processed. Claims built only on the 18-to-23 age bracket risk expiring mid-assessment.

Can I lodge the Subclass 884 application online?

No. Online lodgement is not available for temporary Contributory Aged Parent visa applicants; you must apply on paper, be in Australia when you submit, and not be in immigration clearance.