Subclass 884 and Pending Parent Applications: Withdrawal Procedure 2026

Yes — if you have applied for a different Parent visa and the Australian Department of Home Affairs has not yet decided it, you must withdraw that application when you apply for the Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 884), and the withdrawal is done by completing Part B of Form 47PA Application for a parent to migrate to Australia. This is the procedure published on the Australian Department of Home Affairs official page for the Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 884), as at October 2026.

What counts as a "pending" other Parent visa application?

The official page frames the rule around timing rather than around a list of subclass numbers. Two conditions have to be present at the same time:

You have applied for a different Parent visa.
The Department has not made a decision on that application.

If a decision has been made on the other application, this particular requirement is not in play, because the rule is tied to an undecided application.

Do not confuse this with the separate rule on the same page for the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870): you cannot apply for the 884 visa at all if you have already applied for or hold a subclass 870 visa. That is a bar on applying, not something that a withdrawal cures.

Situation	What the official page says	What it means for a 884 lodgement
Different Parent visa applied for, no decision yet	You must withdraw it when you apply for 884	Complete Part B of Form 47PA
You have applied for or hold subclass 870	You cannot apply for 884	No withdrawal path applies
Other Parent visa already decided	The "no decision" condition is not met	The withdrawal requirement is not triggered

Which form does the withdrawal, and where in it?

The withdrawal is not a separate request. It sits inside the application form itself: Part B of Form 47PA Application for a parent to migrate to Australia. Because Form 47PA is also the form used to apply for the 884 visa, the withdrawal travels with your application instead of being lodged as a standalone document.

Practically, that means Part B has to be filled in as part of the same paper package you post, not sent in afterwards as a follow-up.

How do you withdraw the other Parent visa application?

Work through the lodgement steps in this order:

Check that the other Parent visa application is genuinely undecided.
Download Form 47PA from the Department's forms listing.
Complete the 884 application parts of Form 47PA.
Complete Part B of Form 47PA with the details of the application you are withdrawing.
Ask your sponsor to complete Form 40 Sponsorship for migration to Australia.
Ask each family member aged 18 or over to complete Form 47A, even if they are not migrating.
Complete every form in English.
Gather your identity, balance of family, sponsor and any dependant documents.
Pay the first instalment.
Post or courier the package to the address shown on the form.
Keep a copy of the completed application and supporting documents.

The 884 visa cannot be lodged online. Online lodgement is not available for temporary Contributory Aged Parent visa applicants, and the application cannot be made in person. You must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when you submit it.

What happens to the 884 application if you do not withdraw?

The requirement is expressed as mandatory: you must withdraw the undecided Parent visa application when you apply for the 884 visa. It is attached to the moment of applying, not to a later stage of processing.

The consequence sits in the lodgement rules on the same page. The Department states that if any of the required steps are incomplete, your application may be invalid, that it does not process invalid applications, and that it will notify you and, if requested, return your application. Leaving Part B of Form 47PA empty therefore exposes the whole paper package to that validity rule — the risk is not a slow decision but an application that is never processed.

This article summarises publicly available procedure for general reference and is not a substitute for advice on an individual case; the current official page is the controlling source, and published requirements can change.

What evidence should you keep that the withdrawal was requested?

Keep a copy of the entire completed application, including Part B and every supporting document. The official page tells applicants to do exactly that, and it is the simplest way to show later what was submitted and when.

Two related points follow from the same page:

Send certified copies, not originals, apart from police certificates.
If you later find a mistake in what you submitted, correct it with Form 1023 Notification of incorrect answers, which can be uploaded through ImmiAccount once the paper application is imported.

Once you receive the acknowledgement letter, you can import the paper application into ImmiAccount using your application ID, date of birth and identity document number. That gives you a record of messages, document uploads and application status in one place.

Who is allowed to help you with the withdrawal?

Only some people may give immigration assistance. If you appoint someone for that purpose, they must be a registered migration agent, a legal practitioner, or an exempt person, and the appointment is made on Form 956.

Anyone can be appointed to receive documents about your visa matter. That is done as an authorised recipient on Form 956A. The distinction matters: receiving correspondence is a narrow administrative role, while preparing or advising on the application is immigration assistance and is restricted.

We do not recommend, rank or endorse any agent, law firm or commercial provider. Eligibility to charge for this work is a separate regulatory question from the withdrawal itself.

What else can make a paper 884 application invalid?

Beyond Part B, the same lodgement section sets out the completeness conditions for the package. Missing any of them carries the same "may be invalid" consequence.

Your sponsor must complete Form 40.
Each family member aged 18 or over must complete Form 47A, including those who are not migrating.
All forms must be completed in English.
The package must include all required documents, forms and evidence of payment of the application charge.
Only certified copies should be enclosed, except police certificates.

If the application is refused, the fee is not refunded. That is stated on the visa outcome section of the official page.

What happens after you lodge with Part B completed?

The Department will confirm receipt of your application and documents. You can then import the paper application into ImmiAccount after the acknowledgement letter arrives, and use it to attach documents, view messages, update your details and check status.

While the application is on foot, you must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when the decision is made, so tell the Department if you intend to travel and make sure you hold a valid visa to return. You will be told when health examinations or biometrics are required, and a second instalment invoice will be issued before grant — if it is not paid, the application will be refused.

Applying in Australia is likely to result in a bridging visa, which starts if your current visa expires before a decision is made. Do not cancel your current visa, because doing so may leave you unlawful and may remove eligibility for a bridging visa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to withdraw a Parent visa application that has already been decided?

No. The official page ties the requirement to an application on which no decision has been made. Once a decision exists, the condition "we have not made a decision on it" is no longer met.

Is there a separate form for withdrawing the other Parent visa application?

No. The withdrawal is made inside Form 47PA Application for a parent to migrate to Australia, by completing Part B. It is lodged together with the 884 paper application rather than as a separate request.

I have applied for a subclass 870 visa — can I just withdraw that and apply for 884?

No. The official page states you cannot apply for the 884 visa if you have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa. That restriction is not framed as something a withdrawal can fix.

Can I lodge the 884 application online after completing Part B?

No. Online lodgement is not available for temporary Contributory Aged Parent visa applicants. The application must be made on paper and sent by post or courier to the address on the form, and you must be in Australia but not in immigration clearance when you submit it.

What if I forget to complete Part B and post the application anyway?

The Department warns that if any of the required steps are incomplete, the application may be invalid, that invalid applications are not processed, and that you will be notified and the application returned if requested. Treat Part B as part of the completeness check before posting.

Can a relative deal with the Department for me?

A relative or anyone else can be appointed as an authorised recipient to receive documents, using Form 956A. Giving immigration assistance is restricted to a registered migration agent, a legal practitioner or an exempt person, appointed on Form 956.

Will I get my money back if the application is refused?

No. The official page states that the application fee is not refunded if the application is refused.