Subclass 173/884/864: split-payment and aged contributory parent visas
The 173 (temporary, offshore), 884 (temporary, onshore), and 864 (permanent, onshore aged) contributory parent visas offer split-payment and onshore options. A full breakdown of fee structures, eligibility, and the transition path from 173/884 to 143/864.
The Subclass 143 Contributory Parent visa is the most direct path to permanent residency, but it demands a single large payment of AUD 47,955 at the second VAC stage — a sum that many families cannot fund in a single instalment. The Subclass 173 (offshore) and Subclass 884 (onshore) contributory parent temporary visas were designed to spread that cost across two stages: a temporary visa with a lower initial charge, followed by a transition to the permanent 143 or 864 visa with a reduced second payment.
The subclass 864, meanwhile, is the onshore permanent equivalent of the 143, but it requires the parent to meet the age-pension age threshold and to be in Australia at lodgement. For parents who are old enough and lawfully in Australia, the 864 allows them to avoid leaving the country.
These three visa subclasses — 173, 884, and 864 — together form the flexible arm of the contributory parent visa system, offering split-payment structures, onshore lodgement options, and aged-specific concessions. This article explains the mechanics, costs, and strategic trade-offs of each.
Subclass 173: Contributory Parent (Temporary) — offshore split-pay
The 173 is a two-year temporary visa that allows a parent to enter Australia, and then, before the visa expires, apply for the permanent 143 visa onshore. The appeal is the split payment schedule:
The first VAC for the 173 stage is AUD 4,765, and the second VAC is AUD 33,355, bringing the subtotal for the temporary visa to AUD 38,120. Transitioning to the permanent 143 visa then requires a first VAC of AUD 450 and a second VAC of AUD 22,370. The total cost of the two-stage route from the 173 to the 143 is AUD 60,940.
The total cost of the two-stage route (AUD 60,940) is higher than the direct 143 route (AUD 52,720), a premium of approximately AUD 8,220 for the flexibility of splitting the payment. For a couple, this premium is approximately AUD 16,440 above the direct 143 cost.
The 173 holder has full work and study rights in Australia and access to Medicare under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (if their home country has one with Australia). The 173 is not itself a permanent visa, and time spent on the 173 does not count toward the residence requirement for Australian citizenship.
Strategic use of the 173. Families who can fund the first instalment (AUD 38,120) but need two or more years to arrange the remainder often use the 173 as a bridge. The 173 holder can enter Australia, establish themselves, and potentially generate income or sell assets in their home country before the 143 transition payment is due.
Subclass 884: Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) — onshore split-pay
The 884 is the onshore equivalent of the 173 for parents who meet the age requirement. The parent must:
- Be in Australia at lodgement and at grant
- Meet the age-pension age requirement (67 years as of 1 July 2023 for both men and women, transitioning to 67 for all, with the Australian age-pension age serving as the threshold for “aged” in the migration context)
- Meet the balance-of-family test
- Have an approved AoS
The fee structure mirrors the 173 — temporary visa with a lower second VAC, then transition to the permanent 864 (the onshore aged equivalent of the 143).
The key advantage of the 884 over the 173 is that the parent can lodge while in Australia and remain in Australia throughout — no offshore leg is required. This is critical for parents who cannot easily travel between their home country and Australia.
Subclass 864: Contributory Aged Parent (Permanent) — onshore direct PR
The 864 is the onshore permanent visa for parents who are old enough to meet the age-pension age threshold. It is the functional equivalent of the 143, but:
- The applicant must be in Australia at lodgement and at grant
- The applicant must have reached the age-pension age (67 as of 2026 for both men and women)
- The fee structure is identical to the 143 (AUD 4,765 first VAC + AUD 47,955 second VAC)
The 864 is significant because it allows an aged parent who is lawfully in Australia — for example, on a visitor visa or a bridging visa — to lodge a permanent parent visa application without departing Australia. The onshore lodgement gives the applicant a Bridging Visa A with work rights upon lodgement, and the application is processed in the same contributory parent queue as the 143.
Transition from 884 to 864. An 884 holder applies for the 864 before the 884 expires. The 864 second VAC is reduced (because a portion of the contributory charge was paid at the 884 stage), resulting in the same total cost as the 173 → 143 split-pay route, but all onshore.
Age-pension age threshold
The age threshold for “aged” parent visas (804 and 864) is tied to the Australian age-pension age, which is currently 67 for both men and women. The threshold increased from 65 to 67 between 2017 and 2023 under the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Fair and Sustainable Pensions) Act 2015.
A parent who is 66 and 8 months old on the day they apply for an 864 does not meet the threshold and must wait until they turn 67 — or apply for an 804 non-contributory aged parent visa if they do not wish to pay the contributory charge.
Onshore vs offshore strategic map
If a parent is outside Australia and can fund the full 143 charge, the recommended visa is the direct 143. If a parent is outside Australia but needs a split payment, the recommended path is the 173 to 143. For a parent in Australia who is aged 67 or over and can fund the full charge, the direct 864 is recommended. If a parent in Australia is aged 67 or over and needs a split payment, the recommended route is the 884 to 864. A parent in Australia who is under age 67 and needs permanent residency must go offshore for the 143 or 173, as they cannot lodge an 864 until the age threshold is met. For a parent who wants onshore lodgement to avoid travel, regardless of age, the 884 temporary or 864 permanent visa is suitable, provided they are aged 67 or over.
Assurance of Support and bond requirements
The AoS and bond requirements for the 173, 884, and 864 are substantively the same as for the 143:
- Bond: AUD 10,000 for primary applicant + AUD 4,000 for each secondary applicant aged 18+
- AoS period: 10 years
- Assurer must meet the Services Australia income test
For the 173 → 143 and 884 → 864 transition routes, the AoS and bond are assessed twice: once at the temporary visa stage, and again at the permanent visa stage. The 10-year AoS period for the permanent visa starts from the date the permanent visa is granted, not the date of the temporary visa — meaning the parent is subject to AoS obligations for the temporary visa period plus a further 10 years.
Cost comparison: all contributory parent options (single applicant, 2025–2026)
The direct 143 offshore permanent route has a total VAC of AUD 52,720, with a payment schedule of 4,765 upfront plus 47,955 before grant. The direct 864 onshore aged permanent route is the same, with a total VAC of AUD 52,720. The 173 to 143 offshore split route totals AUD 60,940, with a payment schedule of 38,120 then 22,820. The 884 to 864 onshore aged split route also totals AUD 60,940, following the same structure.
Recent policy developments
2024 Parent Visa Review announcement. The government announced a review of the parent visa framework, with a discussion paper expected in late 2025. Potential reforms under consideration include a lottery-based allocation system for parent visas (modelled on New Zealand’s parent category), higher contributory charges to fund additional places, and a possible restructure of the temporary sponsored parent visa (subclass 870) to provide a more viable long-stay alternative.
No legislative changes have been implemented as of May 2026, but the review is a signal that the current framework — with 30-year non-contributory queues and 8–12 year contributory queues — is under active policy consideration.