Subclass 870 vs Subclass 884 Parent Visas: Can You Hold Both in 2026?

Updated 2026-10-10 · General information, not migration advice · Run by the Arrivau team

No — the two do not run in parallel in the direction most families ask about. According to the Department of Home Affairs' Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884) official page, as of the October 2026 official page, you cannot apply for the subclass 884 if you have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870). The bar is written into the eligibility criteria themselves, not into a separate policy note: it sits under the heading "Not have this visa" on the department's own 884 page.

That wording answers the question most readers actually have, which is not really about holding two visas at once but about whether an 870 in your history blocks the 884 route. It does. And it blocks it in two ways at once — applying and holding are both listed.

What exactly does the 884 page say about the 870?

The eligibility criterion reads in full: you cannot apply for this visa if you have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa.

Two details matter here. First, the test is about the 870, not about any other temporary parent visa. Second, the trigger is broad: "already applied for" catches a pending application, and "hold" catches a granted one. The page does not describe any exception, waiver, or grace period for this criterion.

The 884 overview page repeats the same condition in its list of what you must do, phrased as "not have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa when applying for this visa." So the timing is fixed at the moment of application.

How are the 870 and 884 different as visas?

They are both temporary parent visas, but they are built for different purposes and they sit in different parts of the parent visa system.

The subclass 884 is a temporary visa that lets you live in Australia for two years, with multiple entry, and it allows you to work and study here. The department notes you will not receive government support on this visa. Its stated role is as the first stage of a two-stage process: you apply for the 884, then apply for the permanent Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864) before the 884 expires. The official page gives a reason for that staging — applying for the 884 first lets you spread the cost of the two visas over several years.

The subclass 870 is described on the same page as a temporary visa that allows parents to visit their children in Australia for up to three or five years at a time, for a maximum total of ten years. In other words, it is built around repeat visits rather than around a staged route to permanent residence.

That difference is the practical reason the two collide. The 884 is the entry point to the contributory permanent parent pathway; the 870 is a long-stay visiting arrangement that does not sit on that pathway.

Does a pending 870 application count, or only a granted visa?

A pending application counts. The criterion says "already applied for or hold," and the overview page repeats "already applied for or hold ... when applying for this visa." So lodging the 870 is enough to engage the bar, whether or not it has been decided or granted.

This is worth stressing because it is where planning mistakes tend to happen. A family may treat the 870 as a bridging solution — something to get a parent to Australia while the longer contributory application is sorted out — and then discover that the 870 lodgement itself is the thing that closes the 884 door. The official wording does not distinguish between a decided and an undecided 870 application.

Whether withdrawing an 870 application changes anything is not addressed on the 884 page. Nothing there describes a withdrawal mechanism, a re-lodgement rule, or a waiver for this criterion, so that question cannot be answered from the published eligibility rules alone.

What else do you need for the 884, apart from not having an 870?

The department lists several criteria that all apply together. In short:

A sponsor. You must have an eligible sponsor, usually an eligible child; if your child is under 18, an eligible relative or community organisation can sponsor you. The sponsorship must be approved.
Balance of family test. You meet it if at least half of your children and step-children are eligible children, or if more eligible children live in Australia than in any other single country.
Age. You must be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia, as set by the Department of Social Services.
Health and character. You and any family members applying with you must meet both requirements, and the department may also ask non-migrating family members to meet them.
No outstanding government debt. Any debt to the Australian Government must be repaid, or there must be an approved arrangement to repay it.
Australian Values Statement. Applicants aged 18 or over must have read or had explained to them the Life in Australia booklet, and must sign the statement.
Location. You, and any family members applying with you, must be in Australia but not in immigration clearance, both when you apply and when the department decides the application.

Two other points from the official page shape real decisions. If you apply in Australia while on a temporary visa with a no further stay condition, the application will be invalid unless you apply for a waiver of that condition. And the department will not grant the visa if it would not be in the best interests of an applicant under 18.

What does the 884 cost, and how long does it take?

The official page states the visa costs from AUD 35,430 for a single applicant, with additional charges for each family member who applies with you and concessions in limited circumstances. It is paid in two instalments: the first when you apply, the second when the department asks for it. Other costs — health checks, police certificates, biometrics — may apply per applicant.

From 1 July 2026, a lower visa application cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid application, based on holding a valid passport from a listed country; family members are also eligible, based on the primary applicant's passport.

On timing, the department is explicit that demand for parent visas exceeds the places available each year, so processing times are long. Applications for the 884 are subject to capping and queueing and are processed in the order received. Assessment happens in two stages: an initial assessment to decide whether to queue or refuse the application, then a final assessment as places become available. The department also warns applicants not to arrange to stay permanently in Australia until the visa is granted.

Where does the 864 fit into the choice?

If permanent residence is the goal, the 884 is a staging step, not an end point. The official page says you can apply for the permanent subclass 864 as a two-stage process by first applying for the 884, and that you must apply for the 864 before the 884 expires so that you meet the applicable lodgement criteria. Applying directly for the 864 is also listed as an option; the department notes that this two-stage route costs more than applying directly for the Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864) in total, although the cost is spread across the two visas over a longer period, and that it also costs more than the Aged Parent visa (subclass 804).

The 884 also cannot simply be renewed. The page is clear that you cannot stay longer by extending or reapplying for it — you would need to apply for a different visa, which is where the department points readers to its visa finder.

Because the 870 is the one option that closes the 884 door, families weighing a visiting arrangement against a permanent pathway need to decide the direction of travel before lodging anything. This article is general information only and is not personalised advice about your circumstances; the eligibility criteria, costs and queue settings change, so confirm the current position against the Department of Home Affairs' official pages or with a registered migration professional before you lodge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold a subclass 870 visa and a subclass 884 visa at the same time?

The Department of Home Affairs states that you cannot apply for the subclass 884 if you have already applied for or hold a subclass 870 visa. The rule is published as an eligibility criterion on the 884 official page, and no exception to it is described there.

I have only lodged an 870 application and am waiting for a decision. Can I apply for the 884?

No, on the published wording. The criterion covers having "already applied for" the 870 as well as holding one, and the overview page repeats that the condition applies "when applying for" the 884. A pending application is therefore enough to engage the bar.

Is there a waiver for the 870 restriction on the 884?

The 884 official page lists no waiver, exception or grace period for this criterion. The only waiver mentioned on that page relates to the no further stay condition on a temporary visa held in Australia, which is a separate issue.

What happens to my 884 plans if I have already been granted an 870?

On the published rules, holding an 870 means you cannot apply for the 884. The Department of Home Affairs points readers to its visa finder and to the other parent visa options listed on the 884 page, including the permanent Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864) and the Aged Parent visa (subclass 804).

How long can parents stay in Australia on the 884?

It is a temporary visa allowing a stay of two years, starting from the date of grant, with multiple entry so you can travel and return as many times as you wish within that period. You cannot extend or reapply for it to stay longer.

Does the 884 lead to permanent residence?

It is designed as the first stage of a two-stage process, after which you apply for the permanent Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864). You must lodge the 864 before the 884 expires so that you meet the applicable lodgement criteria.

Do I need to be in Australia to apply for the 884?

Yes. Both you and any family members applying with you must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, when you apply and when the Department of Home Affairs decides the application.