The 870 visa, formally known as the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870), allows eligible parents to spend an extended period with their family in Australia.
Parents can apply for a stay of up to three or five years at a time. Unlike permanent Parent visas, Subclass 870 does not form part of the capped and queued Parent visa program.
The application process also works differently from many family visas. Before a parent can apply, Home Affairs must approve the sponsoring child’s sponsorship application.
What Is an 870 Visa?
The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870) is a temporary visa for eligible parents of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens.
The pathway can allow a parent to stay in Australia for up to three or five years. Across multiple grants, a parent can spend a maximum cumulative period of 10 years in Australia under this pathway.
The process generally involves:
- Checking whether the child and parent meet the relevant requirements.
- The child applying to become an approved Parent Sponsor.
- Home Affairs assessing the sponsorship application.
- The parent applying for Subclass 870 after Home Affairs approves the sponsorship.
- The parent providing the required evidence and completing any required health and character checks.
- Home Affairs assessing the visa application.
This pathway provides temporary residence only. It does not grant permanent residency.
Families comparing this temporary option with other parent visa options in Australia should pay particular attention to the different eligibility requirements and whether they want a temporary or permanent pathway.
Who Can Apply for an 870 Visa?
The Sponsored Parent visa is available to eligible parents of an approved Parent Sponsor.
The parent can be the sponsor’s:
- biological parent
- legal parent, including an adoptive parent
- step-parent
- parent-in-law
The sponsor must meet separate requirements and generally needs to be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
The parent must also satisfy the requirements that apply to the visa itself, including relevant health, character, financial and temporary-stay requirements.
Who Can Sponsor a Parent for Subclass 870?
The sponsorship stage is central to the application process.
A prospective sponsor needs to apply to Home Affairs and receive approval before the parent submits the visa application. The sponsor must provide the required information and evidence with the sponsorship application.
Home Affairs also requires the sponsor to provide relevant financial information, including an Australian Taxation Office notice of assessment.
Applicants should therefore avoid treating the sponsorship and visa applications as one step. Home Affairs assesses the sponsor first. The parent can proceed with the visa application only after Home Affairs approves the sponsorship.
Does the 870 Visa Require the Balance of Family Test?
No. The Balance of Family Test does not apply to Subclass 870.
Home Affairs applies the test to several permanent and contributory Parent visa subclasses, including Subclass 143, but not to the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa.
This creates an important distinction for families considering different parent migration options.
For example, applicants for the 143 visa must meet the Balance of Family Test, while parents using the temporary Sponsored Parent pathway do not face this particular requirement.
What Are the 870 Visa Requirements?
The application involves requirements for both the approved sponsor and the parent.
For the parent, Home Affairs may require evidence relating to:
- identity and relationship to the sponsor
- approved sponsorship
- health
- character
- financial circumstances
- genuine intention to stay temporarily
- other circumstances relevant to the application
Applicants should provide evidence showing that they genuinely intend to stay in Australia temporarily. Relevant evidence can include the reasons for the visit, plans to return home and significant ties to their home country.
Parents also need to consider how they will support themselves financially during their stay in Australia.
The Sponsored Parent pathway is one option for families seeking to spend more time together in Australia. Families researching a broader family reunification visa pathway should compare the requirements of the specific visa that applies to their relationship and circumstances.
How Do You Apply for an 870 Parent Visa?
Subclass 870 uses a sponsor-first application process.
1. Check the Sponsor’s Eligibility
The prospective sponsor should first confirm that they meet the requirements to become an approved Parent Sponsor.
2. Apply for Sponsorship
The prospective sponsor submits a sponsorship application and the required evidence to Home Affairs.
3. Wait for Sponsorship Approval
Home Affairs assesses the sponsorship application. The parent cannot proceed with the Sponsored Parent visa application until Home Affairs approves the sponsor.
4. Submit the Visa Application
After sponsorship approval, the parent can submit their application online through ImmiAccount.
5. Provide the Required Evidence
The applicant should provide the documents Home Affairs requires and complete any applicable health and character checks.
6. Wait for the Decision
Home Affairs then assesses the application. Applicants should monitor ImmiAccount in case the Department requests additional information.
What Documents Do You Need for an 870 Visa?
The exact documents depend on the circumstances of the sponsor and parent.
The sponsorship and visa stages require separate evidence. Documents may cover:
- identity
- relationship between the parent and sponsor
- the sponsor’s Australian status
- financial information
- the sponsor’s ATO notice of assessment
- evidence of the parent’s genuine temporary stay
- health requirements
- character requirements
Preparing complete and accurate supporting documents can help applicants avoid preventable problems during the application process.
Applicants should also monitor ImmiAccount after lodging in case Home Affairs requests further information.
How Long Can You Stay on an 870 Visa?
The Sponsored Parent visa can allow a parent to stay in Australia for up to three or five years, depending on the period granted.
A parent can hold more than one Subclass 870 visa, but the pathway has a maximum cumulative stay of 10 years.
This can make the visa useful for parents who want to spend substantial periods with their children in Australia without immediately pursuing permanent migration.
However, its temporary nature remains important. Time spent in Australia under this pathway does not itself give the parent permanent residency.
For families considering moving your family to Australia, the length of stay and temporary nature of Subclass 870 should form part of the wider relocation planning process.
How Much Does a Subclass 870 Visa Cost?
The cost depends partly on the length of stay and includes costs associated with both the sponsorship and visa stages.
The visa application charge can involve more than one instalment. Home Affairs will notify an applicant when a second instalment becomes due where applicable.
Other expenses may include:
- health examinations
- police certificates
- document translations
- obtaining required records
- other application-related expenses
Australian visa charges can change. Applicants should therefore check current Home Affairs pricing before lodging their applications rather than relying on figures from older articles.
How Long Does an 870 Parent Visa Take to Process?
Processing times can change according to application volumes, individual circumstances and whether Home Affairs needs additional information.
Subclass 870 differs from permanent Parent visas in one important respect. The capping and queueing arrangements that affect the permanent Parent visa program do not apply to the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa.
That does not mean Home Affairs will process every application quickly or within a fixed period.
Applicants should check the current Visa Processing Time Guide close to the time they apply and provide complete information at both the sponsorship and visa stages.
Can You Work on an 870 Visa?
The Sponsored Parent pathway exists to allow parents to reunite temporarily with their children in Australia rather than to provide an employment route.
Parents should check the conditions attached to their individual visa before making plans involving work or other activities in Australia.
This distinction also separates the Sponsored Parent pathway from temporary programs created specifically around work opportunities, such as the MATES visa Australia pathway for eligible Indian graduates and early-career professionals.
Does the 870 Visa Include Medicare?
Holding an Australian visa does not automatically establish Medicare eligibility.
Access to Medicare can depend on a person’s circumstances and other eligibility rules, including whether Australia has a reciprocal health care agreement with their home country.
Parents considering a long temporary stay should therefore check their individual Medicare eligibility rather than assuming that Subclass 870 automatically provides access.
Health-related costs can become particularly important during a stay of several years, so applicants should consider the applicable health and insurance arrangements before travelling.
Is the 870 Visa Permanent?
No. Subclass 870 is a temporary Parent visa.
It allows eligible parents to spend extended periods with their children in Australia but does not grant permanent residency.
Parents whose goal is permanent migration need to assess separate permanent Parent visa pathways and determine whether they meet the requirements for those visas.
870 Visa vs 143 Contributory Parent Visa
Both pathways can be relevant to parents with children in Australia, but they serve different purposes.
Subclass 870 provides temporary residence and can allow stays of up to three or five years at a time, subject to the overall 10-year limit.
The Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 143) provides permanent residence. It forms part of the capped and queued Parent visa program, and applicants must satisfy the Balance of Family Test.
Parents should therefore consider whether their objective is an extended temporary stay or permanent migration rather than treating the two pathways as interchangeable.
Common 870 Visa Mistakes
Common misunderstandings about the Sponsored Parent pathway include:
- assuming the parent can apply before Home Affairs approves the sponsor
- confusing the sponsorship application with the visa application
- assuming temporary residence provides permanent residency
- assuming the Balance of Family Test applies to Subclass 870
- failing to provide enough evidence of a genuine temporary stay
- overlooking financial requirements
- relying on outdated fees or processing times
- assuming every parent of an Australian resident automatically qualifies
- assuming the pathway allows unlimited stays in Australia
Understanding the sponsor-first process is particularly important. The parent cannot simply lodge an application without the required sponsorship approval.
Where to Go Next
If you’re considering the Sponsored Parent pathway or other options for joining family in Australia, these IC Australia resources can help:
FAQs
The 870 visa is the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa. It allows eligible parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens to stay temporarily with their family in Australia.
An eligible person in Australia must apply to become an approved Parent Sponsor. Home Affairs must approve the sponsorship before the parent submits their application.
No. Home Affairs does not apply the Balance of Family Test to Subclass 870. This differs from several permanent Parent visa pathways, including Subclass 143.
Applicants generally need to apply from outside Australia unless Home Affairs has given them permission to apply while in Australia. Applicants should check the current requirements for their circumstances before lodging.
A parent can receive a stay of up to three or five years. Across multiple grants, the maximum cumulative stay under the pathway is 10 years.
No. Subclass 870 provides temporary residence and does not itself lead to permanent residency. Parents who want permanent residence need to assess their eligibility for a separate permanent visa.
Conclusion
The 870 visa gives eligible parents an option to spend an extended period with their children and family in Australia without immediately applying for permanent migration.
The most important feature of Subclass 870 is its sponsor-first process. The prospective sponsor must apply first, and Home Affairs must approve that sponsorship before the parent can lodge their application.
The pathway can provide a stay of up to three or five years at a time, with a maximum cumulative stay of 10 years. It also differs significantly from permanent Parent visas because it provides temporary residence and does not require the Balance of Family Test.
If you’re unsure whether the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa or another Australian Parent visa suits your family’s circumstances, book a consultation with IC Australia to discuss your options.
Claire Dawson
Australian visa content specialist focused on skilled migration, employer sponsorship, partner visas, student pathways, and long-term options for moving to Australia.
