Australia Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa Subclass 870

The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa Subclass 870 allows parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to stay temporarily in Australia for extended periods. It allows the parents of an Australian citizen to travel back and forth multiple times during the validity of their visa.

It provides an alternative to traditional parent visas without requiring applicants to pass the Balance of Family Test. However, it is strictly a temporary visa and does not offer a pathway to Australian permanent residency.

What is a Subclass 870 Visa?

The Subclass 870 visa in Australia is a special type of visa called the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa. It allows parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents to visit Australia for up to 3 or 5 years at a time, with the possibility to extend for up to 10 years in total.

This visa does not lead to permanent residency but offers a longer stay compared to other visitor visas, making it easier for families to spend time together. To apply, the parent must be sponsored by their Australian child, meet health and character requirements, and have adequate health insurance.

Benefits & Strategic Considerations of a Visa Subclass 870

The 870 Visa Australia is a temporary visa that allows the parents of eligible Australian citizens to stay in Australia for a longer period. Some of the sponsored parents' visa benefits include:

• Extended Uninterrupted Stay: Stay for up to 3 or 5 years continuously without having to leave every 3 to 12 months as required by standard visitor visas.
• No Balance of Family Test: Parents can qualify even if most or all of their other children reside outside Australia.
• Important Restriction on Permanent Residency: Holding or having applied for a Subclass 870 visa prevents the applicant from applying onshore for permanent parent visas (e.g., Subclass 804 or 864). If permanent residency is desired in the future, seek professional advice before applying.

The sponsor visa for parents needs sponsorship from a biological child who is capable of meeting the financial and other requirements. But the one point that needs to be kept in mind is that this is not the pathway to permanent residence for the parents.

Eligibility Requirements for a Subclass 870 Visa

To successfully secure a Subclass 870 Visa, families must navigate a strict two-stage process that assesses both the Australian child and the migrating parent. Meeting these specific financial, health, and relationship benchmarks ensures a smooth pathway to a temporary family reunion.

For the Sponsor (Child in Australia)

1. Relationship: Must be a biological, adoptive, step-parent, or parent-in-law relationship with the applicant.
2. Age & Residency: Must be at least 18 years old and an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen who has been usually resident in Australia for at least 4 years.
3. Income Threshold: Must meet the Department's minimum taxable income threshold, currently AU $83,454.80 for the last financial year. The sponsor's income can be combined with a partner's income, provided the sponsor's personal taxable income accounts for at least 50% of the threshold.
4. Obligations & Debts: Must have no outstanding public health or Commonwealth debts and agree to financially support and accommodate the parent. 

For the Parent (Applicant)

1. Approved Sponsor: Must have an officially approved Parent Sponsor before lodging the visa application.
2. Health Insurance: Must purchase and maintain adequate private health insurance coverage from an Australian provider for the full duration of stay.
3. Health & Character: Must pass panel physician health examinations and provide police certificates for all relevant countries.
4. Genuine Visitor: Must intend a genuine temporary stay and have a clean immigration history.

Subclass 870 Visa Checklist

The documents that are required for the 870 Visa in Australia from both the sponsor and parents are:

• Both the sponsor and the parent must have a valid passport at the time of application.
• Passport-size photographs need to be taken per the application requirements.
• The applicant must meet the character requirements of the Australian government.
• Health certificates of the applicants from the competent authorities.
• Sponsors need to meet the minimum income requirements that have been set by the Government of Australia.
• Proof of Australian citizenship of the sponsors.
• Proof of family relationship in the form of a birth certificate or family records.
• Any other relevant documents that are required by the immigration authorities.

Don't risk delays due to incomplete financial evidence or timing mistakes in your sponsor approval. Sign up for our migration services today to ensure your family’s application is flawless from day one.

Subclass 870 Visa Cost

The application cost is split into two separate stages (sponsorship + visa), with the visa fee itself paid in two instalments:

Note: A 1.4% credit card surcharge applies to all payments made through the ImmiAccount portal. Sponsoring a second parent within the same household does not require a new sponsorship fee, as one AU $420 sponsor approval can cover up to two parents.

Subclass 870 Visa Processing Time

Your note about applications taking longer if filed with mistakes is absolutely spot on, but the typical waiting timeline is longer than three to four months. Because it is a two-step process, you have to account for both stages:

• Stage 1 (Sponsorship Approval): Usually takes 2 to 3 months (50% processed in 79 days).
• Stage 2 (Visa Application): Usually takes 5 to 9 months once submitted.
• Combined Reality: Most families should budget between 6 and 12 months from the moment the child submits the initial sponsor paperwork to the actual visa grant.

The primary reasons processing slows down are backlogs caused by the 15,000 annual programme cap and delays in the parent completing their offshore panel health examinations.

How to Apply for an 870 Visa?

Applying for the Subclass 870 Visa requires careful coordination to ensure both the sponsor and the parent submit their respective documentation within strict deadlines. Following this step-by-step roadmap will minimise delays and ensure your family meets all key Department of Home Affairs requirements.

1. Sponsorship Application: The Australian child applies online via ImmiAccount to become an approved Parent Sponsor. They must submit proof of identity, residency (4 years), taxable income, and character.
2. Visa Application: Once the sponsorship is approved, the parent must lodge their visa application within 6 months of the approval date. Applications are typically lodged while the parent is outside Australia (unless specific permission to lodge onshore was granted during the sponsorship phase).
3. Health Examinations & Health Cover: The applicant completes required health checks with an approved panel physician and uploads evidence of adequate private health insurance coverage.
4. Final Payment & Visa Grant: Once health and character checks are clear, the Department requests the 2nd Instalment payment. Upon payment, the visa is officially granted.

Reapplying for a Second 870 Visa

• Up to 10 Years Max: Parents can apply for a second Subclass 870 visa to reach the maximum 10-year total limit.
• Mandatory Offshore Requirement: To reapply, the parent must be outside Australia for at least 90 consecutive days before lodging the second Subclass 870 visa application, unless granted an explicit onshore lodging waiver by the Department.

Sponsor Obligations & Conditions

In case you are the sponsor of the 870 Parent Visa, there are ongoing legal conditions that must be fulfilled:

• Support & Housing: You must be in a position to provide financial support along with accommodation during their visit and stay in Australia.
• Critical Notifications: You must inform the immigration authorities if any of your parents pass away or if your relationship breaks down during their visit to Australia.
• Debt Liability: You are legally responsible for any public health or Commonwealth debt that your parents incur during their visit to Australia.

Family is one of the strongest and most reliable backbones of any person. Having your parents with you in Australia provides invaluable emotional support as they grow older. If you want to navigate this complex multi-stage process with complete peace of mind, reach out to us today.

Ready to bring your parents to Australia without the stress of paperwork? Book an Australia Visa Consultation with our expert AECC counsellors to map out your application strategy today.