What Is the Sponsored Parent Visa Subclass 870?

The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa subclass 870 is a temporary family visa that allows an eligible parent to visit and stay in Australia for an extended period.

The sponsor must generally be the parent's:

• Biological child
• Legal or adoptive child
• Stepchild
• Child's spouse or eligible parent-in-law relationship, where permitted

The sponsor must be an:

• Australian citizen
• Australian permanent resident
• Eligible New Zealand citizen

The Department confirms that the visa was introduced to provide parents with a temporary pathway to reunite with their children in Australia while addressing the lengthy waiting periods associated with permanent Parent visas.

How Long Can You Stay in Australia?

The subclass 870 visa can be granted for:

3 Years

An eligible parent may be granted a stay of up to 3 years.

5 Years

An eligible parent may instead be granted a stay of up to 5 years, depending on the application and applicable requirements.

Maximum 10-Year Stay

Subclass 870 allows a maximum cumulative stay of 10 years under the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa program.

The visa is temporary and does not automatically become a permanent visa.

Who Can Apply for Subclass 870?

You may be eligible for subclass 870 if you have an eligible sponsor in Australia and satisfy the applicable visa requirements.

The parent may be:

• A biological parent
• An adoptive parent
• A legal parent
• A step-parent
• A parent-in-law of the sponsor, where the relevant relationship requirements are satisfied

The sponsor must meet the applicable Australian citizenship, permanent residence or eligible New Zealand citizenship requirements.

Does the Balance of Family Test Apply?

One important difference between subclass 870 and many permanent Parent visas is that the Balance of Family Test is not a requirement for subclass 870.

The Department lists the Balance of Family Test as applying to permanent and contributory Parent visa subclasses including:

• 103
• 143
• 173
• 804
• 864
• 884

Subclass 870 is not included in this list.

This can make subclass 870 an option for some parents who do not satisfy the Balance of Family Test required for permanent Parent visas.

Sponsorship for Subclass 870

The subclass 870 process has two important stages:

Stage 1 – Sponsorship

The Australian sponsor must first lodge a sponsorship application.

The Department must approve the sponsorship before the parent can lodge the Sponsored Parent visa application.

Stage 2 – Visa Application

After sponsorship approval, the parent can lodge the subclass 870 visa application within the applicable period.

This means the parent cannot simply lodge the visa application first and arrange sponsorship later.

Sponsor Requirements

The sponsor must satisfy the applicable requirements before sponsorship can be approved.

The sponsor is generally required to:

• Be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
• Be at least 18 years old
• Have the required relationship with the parent
• Meet the applicable residence requirements
• Satisfy financial requirements
• Provide the required documentation
• Meet other sponsorship obligations imposed under the legislation

The Department requires the sponsor to provide supporting documents with the sponsorship application, including an Australian Taxation Office Notice of Assessment.

Sponsor's Financial Capacity

Financial requirements apply to the sponsorship process.

The sponsor may need to demonstrate that they have sufficient financial capacity to meet the applicable sponsorship requirements.

The exact evidence required can depend on the circumstances of the sponsor and the application.

Because financial thresholds and documentary requirements can change, applicants should check the current Department requirements before lodging.

Sponsored Parent Visa Requirements

To obtain subclass 870, the parent must satisfy the applicable visa requirements.

1. Approved Sponsorship

The parent must have an approved sponsorship from an eligible sponsor.

The Department must approve the sponsorship before the parent can lodge the subclass 870 visa application.

2. Eligible Parent Relationship

The applicant must have the required parent relationship with the sponsor.

This can include a biological, legal, adoptive or step-parent relationship and, where applicable, a parent-in-law relationship.

3. Health Requirements

The parent and any relevant family members must satisfy the applicable health requirements.

The Department may request medical examinations and other health checks as part of the application.

Subclass 870 is a temporary visa and health requirements are assessed under the rules applicable to temporary visa applicants.

4. Character Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the applicable character requirements.

Police certificates and other character documents may be requested depending on the applicant's circumstances.

5. Genuine Temporary Stay

The applicant must demonstrate a genuine intention to stay temporarily in Australia.

The Department recommends providing evidence explaining why the applicant intends to visit Australia temporarily, including evidence of ties to their home country where relevant.

Evidence may include:

• Family or community ties overseas
• Property ownership
• Employment or business interests
• Financial commitments
• Other reasons demonstrating an intention to return overseas

6. Financial Capacity

The applicant must demonstrate that they can support themselves financially during their stay in Australia.

The Department states that applicants need to show they can fully support themselves financially while in Australia.

7. Health Insurance

Subclass 870 is subject to health insurance requirements.

The visa is listed among visas subject to condition 8501, which requires the visa holder to maintain adequate health insurance while in Australia.

Applicants should arrange appropriate health insurance that satisfies the applicable visa requirements.

What Can a Subclass 870 Visa Holder Do?

Depending on the visa conditions attached to the grant, a subclass 870 holder can generally:

✔ Stay in Australia temporarily for the approved period
✔ Spend extended time with family in Australia
✔ Travel to and from Australia while the travel facility remains valid
✔ Live with their Australian family during the approved stay

However, the subclass 870 visa is primarily intended for temporary family reunification.

It should not be presented as a permanent residence visa.

Does Subclass 870 Provide Permanent Residency?

No.

The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa subclass 870 is a temporary visa.

Holding subclass 870 does not automatically result in permanent residency or citizenship.

A parent who wants permanent residence would need to separately qualify for an appropriate permanent migration pathway.

Potential Parent visa options can include:

• Parent visa subclass 103
• Contributory Parent visa subclass 143
• Aged Parent visa subclass 804
• Contributory Aged Parent visa subclass 864

Eligibility for these visas is separate from subclass 870 and depends on the applicant's individual circumstances.

Subclass 870 vs Permanent Parent Visas

Subclass 870 vs Visitor Visa

Subclass 870 is designed for parents who want to spend a much longer period with their children in Australia than is normally available through a standard visitor arrangement.

The most appropriate visa depends on the parent's circumstances, intended stay and eligibility.

Subclass 870 Application Process

Step 1 – Check Sponsor Eligibility

The Australian child or eligible sponsor should first determine whether they satisfy the sponsorship requirements.

Step 2 – Lodge Sponsorship Application

The sponsor submits the sponsorship application with the required supporting documents.

The Department must approve the sponsorship before the parent can proceed with the visa application.

Step 3 – Sponsorship Approval

Once the sponsorship has been approved, the parent can proceed with the visa application within the applicable timeframe.

Step 4 – Prepare Visa Documents

The parent should prepare:

• Passport
• Birth certificate
• Evidence of parent-child relationship
• Sponsor's Australian citizenship or permanent residence evidence
• Health documents
• Character documents
• Financial evidence
• Evidence of temporary stay intentions
• Health insurance evidence where required
• Other documents requested by the Department

Step 5 – Lodge Visa Application

Subclass 870 applications can be lodged online through ImmiAccount after sponsorship approval.

Step 6 – Health and Character Checks

Complete any health examinations and character checks requested by the Department.

Step 7 – Respond to Department Requests

Provide additional documents or information if requested.

Step 8 – Visa Decision

The Department assesses the application and makes a decision.

Documents You May Need

The exact documents depend on your circumstances, but commonly requested evidence can include:

Parent Documents

• Passport
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate, where applicable
• Evidence of relationship with sponsor
• Police certificates
• Health examination evidence
• Financial evidence
• Evidence of overseas ties
• Evidence of assets or property
• Health insurance evidence

Sponsor Documents

• Australian passport or citizenship evidence
• Permanent residence evidence, where applicable
• Evidence of relationship with the parent
• Notice of Assessment from the Australian Taxation Office
• Financial evidence
• Sponsorship documents
• Other documents requested by the Department

Providing complete and consistent documentation can help avoid unnecessary delays.

Processing Time for Subclass 870

Processing times can change and should not be presented as a fixed guarantee.

Subclass 870 is different from permanent Parent visas because it is a temporary visa and is not subject to the permanent Parent visa queue in the same way.

The Department recommends checking the current processing information and ensuring that all required information and documents are provided.

A complete application can help avoid delays caused by requests for additional information.

Visa Costs

Subclass 870 involves visa application charges and separate sponsorship-related costs may also apply.

The Department's visa charges can change over time, so the current Visa Pricing Estimator should be checked immediately before lodging an application.

Additional costs may include:

• Sponsorship-related fees
• Visa application charges
• Health examinations
• Police certificates
• Health insurance
• Professional migration advice, if used
• Translation and certification costs, where applicable

Avoid publishing an old fixed subclass 870 fee on your website because Australian visa charges are periodically updated.

Important Conditions of Subclass 870

Subclass 870 is a temporary visa and comes with visa conditions.

One important condition is condition 8501, which requires the visa holder to maintain adequate health insurance while in Australia.

The parent must also comply with all conditions attached to their visa.

A breach of visa conditions can affect future visa applications and immigration status.

Can a Parent Apply for Another Visa After Subclass 870?

A subclass 870 holder may be able to apply for another visa if they meet the requirements for that visa.

However, holding subclass 870 does not guarantee eligibility for a permanent Parent visa.

Any future visa application must be assessed independently, including:

• Eligibility requirements
• Sponsorship requirements
• Balance of family test where applicable
• Health requirements
• Character requirements
• Visa-specific conditions
• Any applicable No Further Stay or other visa conditions

Parents considering permanent residence should obtain professional advice before making decisions about their long-term migration strategy.

Why Choose the Sponsored Parent Visa Subclass 870?

Subclass 870 can be useful for parents who want to spend significant time with their children in Australia without waiting for a permanent Parent visa place.

Key Advantages

✔ Stay in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years at a time
✔ Maximum cumulative stay of up to 10 years
✔ Designed specifically for parents of eligible Australians
✔ Does not require the Balance of Family Test
✔ Provides an alternative to lengthy permanent Parent visa queues
✔ Can support extended family reunification

However, it is important to remember that subclass 870 is temporary and does not itself provide permanent residence.

How We Can Help With Subclass 870

The Sponsored Parent visa involves both a sponsorship application and a separate visa application.

At The Visa and Education Services Pty Ltd, we can assist with:

✔ Subclass 870 eligibility assessment
✔ Sponsor eligibility assessment
✔ Parent-child relationship assessment
✔ Sponsorship application guidance
✔ Financial evidence guidance
✔ Temporary stay assessment
✔ Health and character documentation guidance
✔ Visa application preparation
✔ Document checklist and review
✔ Long-term parent visa pathway assessment

Speak With a Registered Migration Agent

Navneet Kaur – Registered Migration Agent
MARN: 2318181

If you want your parents to spend an extended period with family in Australia, the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa subclass 870 may be worth considering.

Get Personalised Parent Visa Advice

Understand the sponsorship requirements, temporary stay options and potential long-term visa pathways before lodging your application.