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The Subclass 870 visa (Sponsored Temporary Parent Visa) is a special Australian visa that lets parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens stay in Australia for longer visits. Introduced in 2019, this visa allows an approved parent to stay 3 or 5 years at a time (renewable up to a 10-year total stay) so they can spend extended periods with family. The visa removes the old requirement that most of the parent’s children live in Australia (“no balance-of-family test”). Key benefits include longer visits, no work rights (it’s for family reunions only), and the ability to apply at almost any age. This guide covers everything about the 870 visa—eligibility, sponsorship, costs, processing times, steps to apply, plus comparisons and FAQs—to help you navigate the process smoothly.
The 870 visa, is a temporary parent visa that allows parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to stay in Australia for an extended period.
Unlike standard visitor visas, the 870 parent visa is specifically designed for long-term family reunification. It allows parents to stay in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years per visa, with a maximum cumulative stay of 10 years.
This visa operates under a sponsorship model, meaning the applicant must be sponsored by their child who meets certain eligibility and income requirements. The 870 sponsored parent temporary visa does not require passing the Balance of Family Test, making it more accessible compared to many permanent parent visa options.
However, it’s important to understand that the subclass 870 visa is strictly temporary. It does not provide a pathway to permanent residency and comes with conditions such as no work rights and mandatory health insurance.
In simple terms, the parent visa subclass 870 is ideal for families who want their parents to stay in Australia for longer durations without committing to the high costs and long processing times of permanent parent visas.
To qualify for the Subclass 870 visa, both the parent (applicant) and their Australian child (sponsor) must meet certain criteria:
The visa applicant must be the biological, adoptive, or step parent (or parent-in-law) of the sponsor. They must be at least 18 years old (no upper age limit). The parent must pass standard health and character checks (medical exams, police clearance, etc.) and hold adequate health insurance for the visa duration.
The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible NZ citizen, and at least 18 years old. They must have lived in Australia for at least 4 years prior to sponsorship. The sponsor also must meet the income requirement – currently (as of 2026) a taxable income of around AUD $83,454.80 in the last financial year (sponsor’s and partner’s combined income can be used) to show financial capacity. Sponsorship is limited to two parents (or parents-in-law) at a time.
Before applying for the 870 visa, the sponsor must first lodge a Parent Sponsorship application with the Department of Home Affairs and pay a sponsorship fee of AUD $420. This sponsorship must be approved before the parent can proceed with the 870 visa application. If approved, the sponsor becomes an approved Parent Sponsor. Only then can the parent lodge the actual visa application.
Key Points: There is no ‘balance of family’ test for this visa—parents can apply even if most of their children live overseas. Also, no language or skills test applies. The main hurdles are proving the parent-child relationship, meeting financial criteria, and obtaining sponsor approval.
To apply for the 870 visa, the sponsoring child (or child-in-law) must meet specific eligibility criteria set by the Department of Home Affairs.
Citizenship/Residency: The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
Age and Residency: The sponsor must be at least 18 years old and must have been lawfully residing in Australia for at least 4 years prior to applying. This does not require a specific split between permanent residency and citizenship.
No Sponsorship Concurrency: A sponsor can sponsor up to two parents in total, but generally cannot have multiple active sponsorships at the same time. They must also not have any outstanding obligations from previous sponsorships.
Income Threshold: The sponsor must meet a minimum taxable income threshold of AUD $83,454.80 (based on the most recent financial year). Income can be combined with a spouse or partner to meet this requirement. This threshold is subject to periodic updates.
Sponsorship Undertaking: The sponsor must sign an undertaking agreeing to support the parent during their stay in Australia and comply with all 870 visa conditions. In some cases, they may be required to repay certain recoverable government costs.
Once the child lodges the sponsorship form (online) and pays the $420 fee, Home Affairs will assess the sponsor’s eligibility. Approval typically takes a few months. After approval, the parent has 6 months to lodge their visa application (within this window) using the sponsor’s approval letter.
Parents must choose either a 3-year or 5-year visa when applying. Home Affairs will grant one of these (depending on circumstances). With a 3-year visa, parents can remain in Australia continuously for up to 3 years from their entry date; similarly for 5 years.
The parent visa subclass 870 allows a maximum cumulative stay of 10 years in Australia.
This means parents can apply for multiple visas, such as:
One 3-year visa + one 5-year visa (total 8 years), or
Two 5-year visas (maximum 10 years)
However, once the 10-year limit is reached, no further 870 sponsored parent visa applications can be granted.
After each visa expires, the parent must spend at least 90 consecutive days outside Australia before applying for a subsequent 870 visa. This “cooling-off” period is mandated by law to ensure temporary status.
No Work Right: Visa holders are not permitted to work in Australia. This visa is purely for family reunification and long-term visits.
Health Insurance: Parents must maintain adequate private health insurance (e.g. travel or overseas visitor cover) during their stay. They are not eligible for Medicare, so medical costs must be privately covered.
No Extension from Within Australia: The subclass 870 visa cannot be extended while the applicant is in Australia. To continue staying under the 870 visa, parents must leave Australia before their current visa expires, complete the mandatory 90-day period outside the country, and then submit a new 870 visa application from offshore.
Limited Visa Pathways Onshore: While holding an 870 parent visa, applicants are generally restricted from applying for most other substantive visas while in Australia. If long-term migration is the goal, alternative pathways should be planned separately.
Full Visa Compliance: Parents must leave Australia before their visa expires, comply with all applicable visa conditions, and ensure they do not overstay their permitted duration. Failure to meet these requirements can negatively impact future visa applications and may lead to refusals or restrictions on re-entry.
Re-Entry Flexibility: The 870 parent visa is a multiple-entry visa, which means parents can travel in and out of Australia freely during its validity. Each time they re-enter, they can stay for the remaining duration of their visa. This flexibility makes the subclass 870 visa a practical option for families who need to balance responsibilities across different countries while staying connected.
The sponsored parent visa subclass 870 can be reapplied for, subject to conditions.
To renew:
A new sponsorship approval is required
The parent must complete the 90-day offshore requirement
A fresh 870 visa application must be submitted
As long as the total stay does not exceed 10 years, renewal remains possible.
Applying for the 870 visa follows a structured process under the sponsored parent temporary visa subclass 870 pathway. Here are the 6 key steps:
Applying for the 870 visa involves multiple fees, including both sponsorship and visa application charges:
Sponsorship Fee: AUD 420 (paid by the sponsor). This is non-refundable and covers the cost of approving the sponsor’s eligibility.
Visa Application Base Fee: Starts from approximately AUD 1,240+, payable when the parent lodges the 870 visa application.
Visa Second Instalment: This depends on the visa duration:
Around AUD 5,000 (approx.) for a 3-year visa
Around AUD 11,800 (approx.) for a 5-year visa
This brings the total visa cost to approximately:
AUD 6,200+ (3-year visa)
AUD 12,000–13,500 (5-year visa)
Additional Costs: Applicants should also budget for:
Private health insurance (can cost several thousand AUD annually, especially for older applicants).
Medical examinations
Police clearance certificates
Document translation or certification (if required)
For a 5-year 870 parent visa:
Sponsor pays: AUD 420
Parent pays: AUD 1,240 + ~AUD 11,800
Total ≈ AUD 12,500–13,500, excluding insurance and other costs
Compared to permanent parent visas (which can exceed AUD 40,000 per applicant), the 870 sponsored parent temporary visa offers a more affordable option for long-term stays in Australia.
Understanding the 870 parent visa processing time is important when planning travel and family reunification.
The Department of Home Affairs provides general processing benchmarks, but exact timelines for the 870 visa can vary depending on several factors. In most cases, a subclass 870 visa is processed within approximately 4 to 8 months, provided the application is complete and all supporting documents are submitted correctly.
However, processing times for the 870 sponsored parent temporary visa may be longer if:
Additional health examinations are required
Character checks take more time
Further documentation is requested
There is a high volume of applications
Because of these variables, applicants should treat timelines as indicative rather than guaranteed and apply well in advance of their intended travel date.
The sponsored parent visa subclass 870 is subject to an annual cap of 15,000 visas per program year (from 1 July to 30 June). Once this limit is reached, no further 870 visa applications can be finalised until the next program year begins.
While availability can vary each year, applying early helps reduce the risk of delays due to quota limits.
It’s helpful to see how the Subclass 870 stacks up against other parent visa options:
The Subclass 870 is ideal for parents who want extended visits and cannot wait years for permanent visas, or for those who do not meet the criteria for other visas. It is less expensive than the contributory parent visa, but does not grant permanent residency. It fills the gap between short-term visitor visas and high-cost permanent parent visas.
Longer continuous stay: The 870 visa allows parents to stay in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years per grant, which is significantly longer than a standard visitor visa (usually limited to 3–12 months).
Multiple renewals upto 10 years: Under the 870 sponsored parent temporary visa, parents can reapply after a mandatory 90-day stay outside Australia, allowing a total stay of up to 10 years.
No age limit: The subclass 870 visa has no upper age restriction, making it suitable for elderly parents who may not qualify for permanent parent visas.
No balance of family test: Unlike other parent visa options, the parent visa subclass 870 does not require meeting the balance of family test, even if most children live outside Australia.
Faster access compared to PR parent visas: The 870 temporary parent visa is generally processed much faster than permanent parent visas, which can take several years.
Temporary status: The visa subclass 870 does not lead to permanent residency. It is designed purely for extended family stays, not long-term migration.
Higher Overall Cost: The 870 visa application involves significant costs, including visa charges (up to ~AUD 13,000 for 5 years), health insurance, and living expenses.
Strict Sponsor Obligations: The sponsor must meet income requirements and comply with all responsibilities under the 870 sponsored parent visa, including financial support expectations.
Compliance: Parents must obey visa conditions (no work, leave on time) or risk penalties.
It’s the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa for Australia, allowing parents to stay 3 or 5 years (renewable up to 10) to visit family. It’s a long-stay visitor visa specifically for parents.
A parent (biological, adoptive, or step-parent) whose child is an Australian citizen/PR or eligible NZ citizen. The sponsor child must be approved first. Parents must be 18+, and meet health and character checks.
The Australian child lodges a sponsorship application (with $420 fee). After sponsor approval, the parent lodges the 870 visa application online (pays visa fees, supplies documents, health insurance, etc.). The process takes a few months.
The sponsor pays AUD 420, while the parent pays visa fees in two parts—about AUD 1,200+ initially, plus around AUD 5,000 (3-year) or AUD 12,000 (5-year). Additional costs include health insurance and medical exams.
No. The visa is for visiting family only. The parent cannot engage in paid work. Short courses may be allowed, but check conditions.
No. As long as the parent is over 18 and meets requirements, age is not a limiting factor. This visa is often used by older parents who can’t qualify for other visas.
No. Unlike many parent visas, the 870 has no balance test. Even if one child is in Australia, the parent can still apply.
Processing times vary. Currently, most complete cases are decided in about 4–8 months. Factors like medical checks or backlog can extend this.
Generally, parents apply from offshore. However, in special cases (COVID, etc.), Home Affairs may allow onshore applications with permission. Check the latest policy.
No. It is strictly temporary. Parents must eventually leave (after up to 10 years of visits). There is no direct pathway to PR via the 870 visa.
If you’re considering bringing your parents to Australia on a Subclass 870 visa, review all requirements carefully. Check the Australian Home Affairs website for the latest forms, fees and updates. It’s wise to start the process early: apply for sponsorship well before your parent’s intended travel date. For personalized help, consider consulting a registered migration agent who can guide you through the steps. With proper planning—meeting the eligibility criteria and following visa conditions—you can reunite your family under the 870 visa. Good luck with your application!
