Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa Lawyers Australia
The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 870) lets an eligible parent of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen visit Australia for up to 3 or 5 years per visa, with a maximum cumulative stay of 10 years.
The process is sponsor-first: the child or eligible sponsor must be approved before the parent can lodge the visa application. The Subclass 870 does not require the Balance of Family Test and does not itself lead to permanent residence.
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Parent Visa Services
This page focuses on Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 870). For a complete comparison of Australian Parent visa pathways, eligibility, sponsorship and strategy, visit our Parent Visa Lawyers Australia hub.
Other parent visa pathways: Parent Visa 103 · Contributory Parent 143 · Contributory Parent 173 · Aged Parent 804 · Contributory Aged Parent 864 · Contributory Aged Parent 884
Subclass 870 Quick Facts — 2026
Up to 3 or 5 years per visa
Up to 10 years
AUD83,454.80
From AUD6,370 (3 years) or AUD12,440 (5 years)
AUD420
No paid work where condition 8103 applies
Not required
Subclass 870 itself is temporary
How the Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa Works
The Subclass 870 process has two separate stages. First, the proposed sponsor applies online through ImmiAccount to become an approved Parent Sponsor. Only after sponsorship approval can the parent lodge the Subclass 870 visa application.
If the parent applies from outside Australia, the visa application must generally be lodged within 6 months of sponsorship approval. If Home Affairs grants Permission to Apply in Australia in exceptional circumstances, the parent must lodge within 60 days of sponsorship approval.
Key Benefits of the Subclass 870 Visa
- Longer family visits: the visa can be granted for up to 3 or 5 years.
- Maximum cumulative stay: a parent can hold Subclass 870 visas for up to 10 years in total.
- No Balance of Family Test: unlike the permanent and contributory Parent visa subclasses, Subclass 870 does not use that test.
- Multiple entry travel: the visa can allow travel to and from Australia while it remains valid, subject to the grant conditions.
- Separate from the Parent visa queue: it is a temporary sponsored visa rather than a capped permanent Parent migration place.
Subclass 870 vs Permanent Parent Visas
Subclass 870 Visa and Sponsor Requirements
Before applying for the 870 Visa, both the parent and the sponsor must meet a set of eligibility criteria. Understanding these requirements is crucial to ensure the application is processed smoothly and efficiently.
For the parent applicant, the main issues include relationship to the approved sponsor, health and character, adequate health insurance, sufficient funds, genuine temporary-stay intention and compliance with the application-location rules.
- Eligible parent relationship: biological parent, legal/adoptive parent, step-parent or parent-in-law of the approved sponsor.
- No general age limit: Subclass 870 is not restricted to aged parents.
- Health and character: the parent must meet the applicable requirements and provide requested checks.
- Health insurance: adequate health insurance must be maintained while in Australia.
- Financial capacity: the parent must show they can support themselves financially during the stay.
- Temporary intention: evidence should support a genuine intention to stay temporarily rather than migrate permanently under this visa.
The sponsor must be approved before the parent can apply. The household is limited to one Parent Sponsorship at a time and an approved sponsorship can cover up to two parents.
- Age: the sponsor must be at least 18.
- Status and residence: the sponsor must be an Australian citizen, or an Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who has usually been resident in Australia for at least 4 years and satisfies the relevant residence-history requirements.
- Income test: taxable income for the most recent completed taxable income year must be at least AUD83,454.80. Eligible income can be combined with a partner and/or another eligible child of the prospective parent, subject to the sponsor personally contributing at least 50% of the specified amount.
- Government debt and previous obligations: relevant debts must be repaid or subject to an arrangement, and previous sponsorship obligations must have been met.
- Character: the sponsor must satisfy the applicable character requirements.
- Ongoing obligations: these include financial support and accommodation, notification obligations and responsibility for outstanding public health debts incurred by the sponsored parent.
Get Legal Advice About a Subclass 870 Application
Speak with our expert migration lawyers for clear advice and tailored solutions on the Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa. Call us now at 1300 807 134!
Subclass 870 Costs, Conditions and Application Rules
Current government charges (September 2026):
- Parent Sponsorship application: AUD420.
- Subclass 870 visa up to 3 years: from AUD6,370.
- Subclass 870 visa up to 5 years: from AUD12,440.
The visa charge is paid in two instalments. Additional costs can arise for health examinations, police certificates and biometrics. Concessions apply in limited circumstances, including eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste applicants from 1 July 2026.
Health examinations: Home Affairs may require medical examinations as part of the visa assessment.
Character: police certificates and other character material may be required.
Sufficient funds: the parent must be able to support themselves financially during the temporary stay.
Condition 8501: adequate health insurance may be attached and should be maintained for the period required by the visa conditions.
No paid work: Subclass 870 may carry condition 8103, which prohibits paid work unless written permission is given. The grant letter and VEVO should always be checked.
Other conditions: possible conditions include the requirement to leave before visa expiry, notify changes of details and comply with Australian law. The exact conditions are those recorded on the visa grant and in VEVO.
The Emigrate Lawyers Difference for Subclass 870
Subclass 870 requires two linked applications and strict timing. We approach the matter as a sponsor-and-parent legal strategy rather than a form-filling exercise.
- Sponsor assessment: status, residence history, income test, household limits and sponsorship obligations.
- Parent eligibility: health, character, insurance, funds and temporary-stay evidence.
- Onshore strategy: advice on whether Permission to Apply in Australia may be relevant and the 60-day deadline if permission is granted.
- Alternative pathways: comparison with Visitor visas and permanent Parent visas where appropriate.
- Lawyer-led representation: preparation, lodgement, Department correspondence and refusal/review strategy if issues arise.
Our paperless practice assists Parent Sponsors and parents across Australia and overseas. We can advise before sponsorship, before the visa application, or after a request for further information or adverse decision.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa
What is the Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa?
Can I work in Australia on a Subclass 870 Visa?
Can I apply for permanent residency while on a Subclass 870 Visa?
Who can sponsor me for the Subclass 870 Visa?
Can I include other family members in my Subclass 870 Visa application?
How long can I stay in Australia on a Subclass 870 Visa?
Do I need health insurance on the Subclass 870 Visa?
Can I apply for the Subclass 870 Visa while in Australia?
High-Intent Subclass 870 Questions
Can you apply for a Subclass 870 visa while in Australia?
Usually the parent applies from outside Australia. An onshore application requires Home Affairs to grant Permission to Apply in Australia, which is only approved in limited exceptional circumstances. If permission is granted, the visa application must be lodged within 60 days of sponsorship approval.
How long after sponsorship approval do you have to apply?
For an offshore application, the visa must generally be lodged within 6 months of sponsorship approval. Where Permission to Apply in Australia is granted, the onshore deadline is 60 days.
Can a Subclass 870 holder work in Australia?
The visa may carry condition 8103, which prohibits paid work. Always check VEVO and the grant letter for the conditions actually attached.
Does the 870 visa lead to permanent residence?
No. It is a temporary visa. Home Affairs also states that a parent cannot apply for a permanent or temporary Parent visa while they have applied for or hold a Subclass 870 visa.
How many parents can one household sponsor?
A household can have one Parent Sponsorship at a time, covering up to two parents.
What is the sponsor income requirement?
The current income-test threshold is taxable income of at least AUD83,454.80 for the most recent completed taxable income year before sponsorship lodgement. Eligible combined-income rules can apply.
Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa FAQs
How long can a parent stay on a Subclass 870 visa?
The visa can be granted for up to 3 or 5 years, depending on the application and grant.
Does Subclass 870 require the Balance of Family Test?
No. The Balance of Family Test applies to the permanent and contributory Parent visa subclasses listed by Home Affairs, but not to Subclass 870.
Does the sponsor apply before the parent?
Yes. The sponsor must first be approved. The parent then lodges the Subclass 870 visa application within the applicable period after sponsorship approval.
Can a Subclass 870 holder work in Australia?
Subclass 870 can carry condition 8103, which prohibits paid work. Visa conditions should be checked in VEVO and the grant letter.
Does Subclass 870 lead to permanent residence?
No. Subclass 870 is temporary and does not itself create a permanent-residence pathway. Home Affairs also states that a parent cannot apply for a permanent Parent visa while holding Subclass 870.
Legal review: Reviewed by Madhab Kharel, Principal Lawyer, Emigrate Lawyers. Last updated 28 September 2026. General information only and not legal advice. Parent visa criteria, charges, queue dates and procedures can change. Check current Department of Home Affairs information.
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Request a Call Back About a Subclass 870 Matter
Tell us whether you are the proposed sponsor or parent, where the parent is currently located, and whether sponsorship has already been lodged or approved. Our team can contact you about the appropriate next step.
AUTHOR & LEGAL REVIEW
Madhab Kharel
Principal Lawyer
Madhab Kharel is Principal Lawyer and Director of Emigrate Lawyers. His migration practice includes Parent Visas, sponsor eligibility, temporary and permanent Parent visa strategy, visa conditions, health and character issues, refusals and Administrative Review Tribunal matters.
