Sponsored Parent Visa — Subclass 870

Sponsored Parent Visa Subclass 870: Requirements, Costs and How It Works

Subclass 870

The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa Subclass 870 lets parents of Australian citizens and eligible permanent residents stay in Australia for up to three or five years at a time. Home Affairs describes it as a visa for a parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, with stays of up to 3 or 5 years. It is a temporary visa, so it does not lead to permanent residence, but it is the fastest and most predictable way to have parents spend extended time with their family in Australia.

The subclass 870 works very differently from the other parent visas. There is no balance of family test and no assurance of support bond, but the sponsor has to be approved first, the parent has to hold private health insurance for the whole stay, and the sponsor has to meet an income test. Families who mix up the subclass 870 with the permanent parent visas often waste time and money, so it is worth understanding what it can and cannot do.

This page explains who can apply, how sponsor approval works, what the visa costs, how long the process takes, what the conditions are and what the options are when the visa ends. It is written for Australian citizens and permanent residents who want to sponsor a parent, and for parents in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Europe and Australia. If you would like your situation reviewed by a person, Migration Factor offers a free consultation. You can request a free consultation through our contact form. Nothing on this page guarantees a visa outcome or a timeframe, and fees, thresholds and annual limits change, so please treat this as a planning guide.

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What the Subclass 870 Visa Is

The subclass 870 is a temporary visa that allows a parent to live in Australia for a period of three or five years, chosen when the application is made. The visa does not allow the parent to work, and the parent must hold adequate private health insurance for the whole stay. Parents can travel in and out of Australia while the visa is valid.

There is a lifetime style limit. The total time a parent can spend on subclass 870 visas is generally capped at ten years. After that, a further subclass 870 is not available. The visa also cannot be extended from inside Australia, so a parent who wants to stay longer on a new subclass 870 usually has to leave Australia and apply again from outside, after a minimum period offshore.

The visa is designed for visiting and family time, including time with grandchildren. It is not designed to give a parent a long term home in Australia, and years spent on a subclass 870 do not count toward residence for citizenship.

Who the Visa Is For

The subclass 870 suits families who want their parents in Australia for long stays and who are prepared to meet the sponsor and insurance requirements. Typical situations include:

• Parents who want to spend several years with their children and grandchildren in Australia
• Families who cannot wait for a permanent parent visa and want a more immediate option
• Parents who are not ready or eligible for a permanent visa, for example because of the balance of family test
• Sponsors who can meet the income test and want a clear, structured arrangement
• Families who want to combine the 870 with a permanent parent application in the queue, taking care over the order in which they apply

For this visa, the Department treats a parent as including a biological parent, a legal or adoptive parent, a step parent and a parent in law of the sponsor, according to practitioner sources. Confirm the current definition on the Home Affairs website for your family.

The Sponsor Approval Step

The sponsor has to be approved before the parent can lodge the visa application. This is a separate application, with its own charge, and it is the step that catches many families out.

The sponsor is usually the parent's child, or that child's spouse or de facto partner. According to practitioner sources, they must be at least 18 and be an Australian citizen, or an Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who has usually lived in Australia for at least four years. People with certain unlawful periods or specific bridging visas in the recent past may not be eligible, and sponsors may need to show that they do not owe unpaid public health or other Commonwealth debts.

A household can generally hold only one sponsorship at a time, and a sponsorship can cover up to two parents. Once the sponsorship is approved, the parent usually has six months to lodge the visa application, and if they do not, the sponsorship ends. Practitioner sources report a shorter window of 60 days where permission to apply from inside Australia has been given. Check the current rules before you plan the timing.

The sponsorship application charge is reported at about AUD 420, and it is not refunded.

The Income Test

The sponsor must show enough income to support the parent. Practitioner sources report that the threshold is taxable income of about AUD 83,454.80 in the most recent completed income year, as shown on the assessed tax return. This figure is set in a legislative instrument and is not automatically indexed, so please confirm the current amount with the Department.

Income can be combined in some cases. A sponsor may combine their income with that of their spouse or de facto partner, or with another eligible child of the parent, and in that case the sponsor's own income has to be at least about half of the threshold. The rules for combined income are specific, so it is worth checking them closely if your family plans to use them.

Tax records are the usual evidence, not just payslips. If your income is close to the threshold, plan ahead, because a year with lower income can affect eligibility, and the test is applied to a specific income year.

Eligibility Requirements for the Parent

The main requirements reported for the parent are:

• The parent is the parent, step parent or parent in law of the sponsor, and the sponsor is approved
• The parent applies within the time allowed after the sponsorship is approved
• The parent generally applies from outside Australia, unless the Department gives permission to apply in Australia
• The parent holds, or arranges, adequate private health insurance for the whole stay
• The parent meets health and character requirements
• The parent has a genuine intention to stay temporarily and enough funds for the stay, with the sponsor's support
• The parent has not applied for, or does not hold, a permanent or contributory parent visa in a way that makes the application ineligible. Check the order of applications carefully

There is no balance of family test for the subclass 870, which is one of the biggest differences from the permanent parent visas. A parent whose children mainly live overseas can still qualify if the sponsor is eligible. Each parent lodges a separate application, and other family members cannot be included in the parent's application.

The Order of Applications With Permanent Parent Visas

If your family hopes to apply for a permanent or contributory parent visa as well as the subclass 870, the order matters. Practitioner sources report that a parent who has applied for, or who holds, a subclass 870 cannot apply for a permanent or contributory parent visa, and that families who want both should lodge the permanent application first.

This is a critical point. Lodging the subclass 870 first can close the door on a queue position that the parent might have secured years earlier. If you are unsure, take advice before lodging anything, because the rule is hard to reverse after the fact.

Application Charges and Costs

The visa application charge changed on 1 July 2026. Practitioner sources report the following structure, and the figures were consistent across several of them.

• Sponsorship application: about AUD 420, paid with the sponsorship application
• Up to three years: about AUD 1,515 at lodgement and about AUD 4,855 before the visa is granted, a total of about AUD 6,370
• Up to five years: about AUD 1,515 at lodgement and about AUD 10,925 before the visa is granted, a total of about AUD 12,440

A reduced first instalment may apply to eligible citizens of certain Pacific island countries and Timor Leste. The charge is paid in two instalments, and the second is requested by the Department before the visa is granted. Charges are generally not refunded if the application is refused or withdrawn.

These figures come from migration practitioners, so please confirm the exact amounts in the Visa Pricing Estimator before you pay.

The visa charge is only part of the cost. Budget also for:

• Private health insurance for the parent for the entire stay, which varies by age, provider and level of cover
• Medical examinations and police certificates, which sources estimate at a few hundred dollars
• Flights and travel costs
• Certified translations and document copies
• Professional assistance, if you choose to use it

Health insurance is often the largest ongoing cost, particularly for older parents, so get quotes early and include them in the family budget.

Check current government application charges ↗

Annual Limit and Processing Time

The number of subclass 870 visas granted each year is capped. Practitioner sources refer to an initial limit of 15,000 grants per program year, and note that once the limit is reached, no more are granted until the next program year begins on 1 July. Please confirm the current limit with the Department, because the figure has not been confirmed for the current program year.

The Department publishes separate processing guidance for the sponsorship and for the visa. One practitioner reports that half of sponsorship applications were decided within about 79 days and most within about five months, and that half of visa applications were decided within about eight months, with most within about nine months. Taken together, a rough expectation of around a year from sponsorship to grant is sometimes quoted, but that is an estimate, not an official figure. The Home Affairs processing times tool is the right place to check the current position.

A few practical points follow.

• Lodge the sponsorship application with complete tax and identity records, because delays at this stage hold up everything else
• Plan your timing around the six month window after sponsorship approval
• Keep an eye on the annual limit, because late in the program year grants can slow or stop
• Avoid booking non refundable travel until you have the visa

Check current official processing guidance ↗

Health Insurance Requirement

Private health insurance is a core condition of the visa. The parent must hold adequate health insurance for the whole stay, usually from an Australian provider, and must keep it in place. A lapse in cover is a breach of the visa conditions and can have serious consequences.

Parents on this visa are generally not covered by Medicare, even where a reciprocal healthcare agreement exists with the parent's country, so families should not assume that public health cover will fill the gap. Check the Department's guidance on what insurance is acceptable, compare policies carefully, and read the exclusions, especially for existing conditions.

Conditions of the Visa

Conditions are set out in the visa grant, and the main ones reported by practitioners include:

• Health insurance. The parent must maintain adequate private health insurance for the whole stay.
• No work. The parent cannot work in Australia without written permission. Unpaid help such as caring for grandchildren at home or volunteering for a non commercial charity is described as permitted, but unpaid work in a commercial setting or a family business is not.
• Staying within the visa period. The parent must leave or hold another valid visa before the visa ends.
• Notifying changes. The parent must tell the Department about changes in their circumstances, such as a new address, within the time required.
• Good conduct. The parent must not engage in criminal or disruptive conduct.

The sponsor also has obligations. They are expected to support the parent and provide accommodation, to notify the Department of changes and to repay any public health debt that arises. These obligations continue even after the visa ends. Families should understand them before they sign the sponsorship.

If the sponsor's approval is cancelled or the sponsor withdraws or passes away, the parent's visa can end after a short period unless a replacement sponsor is approved. Practitioner sources quote periods of around 35 or 90 days depending on the situation, so confirm the current rules with the Department.

Extension, Renewal and What Happens When the Visa Ends

The subclass 870 cannot be extended from inside Australia. When the visa ends, a parent has a few options.

• Leave Australia. Many parents return home or travel, then apply for another subclass 870 from outside the country after a minimum period away. Practitioner sources report at least 90 consecutive days offshore since the previous visa ended, unless exceptional circumstances apply.
• Apply for another visa. A different visa may be available if the parent qualifies, such as a visitor visa or a parent visa. The visa you apply for will depend on your circumstances and the rules at the time.
• Seek permission to apply in Australia. In exceptional cases, the Department may give written permission to apply for another subclass 870 onshore. This is not routine, so do not plan around it.

The ten year maximum applies across all subclass 870 visas. A family that wants a parent to be in Australia for longer than that needs to think about a permanent option as early as possible, and take care over the order of applications.

Documents Checklist

For the sponsorship and the visa application, a solid starting checklist includes:

• The sponsor's passport, identity documents and evidence of citizenship, permanent residence or eligible New Zealand status
• Evidence of how long the sponsor has lived in Australia, if they are a permanent resident or New Zealand citizen
• The sponsor's tax return and notice of assessment for the relevant income year, plus evidence of any combined income
• Evidence of the relationship between the sponsor and the parent, such as birth certificates, and a marriage certificate where the relationship is by marriage
• Police certificates for the sponsor where required
• The parent's passport and identity documents
• Evidence of funds for the stay and the parent's ties to their home country
• Proof of adequate private health insurance
• Police certificates and health examination results for the parent when requested
• Certified English translations of any document that is not in English

Names, dates and relationships must match across documents. A mismatch in a birth certificate or a missing tax record can delay the sponsorship, and the six month window after approval leaves little room for repeated delays.

How to Apply Step by Step

The usual sequence for the subclass 870 is below.

1. 1

   Check whether the family also plans a permanent or contributory parent application, and work out the correct order.

2. 2

   Confirm that the sponsor meets the eligibility and income requirements.

3. 3

   Gather the sponsor's documents and lodge the sponsorship application, paying the sponsorship charge.

4. 4

   Wait for the sponsorship decision.

5. 5

   After approval, choose between the three year and five year visa and check the current charges.

6. 6

   Arrange private health insurance for the parent and gather the parent's documents.

7. 7

   Lodge the visa application within the time allowed, and pay the first instalment.

8. 8

   Provide health examinations, police certificates and any other documents when the Department asks.

9. 9

   Pay the second instalment when the Department requests it.

10. 10

    Wait for the decision, then check the grant conditions carefully once the visa is granted.

Subclass 870 Compared With Other Parent Visas

Families often compare the temporary option with the permanent ones.

• Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent. Temporary, relatively quick, no balance of family test, requires sponsor approval, an income test and private health insurance, and does not lead to permanent residence.
• Aged Parent visa subclass 804. A permanent onshore visa for parents aged 67 or older, with a very long wait and a balance of family test.
• Contributory parent visas. Permanent or temporary visas with a much higher charge and a shorter, but still long, wait, plus a balance of family test and an assurance of support.
• Parent visa subclass 103. A permanent offshore visa with a very long wait.
• Visitor visas. Short stays that do not give permanent residence.

The right choice depends on the parent's age and health, the family's finances and the family's long term plans. Some families use the subclass 870 as a bridge while a permanent application waits in the queue, which is why the order of applications matters.

Common Reasons Applications Are Refused

Problems with subclass 870 applications come from a limited number of causes.

• The sponsor does not meet the eligibility requirements, such as the residence period or unpaid debts
• The sponsor does not meet the income test, or the evidence does not match the claimed income
• The parent applies outside the six month window after sponsorship approval
• The parent does not hold adequate health insurance when required
• The parent cannot show enough funds or a genuine intention to stay temporarily
• The application is lodged in the wrong order relative to a permanent parent application
• Health or character concerns that are not resolved
• Incomplete or inconsistent documents, including mismatched names and dates
• The annual limit has been reached, so no further visas can be granted until the next program year
• False or misleading information, which can have serious long term consequences

Many of these can be addressed before you lodge. The most important steps are confirming the sponsor's eligibility, working out the order of applications and planning the timing around the six month window.

Considerations for Families From Pakistan, India and Other Countries

Families from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka commonly ask about documenting family relationships, such as birth certificates and marriage certificates, and about providing police certificates from the parent's home country. These documents can take time to obtain, and the six month window after sponsorship approval is short, so it is wise to prepare them before the sponsorship is decided. Certified translations are required for documents not in English.

Health insurance is another common concern. Premiums can be significant for older parents, and some policies have exclusions or waiting periods for existing conditions, so the family should compare options carefully and read the terms.

The requirements do not differ by nationality. What matters is the sponsor's eligibility and income, the parent's insurance and funds, and the order and timing of applications. Families from Europe face the same rules, although they may have different documents to supply.

How Professional Help Can Assist

A migration professional cannot change the annual limit, guarantee a visa or make the Department decide faster. What a good adviser can do is help you work out whether the sponsor and parent meet the requirements, plan the order of applications if a permanent visa is also in view, check documents for consistency, explain the conditions and obligations, and advise on what to do when the visa ends.

This review is most useful before you lodge anything, because the order of applications and the sponsorship timing are hard to fix later. Make sure anyone you pay for immigration advice in Australia is appropriately authorised, and ask to see their registration details.

Why Consider Migration Factor

Migration Factor provides information and assistance on Australian visa pathways, including family and parent visas. We offer a free consultation where you can talk through your parent's situation, your family's circumstances and your options before deciding on your next step. To arrange one, request a free consultation through our contact form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Next Step

If you are working out whether you meet the sponsor requirements, planning the order of a temporary and a permanent parent application or comparing the subclass 870 with other parent visas, request a free consultation with Migration Factor through our contact form. Please bring your tax returns, your parent's passport details and a summary of your family's circumstances, so the conversation can be specific.

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