About This Visa 

The purpose of the subclass 870 - Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa is to allow the parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens to reside in Australia temporarily for up to ten years (cumulatively). It provides parents and grandparents with a new pathway to reunite and spend time together through having the opportunity to visit Australia for a continuous period and avoid the hassle of travel in and out to Australia like a subclass 600 visa holder.

​

Eligibility for 870 visa subclass

To be eligible for the visa, a parent must be:

• the biological, adoptive, or step-parent or parent-in-law of the parent sponsor,

• who must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen

There is no balance of family test or Assurance of Support requirements for this visa.

​

Visa Application Requirements

Visa Applicant:

• have no outstanding Australian public health debts 

• Be the biological, adoptive, step-parent or parent in-law of your approved ‘Family Sponsor’ (see below) 

• be at least 18 years of age 

• have a genuine intention to remain temporarily in Australia 

• have sufficient funds for your intended period of stay in Australia 

• meet health and character requirements, including previous visa compliance 

• have adequate health insurance for your stay in Australia and 

• have no outstanding Australian public health debts 

​

Australian Family Sponsor:

• be an Australian citizen, or a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen who has been usually and lawfully resident in Australia for at least 4 years prior to the sponsor application

• be at least 18 years old, and willing to sponsor your application
  Note: Your sponsor must be your, or your spouse’s / de facto partner’s, biological, adoptive or step

  child or their spouse / de facto partner

• only sponsor two parents at any one time

• not have a spouse or de facto partner that is also a current parent sponsor or a past parent sponsor who has breached the sponsor obligations

• have a minimum, annual household taxable income of at least AUD83,454.80 (subject to annual indexation); the sponsor’s taxable income must be at least 50% of the threshold amount if using combined household incomes

• have no debts to the Commonwealth or outstanding public health debts, including the sponsor’s spouse or de facto partner

• meet character requirements

• comply with certain obligations

• satisfy health, character, and national security requirements

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Sponsorship validity

A parent sponsorship will cease:

• if the sponsor’s permanent visa is cancelled

• if the sponsor dies

• if the sponsor withdraws their sponsorship

• if the sponsored parent does not apply for a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa within six months of the sponsorship being approved

• the day that the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa ceases.

​

However, some sponsor obligations will continue after the sponsorship ceases, including the obligation to pay any outstanding health debts incurred by the visa holder in Australia, even after their visa has ceased.

​

How is the temporary parent visa different to other parent visas?

Unlike permanent Parent visas, there is no Balance of Family Test requirement for this visa, meaning a visa applicant is not required to have more than half of their children residing in Australia.

​

You can apply for further visas to stay up to a maximum of ten (10) years on this visa.

However, there is no work rights on this visa.