Subclass 870 / A longer temporary visit
Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870)
More time for the everyday moments.
Spend a longer stretch of time with family in Australia. We help you understand the sponsorship, application and practical commitments behind this temporary parent pathway.
- Visa type
- Temporary
- Stay per visa
- Up to 3 or 5 years
- Work
- Not permitted
What this pathway offers
Time together. With a clear plan.
The 870 is for an extended temporary visit. It has a separate sponsorship process and does not become a permanent parent visa.
Share more of family life
An approved visa can allow a visit of up to three or five years, according to the dates and conditions on the grant.
Plan visits over time
Further applications may be possible within a cumulative ten-year limit. Each application has its own requirements.
A different eligibility framework
The 870 does not require the balance-of-family test or an Assurance of Support. Sponsor eligibility and obligations still apply.
The requirements in context
What needs to line up.
The sponsor and parent have different roles in this process. Before lodging, check:
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An approved Parent Sponsor
Sponsorship approval comes before the visa application. Check the family relationship, sponsor status, residence history, suitability and income requirements.
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Where and when you apply
Usually apply from outside Australia within six months of sponsorship approval. Applying in Australia requires permission and generally a visa application within 60 days of sponsorship approval.
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Temporary plans and support
Show a genuine intention to stay temporarily, access to sufficient funds and adequate Australian health insurance. Paid work is not permitted.
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Your visa history and health
Check health, character, earlier visa obligations and any existing parent application. Applying for or holding the 870 restricts applications for other parent visas.
Keep the temporary visit and permanent plans distinct.
The 870 does not lead to permanent residence. You cannot apply for another permanent or temporary parent visa while you have applied for or hold the 870.
If a permanent parent application has already been lodged, an 870 visit may still be possible. Review the sequence, existing application and travel plans before choosing the next step.
A plan you can follow
From your family plans to the next step.
We help coordinate the sponsorship, visa application and visit, including the commitments that continue after a grant.
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Review both sides of the application
Understand the parent's plans and the proposed sponsor's status, residence, finances and family relationship.
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Apply for sponsorship first
Prepare the online sponsorship application and supporting evidence. Wait for approval before lodging the parent's visa application.
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Prepare the visa application
Work through temporary-stay evidence, funds, insurance and the required checks. Lodge online within the applicable approval window.
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Plan the stay and departure
Review visa dates, insurance and sponsorship obligations. Consider any later application well before the current visa ends.
Preparation that makes sense
The right records. A clearer application.
Your checklist should reflect the pathway and your circumstances. Depending on the application, it may include:
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Parent and sponsor identity records, citizenship or residence evidence and family-link documents.
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Sponsor residence history, tax notice of assessment and income evidence.
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Sponsorship approval and the relevant visa application deadline.
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Evidence of temporary visit plans, funds and adequate health insurance.
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Health, character and previous visa records required for the application.
A little more clarity
Your 870 questions, made clearer.
Start with the essentials, then look at how the requirements apply to your family and circumstances.
Does the sponsor need to meet an income threshold?
Yes. A taxable-income test applies to the Parent Sponsor, using the relevant completed income year. Combining income with eligible family members is possible under specific rules, including a minimum contribution from the sponsor. Check the current sponsor requirements before lodging.
Can I work or rely on Medicare during the visit?
Paid work is not permitted. Plan for adequate health insurance throughout the visit. The 870 itself does not automatically give Medicare entitlement; any separate entitlement needs to be checked. See the health insurance guidance and the conditions on your grant.
Can I simply renew the visa in Australia?
No. The visa cannot simply be extended. A further 870 requires a new application. Generally, you apply from outside Australia and must have spent at least 90 consecutive days outside since the relevant departure day before a further visa can be granted. Limited exceptions and the cumulative ten-year stay limit need consideration.
Do all my children need to live in Australia?
No. The 870 does not require the balance-of-family test. The proposed Parent Sponsor must still meet the family relationship, status, residence, suitability and income requirements.
How long will it take and what will it cost?
Sponsorship and visa applications have separate charges, and the visa charge is paid in instalments. Allow for insurance, health checks and other required costs. Use the Home Affairs processing guide and current fee information. Processing figures are guides, not a decision date. We explain our professional fees and scope separately.
Your next step starts with you
Make more room for time together.
Tell us about the visit you are planning and who may sponsor it. We will help you understand the 870 requirements and the next step.