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Sponsored parent temporary visa 870

Parent Visas

Subclass 870 sponsored parent visa.

Long stretches of time with your family in Australia, without the balance of family test and without the very large contributory charge. The 870 lets a parent stay for up to three or five years at a time. The trade-off: it is temporary, with no pathway to permanent residence.

Up to 3 or 5 years at a timeNo balance of family testTemporary, no PR pathway
Book a Family Visa ConsultCompare all parent visas
Who It Suits

Built for parents the permanent visas leave out.

Some parents cannot meet the balance of family test that the permanent parent visas require, or do not want to commit to the very large contributory charge, but still want long stretches of time with their family in Australia. The Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa is built for exactly that. It lets a parent stay for up to three or five years at a time, in return for an approved family sponsor who takes on financial responsibility. The trade-off is that it is temporary and does not lead to permanent residence. If permanent residence is the goal, compare the contributory parent visa 143 and 173 or the non-contributory 103; if you only need shorter visits, see the visitor visa for parents. To use it you generally need:

  • a parent who is the biological, legal or adoptive parent, step-parent or parent-in-law of the sponsor;
  • a family member who is first approved as a sponsor (an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen) and who meets an income requirement;
  • to meet health and character requirements, generally including holding adequate health insurance.

Costs and timing (current as at June 2026 - verify at homeaffairs.gov.au). The 870 application charge depends on whether you apply for the three-year or the five-year period, and is set by the government, so confirm the current charges. There is no contributory-style bond like the permanent parent visas, but the sponsor's income commitment is part of the picture. The 870 is temporary and does not provide a pathway to permanent residence. We quote our own professional fee in writing before any work.

How It Works

Sponsor first, then the visa.

The 870 is a two-step process. First, the family member in Australia applies to be a sponsor and must be approved, which is where the income requirement is tested. Only then can the parent apply for the visa itself. Notably, the 870 generally does not apply the balance of family test, which is its main advantage over the permanent parent visas, and makes it the realistic option for parents who have most of their children living outside Australia. Getting the sponsorship right at step one is what keeps the visa application clean, so it is worth planning both steps together from the start. These are national rules under the Migration Regulations 1994 and can change.

Three Years or Five Years

Choosing the period.

Up to 3 years

A shorter continuous stay, with a lower application charge (verify the current amount). Suits families who want flexibility or a trial period before committing to longer.

Up to 5 years

The longest continuous stay, with a higher application charge (verify the current amount). Suits families who want the most time together in one grant.

There are limits on how long parents can hold these visas over time. So the three-or-five-year choice is not the whole picture; it is a long-stay visa rather than an open-ended one. We can talk through how the periods stack up against your family's longer plan before you pick one.

Common Questions

Sponsored parent 870 questions.

Generally no. This is the 870's biggest draw: unlike the permanent parent visas, it does not apply the balance of family test in the same way. That makes it the realistic option for parents who have most of their children living outside Australia. We confirm the current rule for your situation before relying on it.
Up to three or five years at a time, depending on the period you apply for. There are also limits on how long a parent can hold these visas across the years, so it is a long-stay visa rather than an open-ended one. Plan the periods around your family's longer intentions, and we can help map that.
No. The 870 is temporary and does not provide a pathway to permanent residence. If your parents want to settle permanently, the contributory or non-contributory parent visas are the routes to look at, and the 870 can be a way to spend time together while you plan or wait for one of those.
A family member in Australia, an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, applies to be the sponsor and must be approved before the visa is lodged. The sponsor must meet an income requirement, which is set by the government and changes, so confirm the current threshold rather than assume an older figure. We assess whether the proposed sponsor is likely to qualify before you start.
The 870 is a visa to spend time with family, not a work visa, and conditions apply to what a holder can do while in Australia. Rather than state a rule that may have changed, we confirm the current conditions, including anything around work, for your parent's grant.
Generally yes. Adequate health insurance is usually part of meeting the health requirement for the 870, because the visa is designed so that the family, not Australian taxpayers, carries the cost of the stay. We confirm what cover is acceptable as part of preparing the application.
A visitor visa is for shorter trips and often comes with limits on how long a parent can remain. The 870 is built for long, continuous stays of several years, with an approved sponsor standing behind it. If your parents want extended time together rather than a holiday, the 870 is usually the better-suited visa.
The application charge depends on whether you apply for the three-year or five-year period, with the longer period costing more. The government sets these charges and they change, so confirm the current amounts at homeaffairs.gov.au. There is no contributory-style bond like the permanent parent visas, but the sponsor's income commitment is part of the picture.
Where to From Here

870, permanent, or a visit?

PermanentContributory Parent 143/173PR offshore, if you can meet the balance of family test. Budget PRParent Visa 103Non-contributory permanent route, a very long queue. Short visitsVisitor Visa for ParentsShorter trips when a long stay is not needed. Compare allParent Visas AustraliaTemporary and permanent options side by side.
Sources

Department of Home Affairs - Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa and the sponsored parent sponsorship requirements; Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth). Current as at June 2026 and verified live at publish. Confirm the current charges and conditions at homeaffairs.gov.au.

Written and reviewed by Brian Chan, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2217857)

Visa Store Australia, Perth · Last reviewed June 2026 · Verify on the MARA register · General information only, not personal migration advice.

Want your parents here for years, not weeks?

We can check whether your family member can be approved as a sponsor and which period fits your plan.

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Sponsored Parent 870 Long stays, no balance of family test
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