Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 870)
An extended family visit of up to three or five years per grant—not a permanent migration pathway.
- Status
- Temporary · up to 3 or 5 years
- Age
- At least 18 years
- Balance of family
- Not required
- Where to apply
- Normally outside Australia to apply; permission to apply onshore is limited to exceptional circumstances.
What this visa allows
- Visit family for up to three or five years per grant.
- Further grants may allow a cumulative stay of up to ten years, subject to eligibility.
- No Balance of Family Test or Assurance of Support requirement.
Eligibility at a glance
- Have an approved eligible Parent Sponsor before lodging the visa application; relationship, sponsor income and sponsorship obligations need assessment.
- Meet the relevant financial, health, character and genuine temporary stay requirements.
- Maintain adequate health insurance from an Australian health insurance provider.
- Meet application-location and lodgement-time requirements following sponsorship approval.
Important limitations
- This visa does not lead to permanent residence. Home Affairs states that you cannot apply for a permanent or temporary parent visa while you have applied for or hold subclass 870.
- You cannot work in Australia while holding this visa.
- Further grants are not automatic. Normally a further application is made offshore and grant requires at least 90 consecutive days outside Australia since the relevant departure day; limited exceptions apply.
- You cannot extend this visa or include family members in the same visa application.
Costs and waiting times
Separate sponsorship and visa charges; health insurance and financial obligations. No work rights or direct PR pathway.
Government charges are separate from professional fees; other costs may apply. Check current amounts on the official subclass page rather than relying on a fixed quote here.
Related pathway
Treat subclass 870 as a planned temporary visit, not a stepping stone to permanent residence. If permanent migration is your goal, assess the impact on other parent visa applications before lodging.
This is general information, not an individual eligibility assessment. Requirements, charges and processing change. Check the current position on the Department of Home Affairs page for subclass 870 (opens in a new tab).
About the 870
Do not assume you can. Home Affairs states that you cannot apply for a permanent or temporary parent visa while you have applied for or hold subclass 870. Discuss application sequencing before lodging.
There are no work rights. This visa does not require Assurance of Support, but adequate health insurance and the relevant financial and sponsorship obligations still apply.
No. Each grant allows up to three or five years. Further visas require a new eligible application, relevant time outside Australia and compliance with the cumulative limit.
Your matter:
Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 870).
Selected service · Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (subclass 870)
A consultation assesses your circumstances, discusses realistic options and outlines possible next steps. It is not a visa or review application and not a representation agreement. Any further work, its scope and fees are agreed separately.
- 01Book your appointment
Choose an available appointment time and check the details before confirming.
Book appointment (opens booking page in a new tab) - 02Complete the visitor registration form
After booking, add your details and circumstances for your sponsored parent (temporary) visa (subclass 870) consultation.
Complete registration form (opens in a new tab) - 03Attend your consultation
Appointments are normally by phone, via Zoom, or in person at our Melbourne office. Follow your appointment confirmation for the arrangements.
Urgent matter or approaching deadline? Call our office on 03 9620 3195 or mobile +61 415 997 528.Message (SMS)WhatsAppA booking does not lodge anything, preserve rights or extend a deadline.