Subclass 870 — Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa — immi.wiki

The Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa allows parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia temporarily. The visa is granted in periods of 3 or 5 years and can be renewed up to a cumulative maximum of 10 years. Unlike the permanent parent visas, the Subclass 870 does not lead directly to permanent residence — it is a temporary visa only. The holder may not work in Australia.

The Subclass 870 is useful for parents who want to spend extended time in Australia without committing to permanent migration, or as a temporary arrangement while waiting for a permanent parent visa queue position to be reached. Holding a Subclass 870 does not affect eligibility to apply for a permanent parent visa, but time on the 870 does not count toward citizenship residence requirements.

• The applicant must be the parent of an approved Subclass 870 sponsor
• The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen who has been approved by the Department of Home Affairs as a Subclass 870 sponsor
• The balance of family test does not apply to the Subclass 870
• Health and character requirements must be satisfied
• The sponsor must pay the visa application charge (not the visa holder)
• Adequate health insurance (OVHC or equivalent) must be maintained for the duration of the visa

The process involves two steps: first, the sponsoring child applies for and receives approval as a Subclass 870 sponsor. Second, the parent lodges the Subclass 870 visa application. The sponsor is responsible for the visa application charge. The application is lodged via ImmiAccount.

A single sponsor may sponsor a maximum of two parents (or step-parents) on the Subclass 870 at any one time.

The Subclass 870 holder may not work in Australia (Condition 8101). The holder may study for up to 3 months per visit without requiring a separate student visa. Adequate health insurance must be held for the full duration of the visa. The visa may be renewed but the cumulative total across all Subclass 870 periods granted must not exceed 10 years.