Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa: What It Can and Can't Do

The Subclass 870 can get your parent into Australia in approximately seven months. That speed is its main selling point. What it cannot do is lead to permanent residency — and most families who start researching it don't realize this until they've already become attached to the idea.

Understanding exactly what the 870 does and doesn't offer, who it's suitable for, and how it fits alongside the permanent pathway options is essential before committing to it.

What the Subclass 870 Is

The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa Subclass 870 is a temporary visa that allows parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to live in Australia for extended periods. It grants stays of 3 or 5 years and can be renewed once, allowing a total maximum stay of 10 cumulative years.

It is explicitly designed as a long-term temporary option, not a stepping stone. The Department's position is clear: there is no mechanism to convert an 870 into a permanent parent visa. A parent who wants permanent residency after holding an 870 must meet all the requirements for the 143 or 103 from scratch, including the Balance of Family test — which is not required for the 870 itself.

Who the 870 Is Designed For

Three types of families use the 870:

Families where the parent cannot meet the Balance of Family test. The 870 does not require the parent to show that half their children are in Australia. If a parent has five children — one in Australia, two in India, one in the UK, and one in Canada — they fail the BoF test for the 143 or 103. The 870 is the only long-term stay option available to them.

Families comparing the 870 with a permanent visa. An 870 cannot be used as a simultaneous bridge for a permanent parent visa application: a parent cannot apply for a permanent or temporary parent visa while they have applied for or hold an 870, and cannot apply for an 870 after lodging a permanent parent visa application.

Families not seeking permanent residency. Parents who want to spend extended time with family but have no intention of settling permanently in Australia — perhaps because they maintain property and ties in their home country — find the 870 suitable for their needs.

Sponsor Requirements

The 870 imposes stricter sponsor requirements than the permanent pathways in one important respect: the sponsor must have a higher income threshold and a longer period of settled residence.

The income requirement is a real constraint. A sponsor earning below $83,454.80 is not eligible to sponsor a parent on an 870. There is no provision for a joint sponsor arrangement (as exists for the Assurance of Support on permanent visas), meaning the income test falls entirely on the named sponsor.

A sponsor's household can have one sponsorship covering up to two parents at a time.

What the Parent Can and Cannot Do

Cannot do:

• Work in Australia in any capacity. The 870 carries a strict work prohibition, and breach of this condition can result in visa cancellation.
• Access full Medicare. The parent is not eligible for full Medicare and must maintain comprehensive private health insurance throughout their stay, although limited RHCA access may apply.
• Apply for a permanent or temporary parent visa while they have applied for or hold an 870, or apply for an 870 after lodging a permanent parent visa application.

Can do:

• Study
• Travel in and out of Australia freely
• Access private healthcare using their own insurance

The private health insurance requirement is a cost that families often underestimate. Comprehensive cover for an elderly parent in Australia — particularly one with existing health conditions — can run $2,000 to $4,000 per year or more. Over a 5-year visa, this adds $10,000 to $20,000 to the total cost of keeping a parent in Australia on the 870.

The 90-Day Break Rule

Before a parent can apply for a second 870 visa, they must generally spend at least 90 consecutive days outside Australia after the previous 870 visa ceases.

This is a frequently misunderstood requirement. It does not mean the parent cannot leave and re-enter Australia during their visa period — they can travel freely. The 90-day break applies specifically between visa grants, not between individual trips. But it is a genuine interruption that families need to plan around: a parent who wants to remain continuously in Australia cannot do so across the gap between their first and second 870 visa.

The 90-day break must be consecutive, not cumulative. Spending 45 days overseas, returning briefly, then leaving again for 45 days does not satisfy the requirement.

Fees

There is no Assurance of Support requirement for the 870 — which is a meaningful difference from the permanent pathways. The total cost of the 870 is therefore considerably lower than the contributory permanent visas, though the health insurance costs add meaningfully to the long-term expense.

Application Process

The 870 is lodged online through ImmiAccount. Processing is approximately seven months for planning purposes. The parent must normally be outside Australia when applying; applying in Australia requires limited permission from the Department.

The sponsor must provide income evidence (most recent Notice of Assessment or payslips), proof of their settled status in Australia, and evidence of the family relationship. The parent must provide evidence of private health insurance and undergo a health examination.

When the 870 Does Not Make Sense

The 870 is not the right tool for every family. Specifically, it does not make sense if:

• The parent wants to work — the work prohibition is absolute.
• The family's long-term goal is permanent residency and the parent can pass the Balance of Family test — in this case, lodging a 143 now is more productive.
• The sponsor earns below $83,454.80 — they are simply ineligible.
• The parent has significant health conditions that would make private insurance expensive or unavailable.

The 870 as Part of a Broader Strategy

The 870 should be treated as a separate temporary strategy, not a bridge held alongside a permanent parent visa application. A parent cannot apply for a permanent or temporary parent visa while they have applied for or hold an 870, and cannot apply for an 870 after lodging a permanent parent visa application.

If a family later considers a permanent parent visa, it must reassess eligibility and timing under those incompatibility rules rather than assuming an 870 will preserve or advance a permanent queue position.

For a detailed breakdown of how the 870 fits with the permanent pathway and the financial modeling across different scenarios, the Australia Parent Visa Guide covers the combined strategy in full.

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