Sponsored Parent Visa – Subclass 870

The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870) lets a parent stay in Australia with their Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen child for an extended period — without joining the queue for permanent residence.

It's a useful option for families who want a parent settled in for a while relatively quickly, rather than waiting years for a permanent Parent visa outcome.

Who Can Apply

You'll generally need to:

• be the parent, legal guardian, step-parent or parent-in-law of an Australian citizen or permanent resident;
• be at least 18 years of age;
• have an approved sponsor (your child, generally) who has received a Permission to Apply from the Department; and
• show you can financially support yourself during your stay.

Unusually among the Parent visa pathways, the subclass 870 does not require you to satisfy the Balance of Family test.

What the Visa Allows

The subclass 870 generally allows a stay of three or five years, depending on the visa granted, and can be extended with further applications up to a combined maximum of around ten years. It does not provide a pathway to permanent residence on its own, and you generally cannot work while on this visa. You also can't include other family members in your application — it's for the parent alone.

Sponsorship Requirements

Your child needs to be approved as your sponsor before you apply, which involves the Department assessing their circumstances, including their income. Once your sponsor receives approval (a "Permission to Apply"), you generally need to lodge your visa application from outside Australia within a set window of that approval — so timing your application after approval matters.

Financial Requirements

Because you can't work on this visa, you'll need to demonstrate sufficient funds to support yourself for the length of your stay without needing government assistance. Your sponsor's financial position is also assessed as part of their sponsorship approval.

How I Can Help

I can assist with:

• assessing whether the 870 or a permanent parent pathway suits your family better;
• preparing your sponsor's Permission to Apply application;
• timing your visa application correctly after sponsorship approval; and
• preparing financial evidence and lodging your application.

Important Information

The information on this page is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute migration advice for your individual circumstances.

Visa requirements, sponsorship rules and income thresholds can change. Meeting the general requirements described above does not guarantee that a visa application will be approved.

Professional advice should be obtained based on your individual circumstances before lodging an application.