870 Visa: Temporary Parent Visa (Subclass 870)

On 17 April 2019, a new temporary parent visa (subclass 870) opened for applications.

How is the temporary parent visa different to other parent visas?

The 870 visa allows parents to live temporarily in Australia for three years or five years without needing to depart Australia during the course of their visa.

Unlike other parent visas, the 870 visa does not require the parent to meet the Balance of Family rule.

870-temporary-sponsored-visa

Do you qualify for a visa?

Free Assessment

Child sponsor approval 

The sponsored temporary parent visa involves a two-step process. Before the 870 visa can be lodged, the child must become an approved sponsor.

Sponsors must:

  • Meet character requirements
  • Demonstrate a minimum household income of $83,454.80 in the previous completed financial year. The salary of the child’s partner and/or siblings (if in Australia) can be combined to meet this amount
  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Have met any previous sponsor obligations
  • Hold Australian citizenship, PR or be an eligible New Zealand citizen
  • Have no outstanding public health or debts to the Commonwealth, unless payment arrangements are in place
  • Provide police clearances if required
  • Agree to share information with visa applicant
  • Have no adverse information relating to them, unless this information can reasonably be disregarded

Sponsorship obligations include:

  • Provide housing and financial support to parents if required
  • Maintain records and provide to officials if required. For example, income records and tax returns
  • Pay parent’s public health debts
  • Advise officials if charged with a crime and other events / incidents as outlined in policy

If sponsors do not comply with obligations, they may be prevented from sponsoring others in future or have their sponsorship approval cancelled.

Once the child is approved as a sponsor, the parent has six months to lodge the 870 visa application.

Note – unlike many other visas, the visa starts on the day it is granted – not on the day the parent arrives in Australia. Parents need to be ready to move to make the most of their 870 visa.

Does the temporary parent visa lead to PR?

The temporary sponsored parent visa does not lead to Australian permanent residency.

Eligible parents can stay in Australia for a maximum of 10 years on this visa (as only two 870s visas can be held in total). An 870 visa holder must depart Australia for at least 90 days between their two 870 visa applications. There is no minimum or maximum age limit for the parents.

If PR is the end goal, then you may wish to consider applying for a different parent visa, if eligible. However, the 870 may be a suitable interim option for parents who want to live onshore whilst their PR parent visa is processing.

Please note, there are different requirements for PR visas, including the balance of family test. Additionally, an 870 visa holder cannot apply for another parent visa (such as a 143 or 173 visas), so you’ll need advice from a Registered Migration Agent to make sure applications are timed and lodged in the correct timeline. If you had already lodged a 143 or 173 visa prior to the introduction of this visa, you can proceed with an 870 now.

The visitor visa concession that allowed parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents to stay in Australia for longer periods (12 months of an 18 month period) will no longer be available.

The 870 visa is capped, so once a fixed number of 870 visas are granted (the cap is set at 15,000 for the financial year that commenced on 1 July 2019), there will be no further 870 visas will be granted until the following financial year.

What is the 870 temporary parent visa fee?

The visa application fee is $5,000 for a visa of up to three years and $10,000 for a visa of up to five years. This amount is per applicant. The fee is paid in two parts with $1,000 paid at the time of visa application and the remainder paid prior to grant of the 870 visa.

The application fee for child sponsors is $420.

Further information on applicant and sponsor criteria here.

We can determine eligibility for a parent visa. Please complete our free assessment form and we will let you know your options.

870 visa eligibility

Eligibility requirements for parents include:

  • Have a child (biological, adoptive or stepchild) who holds Australian citizenship or permanent residency or is an eligible New Zealand citizen. The child must have lived in Australia for the four years prior to the application. This is different from other parent visas, where two years is enough to be deemed ‘settled’.
  • Be over 18 years of age
  • Show access to funds
  • Show proof of suitable health insurance
  • Meet health and character requirements
  • Have no outstanding public health debts in Australia, unless payment arrangements are in place
  • Apply offshore
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