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.
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:
Sponsorship obligations include:
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.
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. You can only hold these visas for up to 10 years 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 visas are capped and can change from year to year.
The visa application fee is $5,895 for a visa of up to three years and $11,785 for a visa of up to five years. This amount is per applicant. The fee is paid in two parts with $1,180 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.
Eligibility requirements for parents include:
Our Registered Migration Agents can check your visa eligibility and recommend the best pathway for you.
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