Updated: 20 October 2024
The 870 Temporary Parent Visa allows parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents to stay in Australia for up to five years.
Unlike other parent visas, the 870 visa does not require a long waiting period or a permanent residence pathway. It’s designed to provide greater flexibility for families seeking extended time together without the permanent financial or residency commitments required by other visa options.
Key Benefits of the Visa:
- The 870 visa allows parents to live in Australia for up to five years without leaving.
- There is no balance-of-family test, unlike other parent visas, meaning there is no need to demonstrate that the majority of the applicant’s children live in Australia.
- Sponsors do not need to provide a financial assurance bond.
- The application process for the 870 visa is relatively fast compared to other parent visas, with fewer administrative hurdles and less financial outlay.
However, it’s important to note that unlike the contributory parent visa, the 870 visa does not lead to permanent residency and must be renewed or reapplied for after its duration ends.
Other parent visas
- Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143)
- Contributory Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 173)
- Parent Visa (Subclass 103)
- Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 804)
- Contributory Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 864)
- Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 884)
Eligibility Requirements
Visa Applicant Criteria:
To apply for the 870 visa, the parent must meet certain health, character, and age requirements.
There is no formal age limit for the visa, but all applicants must pass a health check.
Character requirements include passing police background checks from countries where the applicant has lived for extended periods.
Applicants must also have sufficient means to support themselves during their stay in Australia, as they are not eligible for Medicare or other public services.
The applicant must be outside Australia when applying for the visa, and cannot work while on this visa.
Sponsorship Requirements:
The sponsor plays a critical role in the 870 visa process. Only Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens can sponsor a parent.
Sponsors must be the biological, adoptive, or step-child of the applicant, and must be at least 18 years old.
In addition to proving their relationship with the applicant, sponsors must meet financial eligibility criteria.
This includes demonstrating a minimum income threshold, currently set at an Adjusted Taxable Income of at least AUD $83,454.80 per year.
Sponsors are also responsible for supporting their parent during their stay in Australia and ensuring they adhere to visa conditions, such as not overstaying or breaching visa terms.
Additionally, the sponsor cannot sponsor more than two people for the 870 visa at any one time.
Relationship Proof:
Applicants must demonstrate that they are the parent of the Australian sponsor. This can be proven through birth certificates, adoption papers, or legal documents showing the step-parent relationship.
The 870 visa is available to biological parents, adoptive parents, and step-parents, provided the relationship can be legally documented.
How Long Can You Stay on the 870 Visa?
The 870 Temporary Parent Visa allows parents to stay in Australia for either 3 or 5 years, depending on the visa option chosen. Applicants can apply for another 870 visa after their current one expires, with a cumulative limit of 10 years in total. However, the visa cannot be extended while the applicant is in Australia—they must apply for a new visa from outside the country.
During the visa’s validity, parents can travel in and out of Australia, but they cannot work or access Medicare.
No permanent residency pathway is offered through the 870 visa, so applicants must either leave the country or explore other visa options after their stay period ends.
Costs and Fees
The 870 Temporary Parent Visa involves two main fees: the visa application fee and the sponsorship fee. The visa application fee is split into two instalments. The first instalment is payable upon lodging the application, while the second instalment is due once the visa is granted.Costs and Fees for 870 Visa with Instalments
| Expense Type | Cost (AUD) |
| Visa Application Fee (3-year) | $5,090 |
| First Instalment (3-year) | $1,000 |
| Second Instalment (3-year) | $4,090 |
| Visa Application Fee (5-year) | $10,180 |
| First Instalment (5-year) | $1,000 |
Application Process for the 870 Visa
The application process for the 870 Temporary Parent Visa involves two main stages: sponsorship approval and the visa application itself.
First, the sponsor must apply for and be approved as an eligible sponsor. The sponsorship application is lodged online through the Department of Home Affairs’ ImmiAccount portal and typically requires proof of citizenship or permanent residency, evidence of the sponsor’s financial capacity (meeting the income threshold), and documents establishing the parent-child relationship.
Once the sponsorship is approved, the parent can lodge their visa application. Applicants will need to submit personal identification documents, proof of relationship with their sponsor, health examinations, and police certificates from any country they’ve lived in for 12 months or more in the last decade.
870 Visa and Permanent Residency Pathways
The 870 Temporary Parent Visa does not provide a direct pathway to permanent residency in Australia. It is strictly a temporary visa designed for extended family visits, rather than a stepping stone to long-term settlement. Parents wishing to remain in Australia permanently may need to explore other visa options, such as the contributory or non-contributory parent visas, which offer a pathway to permanent residency but come with longer processing times and higher costs.
For parents considering permanent migration, the contributory parent visa (subclass 143) is one of the more popular options, offering a faster route to PR at a higher financial cost. Alternatively, the non-contributory parent visa (subclass 103) provides a lower-cost option but comes with significant waiting periods that can stretch over a decade. The 870 visa is therefore ideal for parents looking to stay with their family temporarily, while other visa types are more appropriate for those seeking permanent residence.
