870 Sponsored Parent Visa
Families usually find the 870 sponsored parent visa for one reason. A permanent parent visa can take years or decades, and the parents want to spend time with their grandchildren now. The 870 looks like the answer: a temporary visa that lets a parent stay for up to five years at a time, without waiting in the permanent parent queue.
It can be the right answer. It can also be an expensive surprise, because the visa carries no work rights, no Medicare, a strict sponsor income test and a lifetime cap of ten years. This guide goes through the rules in plain language, then helps you decide whether the 870 fits your family or whether a different visa is the smarter choice.
For a general overview of the visa, see our Subclass 870 visa page. This article is a decision guide: the numbers, the limits and the alternatives.
What the 870 Sponsored Parent Visa Is
The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa, subclass 870, lets a parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen stay in Australia temporarily. A grant can be for three years or five years. Home Affairs describes it as a temporary visa and gives the official outline on its Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa page.
Three features define the visa:
- It is temporary. It does not lead to permanent residence.
- It is sponsored. Your child must first be approved as a parent sponsor.
- It is capped. A parent can hold 870 visas for a maximum of ten years in total.
It was designed for families who want long visits, not for parents who plan to settle permanently.
Who Can Sponsor Under the 870
The sponsor is the Australian child. Published guidance sets out these main requirements.
- Relationship. The sponsor must be the child of the parent, including a biological, adopted or stepchild relationship. A son in law or daughter in law cannot sponsor alone, but can support the income test as part of a couple.
- Status. The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. Permanent residents and New Zealand citizens are usually expected to have lived in Australia for around four years.
- Age. The sponsor must be at least 18.
- Settled in Australia. The sponsor should be living here long term with an established life.
- Income. The sponsor must meet a taxable income threshold (covered below).
- Past obligations. Previous sponsorship duties must have been honoured, and there should be no outstanding debts or serious character concerns.
- Household limit. A household can have only one parent sponsorship at a time, covering up to two parents.
If you are not sure who in the family should be the sponsor, discuss it before you apply. The sponsorship stays with the sponsor, so the choice matters.
The Sponsor Income Test, Explained
This is the part that surprises families most. The sponsor needs a minimum level of taxable income, checked against the most recent completed income year before the sponsorship application.
Published guidance at the time of writing quotes a threshold of about $83,454.80. The department updates thresholds from time to time, so confirm the current figure before you rely on it.
How the income test works in practice:
- A sponsor can combine income with a partner or another eligible child, which helps many families reach the threshold.
- The sponsor must still contribute a meaningful share of the required amount personally. Published guidance describes this as at least half.
- Income is taxable income as assessed, not salary offers or savings.
A simple worked example
Imagine Anita earns $52,000 and her husband Rahul earns $48,000. Together they earn $100,000, which is above the threshold. But Anita alone is below the threshold, so the personal contribution rule matters. Whether her share is enough depends on the exact current rule, so this is a case where checking the numbers before lodging saves heartbreak.
Families in similar positions should line up tax assessments, not guesses.
What the 870 Costs
Here is the cost structure at the 1 July 2026 schedule reported by current published sources. Fees are indexed each year and set by the government, so confirm the live figure before lodging.
| Item | Amount (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Sponsorship application | $420 |
| 3 year visa, total charge | $6,370 |
| 5 year visa, total charge | $12,440 |
The visa charge is paid in two instalments. The first instalment is paid at lodgement. The second instalment is paid before grant, when the department asks for it. Published sources show the second instalment as $4,855 for a three year visa and $10,925 for a five year visa.
The cost does not stop there. Add these items to your budget:
- Private health insurance. The parent will not have access to Medicare, so adequate cover for the whole stay is a requirement and a real cost.
- Medical examinations and police certificates for the parent.
- Translations for documents not in English.
- Flights, and any costs of travelling in and out.
- Everyday living costs. The parent cannot work, so the sponsor typically supports them financially.
- Agent fees, if you use one.
What ten years costs
Because a parent can stay for ten years in total through repeated grants, the long run cost is easy to underestimate. As an illustration only, two five year grants at the current visa charge would be around $24,880 in government charges for one parent, before insurance and other costs. Compare that with the cost of a permanent option before you commit to a decade of temporary visas.
The Ten Year Limit and the 90 Day Rule
The 870 is not a way to live permanently in Australia without permanent residence.
- Maximum stay. Every 870 grant a parent holds counts towards a total of ten years.
- Subsequent visas. A parent can apply for another 870 after the first, as long as the total stays within the cap.
- Time outside Australia. Published guidance says a parent generally needs to spend at least 90 days outside Australia before a subsequent 870 application. Plan this gap into the family calendar.
If a parent will need more than ten years in Australia, the 870 will not be enough by itself. That is a signal to look at permanent options early.
No Work Rights, No Medicare
Two restrictions shape daily life on the 870.
No paid work. The visa is for visiting and spending time with family. Parents cannot work in Australia, and the rule is read broadly. Regular unpaid help that amounts to employment or economic benefit can also cause problems. Occasional help at home is different from running the family shop, so be careful about the line.
No Medicare. Parents on the 870 cannot access Medicare or most government benefits. The visa carries a health insurance condition (condition 8501) that requires adequate cover for the whole stay. If cover lapses, the visa can be at risk.
Check your own grant notice and VEVO record for the exact conditions on the visa you receive.
Where the Parent Applies From
The parent generally applies from outside Australia, within six months of the sponsorship being approved. Lodging from inside Australia is possible only in limited circumstances, such as with permission or an invitation from the department. A parent already in Australia on a visitor visa should not assume they can simply apply for an 870 onshore.
This is a classic trap. A family arranges a visitor visa, then discovers the parent cannot switch easily. Plan the route from the start.
Sponsor Obligations You Take On
Sponsoring a parent is a real commitment. The sponsor generally agrees to:
- Provide financial support and accommodation for the parent
- Cover medical costs and related expenses
- Keep records for a period after the sponsorship ends
- Repay certain debts to the Commonwealth or public health authorities that arise from the parent’s stay
Failing to meet these duties can lead to cancellation of the sponsorship or a bar on sponsoring other parents. Think about this before you sign, especially if your parent has existing health needs.
Processing Time and the Annual Cap
Home Affairs does not give a fixed processing guarantee for the 870. Timing depends on application volume, how complete your documents are and how long health and character checks take.
There is also a yearly limit. Published sources describe a cap of around 15,000 primary applications each program year, running from 1 July to 30 June. If the cap is reached, no more are granted until the next program year starts. That can be an issue for families applying late in the program year, so lodging earlier gives you a better chance of timely decisions.
870 Versus the Alternatives
The best visa for your parents depends on what the family actually wants. Here is a simple way to think about it.
Option 1: A visitor visa
A visitor visa suits shorter stays, such as a few months at a time. It has lower government cost, but shorter permitted stays and no long term certainty. If your parents only want to spend several months a year with you, this may be enough.
Option 2: The 870 sponsored parent visa
Suits families who want repeated long stays of three or five years, can meet the sponsor income test, and are comfortable with no work rights and private health insurance. It does not lead to permanent residence.
Option 3: A permanent parent visa
Suits families who want the parents to settle permanently, with Medicare access after a waiting period and no ten year cap. The trade off is cost and time. Permanent parent visas carry large charges and long queues. Our parent visa page outlines the options, and specific pathways include the contributory Subclass 143 visa and the Subclass 864 visa.
One timing warning
Published guidance indicates that a parent generally cannot apply for a permanent or other parent visa while holding or applying for an 870, and that if you want the permanent option you should lodge it before the 870 is granted. This is a significant planning point, so get advice before you choose the temporary route. A decision made in a hurry can close a door you wanted to keep open.
A Six Question Checklist Before You Choose the 870
Sit down with your family and answer these honestly before you lodge anything.
- How long will your parents really want to stay? If the answer is a few months each year, a visitor visa may be enough. If it is years at a time, the 870 deserves a look.
- Will they ever want to settle permanently? If yes, discuss the permanent routes first, because the order of applications can limit your choices later.
- Can the sponsor meet the income test with tax assessments in hand? Do the sums using assessed taxable income, not expected earnings.
- Who will pay for insurance and living costs for several years? The parent cannot work, so the sponsor family usually carries this.
- What are your parents’ health needs? Insurers may exclude or price pre existing conditions, and an uninsured medical event can become a sponsor debt.
- Is there a family plan for year eleven? The ten year cap means the temporary route has an end date, so decide what happens next while there is still time to act.
A family that can answer all six clearly is usually in a good position to proceed. A family that cannot should get advice first.
Common Mistakes With the 870
- Assuming the 870 leads to permanent residence. It does not.
- Underestimating the sponsor income test. Check tax assessments early.
- Planning for work or Medicare. Neither is available.
- Letting health insurance lapse. It is a visa condition.
- Applying from the wrong place. The parent generally applies from outside Australia.
- Ignoring the 10 year cap. The years add up.
- Choosing the 870 without thinking about permanent options. It may limit later choices.
- Missing the six month lodgement window after sponsorship approval.
- Using out of date fee tables. Check the current schedule each time.
Should You Use a Migration Agent?
A straightforward case with a clear sponsor, clean tax records and a simple family situation can sometimes be handled without help. But parent visas carry high fees, long consequences and options that do not combine neatly. An agent can compare the 870 with the permanent routes, test the income position and plan the sequence of applications. We are a registered migration agency, MARN 2518961, and we advise families on parent visa strategy every week.
Quick Answer
The 870 sponsored parent visa is a temporary visa that lets a parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen stay for three or five years at a time, up to ten years in total. The child must be approved as a sponsor and meet an income test, which published guidance puts at about $83,455 taxable income. At the 1 July 2026 schedule reported by current sources, the visa charge is about $6,370 for three years or $12,440 for five years, plus a $420 sponsorship fee. Parents cannot work, cannot use Medicare and must keep adequate health insurance. The visa does not lead to permanent residence.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the 870 sponsored parent visa? It is a temporary visa that lets a parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen stay in Australia for three or five years at a time.
2. Does the 870 lead to permanent residence? No. It is a temporary visa only. Families who want permanent residence should look at permanent parent visas.
3. How long can a parent stay in total? Up to ten years across all 870 grants.
4. How much does it cost? At the 1 July 2026 schedule reported by current sources, about $6,370 for three years or $12,440 for five years, plus a $420 sponsorship application. Confirm the live figures before lodging.
5. What is the sponsor income test? The sponsor must have a minimum taxable income for the most recent completed income year. Published guidance quotes about $83,454.80. Income can be combined with a partner or another eligible child, but the sponsor must contribute a meaningful share.
6. Can my parent work on an 870? No. The visa does not allow paid work, and regular unpaid work that amounts to employment can also be a problem.
7. Can my parent use Medicare? No. Parents on the 870 cannot use Medicare and must keep adequate private health insurance for the whole stay.
8. Can my parent apply from inside Australia? Generally no. The parent usually applies from outside Australia, with onshore lodgement allowed only in limited circumstances.
9. How many parents can I sponsor? A household can have one parent sponsorship at a time, covering up to two parents.
10. Can my parent get a second 870? Yes, within the ten year cap, and published guidance indicates a gap of at least 90 days outside Australia is generally needed first.
11. Is there a yearly cap? Published sources describe a cap of around 15,000 applications per program year. Once reached, no more are granted until the next year begins.
12. Can I apply for a permanent parent visa after getting an 870? Published guidance indicates that a parent generally cannot apply for a permanent parent visa while holding or applying for an 870. Get advice before choosing the temporary route.
13. Can a son in law or daughter in law sponsor? Not alone. They may help meet the income test as part of a couple, but the sponsor must be the child of the parent.
14. What happens if the parent needs medical treatment? The sponsor and the parent are responsible for the cost. Adequate insurance matters, and unpaid public health debts can create sponsor liabilities.
Key Takeaways
- The 870 is temporary, lasts three or five years per grant and caps at ten years in total.
- The sponsor must be the Australian child and must meet an income test.
- The visa charge runs from about $6,370 for three years to $12,440 for five years at the 1 July 2026 schedule.
- Parents cannot work and cannot use Medicare, so health insurance is essential.
- The parent generally applies from outside Australia.
- Choosing the 870 can affect permanent parent options, so plan the sequence first.
- Always check current fees, thresholds and caps against official sources.
Conclusion
The 870 sponsored parent visa works well for the right family. Parents who want repeated long stays, sponsors who clearly meet the income test and households that are comfortable carrying the insurance and living costs often find it valuable. It works poorly for families who expect permanent residence, work rights or health care through Medicare.
Before you lodge, decide what the family really wants for the next ten years. The visa you choose now can shape the options you have later.
If you are weighing the 870 against a permanent parent visa, we can review your position and map the sequence that protects your options.
Next Step
Book a consultation with Migration Republic (MARN 2518961), or contact us to talk through your family’s situation.
