Subclass 870 — Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa

Eligibility snapshot

General information only — not immigration assistance or legal advice. The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870) is a temporary visa that, in general terms, allows a parent of a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to spend extended periods in Australia. It is built around two linked approvals rather than one: first a sponsor (typically the parent's child) must be approved under the parent-sponsorship framework, and then the parent applies for the visa itself. The sponsorship stage usually involves a test of the sponsor's circumstances, including an income-related requirement, alongside character and other obligations the sponsor takes on. The parent applicant is typically assessed against identity, health, character, and relationship-to-sponsor criteria. This visa is temporary by design: it does not, in general, lead to permanent residence, and a no-work condition normally applies for the duration of the stay. Applicants commonly need to hold adequate health arrangements and may be asked about debts to the Australian government. Eligibility rules, thresholds, and conditions change over time and depend heavily on individual facts. Check the official Home Affairs page for the current requirements, and a registered migration practitioner can advise on how the criteria apply to your specific circumstances.

Costs

General information only. For the subclass 870, the government visa application charge (VAC) is, in general terms, structured around the length of stay the applicant chooses — commonly a shorter or a longer multi-year option (for example a three-year or a five-year grant). The longer the requested validity, the higher the charge typically is. The exact amounts are published on the official Home Affairs page and can change, so check the current figures using the official visa pricing estimator rather than relying on any quoted number here. Beyond the base charge there can be further costs to budget for. These commonly include additional-applicant charges where more than one person is covered, plus ancillary expenses such as health checks, health insurance or arrangements, police or character certificates, document translation, and biometrics where required. Sponsorship-stage costs may also apply. The government VAC is a charge payable to the Australian government and is entirely separate from any platform fee or any fee charged by a registered practitioner you choose to engage. A registered practitioner can advise on the likely total cost for your circumstances; for the authoritative government charge, always confirm against the official estimator.

Frequently asked questions