Temporary Parent Visa (Subclass 870)

For parents who wish to reunite temporarily with their children in Australia, the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870) offers a pathway to stay for a number of years without permanent residency. This visa responds to demand for more parent places and aims to let families reunite in a temporary but more stable way.

What is the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 870)?

• This is a temporary visa that allows a parent (biological, legal including adoptive, step- or parent-in-law) to live in Australia to visit their children who are Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens.

• The visa has durations of 3 or 5 years depending on the sponsorship.

• It is designed to allow parents to be with their children for an extended period without imposing extra taxpayer burden.

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible for the Subclass 870 visa, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

1. Relationship to Sponsor

• Be the biological parent, legal parent (including adoptive parent), step-parent, or parent-in-law of the sponsor.

2. Sponsor Requirements

• The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.

• The sponsor must first have an approved Parent Sponsor application before the parent can lodge the visa application.

3. Other General Requirements

• The parent must apply online.

• Meet the health and character requirements.

• Have enough money
• Have a genuine intention to stay in Australia temporarily
• Have no debt to the Australian government
• آave and maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance from an Australian Health Insurance provider

Application Process

Here’s how the process works:

1. Sponsor Application

• The child (or eligible sponsor) lodges a Parent Sponsor application. This must be approved before the parent can apply for the visa.

2. Visa Application

• Once the sponsorship is approved, the parent lodges the Subclass 870 visa application online.

• The application must adhere to the timeframe of the program year, meaning the visa must be applied for when the sponsorship is valid.

Duration of Stay & Conditions

• The visa allows staying in Australia for 3 or 5 years, with a cumulative maximum stay of 10 years.

• It is temporary, meaning it does not grant permanent residency.

Why Choose the Subclass 870 Visa?

• Family Reunification: Enables parents to stay with their children in Australia for several years.

• New Pathway: Introduced to respond to long queues and limited parent visa places. It offers a more predictable and shorter waiting period compared to many permanent parent visa options.

• Clarity & Planning: Sponsor-approval first, clear duration (3 or 5 years), so both parent and child can plan.

Important Notes & Things to Consider

• The visa is temporary; holders will not become permanent residents and cannot work in Australia.
• Applicants must ensure the sponsor’s application is accepted first. Without approved sponsorship, the visa application cannot proceed.
• There is no balance of family test or Assurance of Support requirements for this visa.

• You cannot include family members in your visa application.
• You must obey Australian laws and meet all visa conditions.

Conclusion

The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870) offers aged or non-aged parents a chance to stay in Australia for either 3 or 5 years, depending on sponsorship, to reunite with their children who are settled in Australia. It fills a gap in parent migration options by giving a more achievable temporary route compared to the lengthy queues for permanent parent visas.

If you think this visa matches your needs, you should begin by finding an eligible sponsor, lodging the sponsorship application, and once approved, apply online for Subclass 870.

Please Contact us if you need more help.