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Elderly grandparents enjoying life in Australia on the Sponsored Parent Temporary Visa subclass 870

Sponsored Parent Visa 870: The Complete Australian Guide for 2026

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News. 1 Comment on Sponsored Parent Visa 870: The Complete Australian Guide for 2026

The Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa is the only parent visa in Australia’s current program that can get your parent here within months rather than years. It is a temporary visa, and it comes with real limitations. But for families facing the 12-to-15-year queue on a Subclass 143, it is often the most practical tool available.

This guide covers everything you need to know: how the visa works, what your parent can and cannot do on it, the two-step application process, costs, and how the 870 fits into a broader long-term strategy.

What is the Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa?

The Subclass 870 is a temporary visa that allows a parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia for extended periods. Unlike permanent parent visas, it does not lead directly to permanent residence and does not require the parent to pass the balance of family test.

The visa was introduced to give families a workable option while the permanent visa queues stretched to a decade or more. The government caps grants at 15,000 per year across the entire program, so places are limited.

Processing time has been around seven months, though this varies (see current parent visa processing times). For context, that compares to a realistic 12-to-15-year wait for a new Subclass 143 application lodged today.

Key facts: what this visa allows

Stay duration and renewal options

The 870 is granted in two possible increments: a three-year stay or a five-year stay. A parent can hold a maximum total of 10 years on the 870 across all grants combined. In practice, a parent could hold two five-year grants, or a five-year grant followed by a three-year grant followed by a two-year grant, provided the total does not exceed 10 years.

Each new grant requires a fresh sponsor application and a new parent application. The sponsor must re-qualify at the time of each renewal.

What you can and cannot do on the 870

The 870 allows your parent to live in Australia for the duration of the visa. Travel in and out of Australia is permitted. The visa does not impose a restriction on how long your parent must stay, so they can come and go.

However, there are significant restrictions:

  • No work rights. Your parent cannot work in Australia on this visa, not even casually.
  • No Medicare access. Private health insurance is a mandatory condition of the visa.
  • No pathway to permanent residence directly through the 870. It does not convert to a permanent visa.

Eligibility requirements

Parent eligibility

To be eligible, the parent must be the parent of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. Step-parents and adoptive parents can qualify in certain circumstances. The parent does not need to pass the balance of family test, which is a significant advantage over the permanent parent visas and their eligibility rules.

The parent must meet health and character requirements. The health requirement is important: older parents with significant medical conditions may face complications. This is worth discussing with a registered migration agent before lodging.

Sponsor eligibility

The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen who is at least 18 years old. The sponsor must be ordinarily resident in Australia. There is a limit of two parents or step-parents sponsored on the 870 at any one time per sponsor.

The sponsor must demonstrate they can financially support the parent during their stay, assessed against an income threshold.

Sponsor income requirements

The sponsor must meet a minimum income threshold of $83,454.80 per year. This figure is indexed and reviewed periodically. Importantly, if the sponsor has a partner, their combined income can be used to meet the threshold. This makes the requirement achievable for many families where the sponsor earns below the threshold individually but has a working partner.

The sponsor must provide evidence of income, typically through tax assessments, payslips, or employment letters.

The two-step application process

The 870 uses a two-step process that is different from most Australian visa applications. Getting the sequence right matters.

Step 1: sponsor application

The sponsoring child applies first. The Department of Home Affairs assesses whether the sponsor meets the eligibility and income requirements. Once approved, the sponsor receives an approval notice with a reference number.

The sponsor approval is valid for a limited window. The parent must lodge their own application within six months of the sponsor’s approval being granted. If the parent misses that window, the sponsor will need to apply again.

Step 2: parent visa application

Once the sponsor approval is in place, the parent applies for the 870 visa itself. The application is lodged online through ImmiAccount. The parent nominates their sponsor and provides health, character, and identity documents.

Health examinations are required and must be completed through an approved panel physician. The parent should also arrange private health insurance before the visa is granted, as it is a grant condition.

Processing time for the parent application has typically been around seven months, though the Department does not guarantee timeframes.

Visa conditions to understand before you apply

No work rights

Condition 8303 and related conditions prohibit the 870 holder from working in Australia. This applies to all forms of work, including part-time, casual, volunteer work that has remuneration, and self-employment. Breach of this condition can have serious consequences for the visa holder and future applications.

No Medicare: private health insurance is mandatory

This is the condition that catches families off guard most often. Unlike the permanent parent visas (the Subclass 143 grants Medicare on arrival), the 870 does not give access to Medicare at any point.

Private health insurance covering hospital treatment must be maintained for the entire stay. For an older parent, this is not a trivial expense. Premiums for a 70-plus-year-old parent can run to several thousand dollars per year, and exclusions for pre-existing conditions are common. Families should get health insurance quotes before lodging so the ongoing cost is factored into the decision.

Travel conditions

The 870 holder can travel in and out of Australia freely during the visa period. There is no requirement to maintain a minimum period of physical presence in Australia. However, the parent must hold valid health insurance for periods in Australia, and travel conditions should be checked if the parent plans extended absences.

Cost breakdown

The government visa application charge (VAC) for the 870 is paid by the parent applicant. As at 1 July 2026, the base visa application charge for the 870 is AUD 1,515, the same whether the grant is for 3 or 5 years, and a second visa application charge instalment of up to $10,925 applies before the visa is granted, depending on the length of stay. Government charges are indexed on 1 July each year, so confirm the current figure on the Department of Home Affairs website before you apply. From 1 July 2026, a lower application charge applies to eligible citizens of Pacific Island countries, Timor-Leste and ASEAN member countries who lodge a valid application.

Beyond the VAC, families should budget for:

  • Health examination costs (typically $300 to $500 depending on the panel physician and tests required)
  • Police clearance certificates for countries the parent has lived in
  • Private health insurance premiums for the full visa period (highly variable by age, insurer, and pre-existing conditions)
  • Migration agent fees, if using a registered agent

Compared to the Subclass 143, which costs approximately $48,640 per person across both visa application charge instalments, the 870 is far cheaper in government fees (our 143 vs 103 comparison sets out the permanent visa costs in full). The recurring cost of private health insurance over a 10-year period can, however, be substantial.

How the 870 fits into a long-term parent visa strategy

Using the 870 while a subclass 143 is in the queue

The most common use of the 870 is as a bridging arrangement while a Subclass 143 application waits in the queue. As of March 2026, the Department is processing Subclass 143 applications lodged in November 2018. New applications lodged today face a realistic wait of 12 to 15 years before they are invited to the second stage.

The 870’s maximum stay of 10 years means it cannot bridge the entire 143 queue for a new applicant. However, for families who lodged a 143 application several years ago, the 870 can cover much or all of the remaining wait. For families lodging a 143 now, the 870 buys a decade of time in Australia before another solution is needed.

The 870 and the 143 are compatible: holding an 870 does not prevent the parent from also being an applicant for a permanent parent visa.

Limitations and risks

The 870 is a useful visa, but it is not a complete solution for most families. The key limitations to understand before committing:

  • The 10-year total cap is absolute. Once exhausted, there is no further access to the 870.
  • No Medicare means ongoing health insurance costs for the life of the visa. For parents with significant health needs, this can become financially burdensome.
  • The annual cap of 15,000 grants per year means the visa is not always available on demand. If the cap fills early in a program year, new applications may be delayed.
  • The visa does not provide a pathway to permanent residence. At the end of the 870 period, the parent needs another solution, whether through a permanent parent visa being granted or another basis to remain.
  • Policy changes are a real risk with temporary visas. The 870 is a relatively new visa (introduced 2019) and its conditions and availability are subject to government policy decisions.
  • There is no Assurance of Support bond for the 870 itself, but if the parent later applies for a permanent parent visa, an Assurance of Support bond will apply: $10,000 for one adult and $14,000 for two adults, held for 10 years.

Frequently asked questions

Does the parent need to pass the balance of family test to get the 870?

No. The balance of family test does not apply to the Subclass 870. This is one of its significant advantages over the permanent parent visa options. The balance of family test requires that at least half of the parent’s children live permanently in Australia, or that more children live in Australia than in any other single country. Many families cannot meet this test for the permanent visas, making the 870 their only viable option.

Can my parent apply for the 870 if they are already in Australia on a visitor visa?

Yes, the 870 can generally be applied for onshore (in Australia) or offshore (outside Australia). Being in Australia on a visitor visa at the time of lodgement does not disqualify the parent, provided they hold a substantive visa at the time of application. Specific circumstances should be checked with a registered migration agent before lodging.

Can the sponsor be a New Zealand citizen?

Eligible New Zealand citizens who are Special Category visa holders and ordinarily resident in Australia can be sponsors. However, not all New Zealand citizens qualify. The specific rules for NZ citizen sponsors are worth confirming with a registered migration agent, as the eligibility requirements are more nuanced than for Australian citizens and permanent residents.

What happens if the sponsor’s income drops below the threshold during the visa period?

The income threshold applies at the time of the sponsor application and at renewal. There is no ongoing income reporting requirement during the visa period itself. However, if the parent applies for a renewal and the sponsor no longer meets the income threshold, the renewal application will have a problem. Sponsors should be aware of this when planning.

Is the 870 a good option if my parent needs a lot of medical care?

It depends on the circumstances, but caution is warranted. The health examination at lodgement may identify conditions that complicate the application. More practically, no Medicare access means all medical costs are borne by the parent and their private health insurer. Parents with significant ongoing medical needs may face high premiums, gaps in cover, and out-of-pocket costs that make the 870 financially very demanding over time. This is a factor that deserves serious consideration before committing to the strategy.

Ready to get your parent to Australia sooner?

I am Andrew Heathcote, a registered migration agent (MARN 0850840) based in Brisbane with over 15 years of experience handling parent visa applications. The 870 can be a genuinely useful tool when it is applied strategically. I can assess whether it is right for your family’s situation and manage the entire two-step process for you.

Get in touch for a consultation

Father with daughters in Australia using the subclass 870 while waiting for their subclass 143 to be granted

Can Your Parent Be on an 870 While Waiting for the Subclass 143?

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News.

Yes, your parent can hold a Subclass 870 while a Subclass 143 application is pending in the queue. The two visas are compatible, and combining them is the most common parent visa strategy I see in practice. But it requires careful planning to make it work across a 12-to-15-year wait.

Can your parent be on an 870 while waiting for the subclass 143?

The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that holding an 870 does not affect or jeopardise a pending Subclass 143 application. Your parent can be an 870 holder at the same time as being an applicant or intending applicant for the 143. There is no conflict between the two.

This matters because the 143 queue, as of March 2026, is processing applications lodged in November 2018. A new application lodged today faces a realistic wait of 12 to 15 years before the Department invites the applicant to pay the second instalment and complete the assessment. Without a solution in the interim, many parents would simply not be able to spend meaningful time in Australia during that window.

How the 870-as-bridge strategy works

The strategy is straightforward: lodge the 143 application to secure a place in the queue, then apply for the 870 separately to give the parent a legal basis to live in Australia while the 143 works its way through.

The parent can be outside Australia when the 143 is lodged. From 22 April 2026, permanent parent visas are lodged online via ImmiAccount, which makes the process simpler. Once the 143 application is in the queue, the family can then initiate the 870 sponsor application.

Timeline: when to apply for the 870

The 870 process is a two-step sequence. The Australian-based child (the sponsor) applies first, and the parent cannot apply until that sponsor approval is granted. Once the sponsor is approved, the parent has six months to lodge their own 870 application.

Processing of the parent’s 870 application typically takes around seven months. Families should factor this in when planning: if the parent wants to be in Australia for a specific occasion or needs to arrive by a particular date, the 870 application needs to be running well before that.

There is no requirement to lodge the 143 and the 870 simultaneously. Many families lodge the 143 first, then start the 870 process. Others get the 870 underway first so the parent can arrive while the 143 is being lodged. Either sequence is workable.

How many years can the 870 cover?

The 870 has a maximum total stay of 10 years across all grants combined. Grants come in three-year or five-year increments. So in theory, a parent could use the 870 for up to 10 years before it is exhausted.

For a family that lodged the 143 in 2020 or 2021 and is now looking at a remaining wait of roughly eight to ten years, the 870 can credibly bridge most or all of the remaining queue time. For a family lodging the 143 now, the 870 can cover the first decade of the wait, after which another arrangement will be needed if the 143 has not yet been granted.

Key considerations before committing to this strategy

Health insurance costs over the waiting period

The 870 does not include Medicare. Private health insurance covering hospital treatment is a mandatory visa condition and must be maintained for the entire stay. This is not a minor cost item.

For a parent in their late 60s or 70s, hospital-grade private health insurance can cost $4,000 to $8,000 per year or more depending on the insurer, the level of cover, and any pre-existing conditions. Over a five-year 870 period, that is $20,000 to $40,000 in insurance premiums alone. Over a 10-year run using two grants, the figure can exceed $50,000 to $70,000 for a single parent.

This cost needs to be weighed against the alternative: having the parent remain overseas or use visitor visas, which have their own costs and limitations.

The 10-year total cap on the 870

The 10-year cap is absolute and non-negotiable. Once a parent has used 10 years of 870 stay, that is the end of their 870 eligibility, regardless of whether the 143 has been granted. There is no exemption and no ministerial discretion to extend beyond 10 years.

This creates a real planning challenge for families lodging a fresh 143 today. If the 143 takes 13 to 15 years to process, the 870 will run out several years before the 143 is granted. Families need to think about what happens in the gap, which might mean the parent is on visitor visas for a period, or has returned home while waiting.

Potential risks of this strategy

The main risks to keep in mind:

  • Health complications at renewal. Each 870 renewal involves a new health examination. If the parent’s health has deteriorated significantly, meeting the health requirement for renewal may become difficult. This can strand a parent mid-strategy.
  • Sponsor income changes. The sponsor must re-qualify at each renewal. If the sponsor’s financial circumstances change and they no longer meet the $83,454.80 income threshold (or cannot combine with a partner to reach it), renewal is at risk.
  • Policy risk. The 870 is a government creation and can be modified or discontinued by policy change. This is a risk with any temporary visa arrangement.
  • The 10-year gap. As described above, for new 143 applicants, the 870 runs out before the 143 is likely to be granted. Families need a plan for that gap period.
  • Second instalment cost. When the 143 eventually reaches the second stage, the family will need to pay the second instalment of approximately $43,600. Families should be saving for this throughout the waiting period.

When this strategy makes sense

The 870-plus-143 combination makes strong sense when:

  • The parent genuinely wants to spend most of their time in Australia, not just visit occasionally.
  • The sponsor comfortably meets the income threshold and is likely to continue doing so.
  • The family has already lodged the 143 (or is planning to) and wants the parent in Australia during the wait.
  • The parent’s health is currently reasonable and the health examination is not expected to be a barrier.
  • The family has factored in the health insurance costs and can sustain them over the visa period.
  • The parent does not need to work and does not rely on Medicare.

It makes less sense when the parent has significant health conditions that may make renewal difficult, when the sponsor’s income is borderline, or when the family cannot sustain the ongoing health insurance cost.

Frequently asked questions

Does lodging the 143 affect the parent’s eligibility for the 870?

No. Being an applicant or intending applicant for the Subclass 143 does not disqualify the parent from applying for or holding the 870. The two visa streams are independent of each other.

When the 143 is eventually granted, what happens to the 870?

When the 143 is granted, the parent becomes a permanent resident and the 870 ceases. The parent does not need to take any particular action to cancel the 870; the grant of the permanent visa effectively supersedes it. The parent should not continue to hold themselves out as an 870 holder after the 143 grant.

Can two parents both be on the 870 at the same time with the same sponsor?

A sponsor can have up to two parents or step-parents sponsored on the 870 at any one time. So yes, both parents can hold the 870 simultaneously if they are both parents of the same sponsor and the sponsor meets the income requirement. The annual grant cap of 15,000 applies across all 870 applications, not per sponsor.

What if the parent needs to leave Australia for an extended period while on the 870?

The 870 permits travel in and out of Australia freely. There is no minimum presence requirement. If the parent leaves Australia for an extended period, the time outside Australia does not count toward the 10-year cap, which is calculated based on time spent in Australia. However, they must maintain valid health insurance for any periods they are in Australia.

Want to work out the right strategy for your family?

The 870-plus-143 combination is the most common strategy I put together for clients, but the details matter: timing, income, health, costs. I am Andrew Heathcote, registered migration agent MARN 0850840, and I have helped dozens of families build and execute this approach.

Talk to me about your parents’ situation

Choosing the Right Australian Parent Visa: A Decision Framework

Written by isoadmin on . Posted in News.

Australia offers five distinct parent visa pathways. Each one has a different cost, waiting time, eligibility test, and set of ongoing conditions. Choosing the wrong one does not just cost money. It can mean your parent waits years longer than necessary, or spends years outside Australia when they could have been here.

This guide walks through the key decision factors clearly and honestly. I am Andrew Heathcote, a registered migration agent with over 15 years of experience handling parent visas. This is the framework I use with clients.

Why the right strategy matters more than you think

Parent visa decisions have consequences that play out over decades. The Subclass 143, for example, involves lodging an application that will sit in a queue for 12 to 15 years before it progresses to the second stage. The wrong choice made at lodgement cannot easily be undone. Similarly, committing to the Subclass 103 rather than the 143 to save the initial application fee means a 30-plus-year wait instead of 12-to-15. That is not a theoretical difference.

The decisions made now, including whether to also apply for a Subclass 870 while waiting, will shape your family’s life for a long time. Getting it right at the start is worth the investment.

The full landscape: all five parent visa options

Visa Type Cost (per person) Wait time Balance of family test Medicare
Subclass 143 Permanent ~$48,640 12-15 years Required On arrival
Subclass 103 Permanent ~$7,345 30+ years Required After grant
Subclass 864 Permanent (onshore) ~$48,640 12-15 years Required On arrival
Subclass 804 Permanent (onshore) ~$7,345 30+ years Required After grant
Subclass 870 Temporary ~$1,045-$5,175 ~7 months Not required No access

Annual places across the entire parent visa program are approximately 8,500: roughly 7,250 contributory places (143 and 864) and 1,250 non-contributory places (103 and 804). The 870 has a separate cap of 15,000 grants per year.

Decision factor 1: how urgently does your parent need to be in Australia?

If urgency is the primary driver, the permanent visa queues are not the answer. The fastest permanent visa pathway still takes over a decade. See current parent visa processing times for the queue dates behind that. If your parent needs to be in Australia within the next one to three years, the only viable option is the Subclass 870 or a visitor visa arrangement while a longer-term strategy is built.

If urgency is moderate, meaning the parent wants to be in Australia within two to five years, the 870 can get them here quickly and the permanent visa application can run in parallel. This is the 870-plus-143 combination strategy and it is the most commonly recommended approach for families with reasonable financial resources.

If the family is playing a long game and the parent is happy to wait abroad until the permanent visa is granted, lodging the permanent visa now and waiting is a viable path, provided the balance of family test and other eligibility rules are met.

Decision factor 2: what can you afford?

Budget scenarios by visa type

The cost difference between the contributory and non-contributory permanent visas is stark. The Subclass 143 costs approximately $48,640 per person across both instalments. The Subclass 103 costs approximately $7,345 per person. The non-contributory option saves roughly $41,000 per parent.

But the 103’s 30-plus-year wait compared to 12-to-15 years for the 143 means the parent will likely never see the visa granted if they are already in their 50s or 60s. The apparent saving is illusory for most families. Paying the higher contributory fee is usually the right financial decision when the alternative is waiting 30 years.

For the 870, the upfront government fees are low. The ongoing cost is private health insurance, which is mandatory. For an older parent, this can be several thousand dollars per year. Over a decade, the health insurance cost can approach or exceed the second instalment of the 143.

Families pursuing the 870-plus-143 strategy need to budget for: the 143 first instalment now (~$5,040), ongoing 870 health insurance for up to 10 years, and the 143 second instalment (~$43,600) when invited.

Decision factor 3: your parent’s age and health situation

Age affects several things. The Aged Parent visas (Subclass 864 onshore and Subclass 804 onshore) require the parent to be of pension age. If the parent is not yet pension age, only the 143 and 103 are available as permanent options, plus the 870 as a temporary option.

Health is a factor for every parent visa application. All permanent and temporary parent visas require a health examination. Parents with significant medical conditions may face health requirement complications. The contributory visas do not waive the health requirement, and meeting it is a condition of grant.

For the 870, health must be met at each renewal. A parent whose health is currently good but may deteriorate over a 10-year bridge period faces real risk of failing the health examination at a later renewal.

Decision factor 4: will your parent pass the balance of family test?

The balance of family test is required for all four permanent parent visa subclasses. It cannot be waived. The test requires that at least half of the parent’s children who are still living must reside permanently in Australia, or that more of the parent’s children live in Australia than in any other single country.

For families spread across multiple countries, this test can be the decisive barrier. If the parent has four children and only one lives in Australia while three live in the UK, the test fails. No amount of sponsorship or financial contribution overcomes a failed balance of family test for the permanent visas.

This is where the Subclass 870 becomes genuinely important. The balance of family test does not apply to the 870. For parents who cannot pass the test, the 870 may be the only realistic path to spending meaningful time in Australia.

The 870-then-143 combination strategy

For most families with adequate financial resources, the recommended approach is to lodge the 143 now to secure a queue position, then apply for the 870 to get the parent to Australia in the interim. The 870’s 10-year maximum allows the parent to spend up to a decade in Australia while the 143 queue moves.

This strategy works best when the family lodged the 143 application some years ago (reducing the remaining wait below 10 years), when the sponsor consistently meets the $83,454.80 income threshold, and when the parent’s health allows for health insurance at a reasonable premium.

For newly lodging families, the 10-year 870 cap will run out before the 143 is granted, meaning a gap period will need to be managed. This is a real limitation of the strategy and should be planned for, not ignored.

When a registered migration agent makes a real difference

Parent visa decisions have long consequences and significant costs. The interaction between the balance of family test, the queue dates, the 870 cap, the Assurance of Support bond ($10,000 for one adult, $14,000 for two adults), and the health requirements means there are many variables to get right simultaneously.

A registered migration agent can assess your specific family circumstances, identify whether the balance of family test is met, calculate which combination of visas makes sense, manage the applications, and ensure documents are prepared correctly. Errors on a parent visa application are not easily fixed after lodgement.

Since 22 April 2026, all permanent parent visa applications lodge online via ImmiAccount, which has changed some procedural aspects of the process. Getting advice from an agent who is current with those changes matters.

Frequently asked questions

Can my parent apply for both a permanent parent visa and the 870 at the same time?

Yes. The 870 and any of the permanent parent visas are independent applications. Holding or applying for the 870 does not affect a pending permanent visa application. Many families run both simultaneously.

What is the Assurance of Support bond and does it apply to the 870?

The Assurance of Support (AoS) is a financial bond required for permanent parent visa grants. It is $10,000 for one adult and $14,000 for two adults, held with a bank for 10 years after the visa is granted. It is not required for the 870. If the parent later transitions to a permanent parent visa, the AoS will apply at that point.

What if my parent cannot pass the balance of family test but I still want them here permanently?

If the balance of family test cannot be met, none of the four permanent parent visas are available. The 870 is the only pathway for extended stays. The 870 cannot lead to permanent residence, so unless the family’s circumstances change (for example, other children relocate to Australia), permanent residence through a parent visa may not be achievable. This is a hard reality that is better understood early than discovered after years of planning.

Is the Subclass 864 the same as the 143 but for older parents?

They are similar but not the same. The Subclass 864 is the onshore version of the contributory parent visa, meaning the parent must be in Australia when they apply. The Subclass 143 can be applied for onshore or offshore. Both cost approximately $48,640 per person and have similar processing times. The key distinction is where the parent is at time of application.

How do I know which permanent visa to lodge if my parent is overseas?

For a parent who is not of pension age and is outside Australia, the Subclass 143 is typically the relevant option. For a parent of pension age outside Australia, the 143 is still available. The 864 and 804 require the parent to be in Australia at time of application. If your parent is overseas and needs guidance on which visa to lodge, a consultation with a registered migration agent will give you a clear answer based on their age, location, and family composition.

Get a strategy that actually fits your family

Every family’s situation is different. The visa that is right for one family may be wrong for another. I am Andrew Heathcote, registered migration agent MARN 0850840, based in Brisbane. I will give you a straight assessment of your options, the costs, and the realistic timeline, then manage the applications if you want to proceed.

Book a parent visa strategy consultation