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Passport and travel documents on a table representing the renewal process for the subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa

Renewing or Extending Your Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News.

The Subclass 870 is a temporary visa, but it can be renewed. Your parent is not limited to a single three-year or five-year stay. Understanding how the renewal process works, what the 10-year cap means in practice, and what you need to qualify are essential before you commit to this visa as part of a long-term plan.

Can you renew or extend an 870 visa?

Yes. The 870 can be renewed, provided the parent has not yet reached the 10-year total stay cap and both the parent and sponsor continue to meet the eligibility requirements. There is no automatic renewal, and there is no mechanism to simply extend the existing grant. Each renewal is a new two-step application: the sponsor applies again and the parent applies again.

This is an important distinction. “Renewal” in the context of the 870 means starting the process largely from scratch, including fresh health examinations, updated financial evidence, and new application fees. Plan for this in advance, not at the last minute.

How 870 renewals work

The 3-year and 5-year grant options

Each time a parent applies for the 870, they can be granted either a three-year or five-year visa. The choice of grant length affects the application fee and the timing of the next renewal. A five-year grant costs more in government fees (approximately $5,175) but delays the next renewal cycle. A three-year grant has a lower upfront cost (approximately $1,045) but requires renewal sooner.

Most families prefer the five-year grant where possible. It reduces the administrative burden and means fewer renewal cycles within the 10-year maximum. Unless the parent’s circumstances suggest a shorter stay is more appropriate, the five-year grant is generally the better option.

The 10-year total cap

The 870 has an absolute maximum of 10 years total stay in Australia across all grants. This cap applies to the individual parent, not the sponsor. The Department tracks how much of the 10-year cap has been used.

Combinations that stay within the cap include: two five-year grants; one five-year grant followed by one three-year grant followed by one two-year grant; or other combinations that total no more than 10 years. Once 10 years is reached, the parent is permanently ineligible for further 870 grants, regardless of their age, health, or family circumstances.

Time spent outside Australia does not count toward the 10-year total. The cap is calculated based on actual time in Australia on the 870.

What you need to renew

Updated sponsor requirements

The sponsor must re-apply and demonstrate they still meet the eligibility requirements at the time of each renewal. This means providing updated evidence of income. The current sponsor income threshold is $83,454.80 per year. If the sponsor has a partner, their combined income can be used.

If the sponsoring child’s circumstances have changed (changed jobs, reduced hours, partnership ended), the income evidence will need to reflect the current situation. A sponsor who met the threshold at the original application but no longer does at renewal will cause the renewal to fail.

If the original sponsor is no longer available or willing to act as sponsor (for example, due to a family breakdown or the sponsor having moved overseas), a different eligible child of the parent may be able to act as the new sponsor, provided they meet the requirements.

Continued health insurance coverage

Private health insurance covering hospital treatment in Australia remains a mandatory condition of the 870 at renewal. The parent must hold a compliant policy at the time of grant and must maintain it throughout the new visa period.

Critically, health insurance arrangements that worked at the first application may not be available at renewal. Insurers may impose new exclusions as the parent ages or as pre-existing conditions are identified. Some insurers limit their parent visa policies to specific age bands. Families should confirm health insurance availability and cost as part of renewal planning, well before the current visa expires.

A health examination is also required at each renewal. The same medical criteria apply. If the parent’s health has changed significantly since the last examination, this is worth discussing with a registered migration agent before lodging the renewal.

What happens when you reach the 10-year limit?

When the parent has exhausted their 10-year total stay on the 870, there are no further 870 options available. The parent will need to leave Australia when their final 870 grant expires, unless they have another visa to remain on.

The most common scenario where the 10-year limit becomes critical is when the parent is using the 870 as a bridge while waiting for a Subclass 143 to be processed. If the 143 has not yet been granted when the 870’s 10-year cap is reached, the parent faces a gap period. During that gap, options are limited. The parent could use visitor visas, but visitor visas are short-term and subject to the Department’s assessment of genuine temporary entrant intentions. This is not a comfortable position to be in.

Families using the 870-as-bridge strategy should plan for this gap from the start, particularly if the 143 was lodged recently and the queue wait is 12 to 15 years. The arithmetic does not always work out.

Timing your renewal application

Do not wait until the current 870 visa is about to expire before starting the renewal process. The two-step sequence takes time: the sponsor application must be lodged and approved before the parent can lodge their application, and the parent application itself typically takes around seven months to process.

A practical timeline: begin the sponsor’s renewal application at least 12 months before the current visa expires. This gives enough buffer for the sponsor approval, the parent application, and the processing time, while leaving margin for unexpected delays.

If the parent’s visa expires before the renewal grant is issued, they may need to leave Australia or hold another visa while the new application is processed. Getting the timing right avoids this disruption entirely.

Frequently asked questions

Can a different child sponsor the renewal compared to the original application?

Yes. The sponsor does not need to be the same person for each 870 application. Any eligible child of the parent who meets the sponsorship requirements can act as sponsor, including for renewals. This can be useful if the original sponsor’s circumstances have changed. Each sponsoring child is subject to the same eligibility and income requirements.

Does the parent need to be in Australia when they apply for the renewal?

No. The parent can apply for a renewal of the 870 from outside Australia, provided they meet the eligibility requirements. The process is online through ImmiAccount. Being offshore at the time of lodgement does not disqualify the application.

What if the parent’s health deteriorates and they fail the health examination at renewal?

If the parent cannot meet the health requirement at renewal, the renewal application will likely be refused. There is no automatic waiver of the health requirement for 870 renewals. In some circumstances, a health waiver may be available, but these are not granted routinely. This is one of the real risks of relying on the 870 as a long-term strategy for parents with declining health.

Is there a grace period after the current 870 expires if the renewal is pending?

If the parent lodges a renewal application before the current visa expires, a bridging visa may apply while the new application is processed. However, bridging visa conditions can differ from the 870 conditions, and this is not a straightforward situation. It is much better to time the renewal so the new visa is granted before the old one expires. If you are approaching this situation, get specific advice from a registered migration agent promptly.

Need help with your parent’s 870 renewal?

Renewals look simple on paper but have real traps, particularly around health insurance, health examinations, and the 10-year cap timeline. I am Andrew Heathcote, registered migration agent MARN 0850840, based in Brisbane. I can review your situation and manage the renewal from start to finish.

Contact me about an 870 renewal

Family group together in Australia after the subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa was processed quickly

Subclass 870 Processing Time: How Long Does the Sponsored Parent Visa Take?

Written by webadmin on . Posted in News.

The Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa is the fastest way to get a parent into Australia legally for an extended period. Unlike the permanent parent visa queues, which stretch for years and decades, the 870 runs on a rolling application basis with no queue date system. Here is what the timeline actually looks like.

How long does the 870 visa take to process?

Based on current processing data, the Subclass 870 is taking approximately seven months from lodgement to grant. This figure can shift depending on application volumes and departmental resourcing, but it has remained in the six to nine month range for well-prepared applications.

The 870 is a two-step process: the Australian child (the sponsor) must first be approved as a sponsor, and then the parent applies for the visa itself. Both steps happen through ImmiAccount, and they can be lodged sequentially or as part of a coordinated application strategy.

It is worth being clear about what “processed in seven months” means in practice. That seven months starts from the date the parent lodges the visa application, assuming the sponsor is already approved. If sponsor approval is still pending when the parent lodges, the parent application cannot proceed to grant until the sponsor is approved. Sequencing matters.

The two-step application and what it means for timing

Step 1: sponsor approval timeframe

The sponsoring child must apply for and be approved as an approved sponsor before or concurrent with the parent’s visa application. The department assesses the sponsor’s eligibility: they must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, and they must meet the income threshold, which is currently $83,454.80 per year. A sponsor can combine their income with a partner’s income to meet this threshold.

Sponsor approval currently takes approximately two to four months. There is no set processing time published by the department, and it can vary. The sponsor application is relatively straightforward if financial documents are well organised, but delays can occur if the department requests additional evidence of income or relationship details.

One important note: a single sponsor can sponsor up to two parents under the 870. If both parents are coming, both are covered under one sponsorship.

Step 2: parent visa application timeframe

Once the sponsor is approved, the parent lodges the visa application. This is where the approximately seven-month figure applies. The parent application involves health examinations, character checks (police clearances from every country of residence), and providing evidence of the relationship to the sponsor.

Health examinations must be completed through a panel physician approved by the department. Booking times vary by location, particularly overseas. In some countries the wait for a panel physician appointment is several weeks, which can affect overall timing. Build this into your planning.

The 870 is capped at 15,000 grants per year across all applicants. If the cap is reached in a given year, applications may pause until the next programme year. This has occurred in previous years and is a genuine risk for applications lodged later in the financial year.

What can delay your 870 application?

Several factors can extend the seven-month median processing time:

  • Incomplete health examinations. Health assessments must be completed by an approved panel physician. Missing or outdated results are a common reason for delays.
  • Police clearance issues. Your parent needs clearances from every country where they have lived. Getting clearances from some countries can take months. Start this process early.
  • Sponsor income documentation gaps. If the sponsor’s income is close to the threshold of $83,454.80 or relies on combined household income, the department may request additional evidence. Have payslips, tax returns, and employer letters ready.
  • Annual cap. The 870 is capped at 15,000 places per year. Applications lodged when the cap is approaching can be deferred to the following financial year.
  • Requests for further information. Any request from the department (called a section 56 request) stops the clock until you respond. Respond quickly and completely.

How the 870 compares to permanent parent visa timelines

The contrast between the 870 and the permanent parent visa queues is stark:

Visa Current Processing Time Outcome
Subclass 870 ~7 months Temporary (up to 5 years per grant, 10 years total)
Subclass 143 6 to 8 years (queue-based) Permanent residence
Subclass 103 30+ years (queue-based) Permanent residence

The 870’s processing speed is its primary advantage. It is the only realistic option if you want your parent in Australia in the near term. However, it is temporary. There is no direct pathway from the 870 to permanent residence. If permanent residency is the goal, the 870 functions best as a bridge while a permanent application, such as the 143, works through the queue.

Many families use the 870-while-waiting strategy: lodge a Subclass 143 to lock in a queue date, then lodge a 870 so the parent can actually be in Australia during the wait. The two applications run in parallel and do not interfere with each other.

Frequently asked questions

Can my parent lodge the 870 from outside Australia?

Yes. The 870 can be lodged from outside Australia. There is no requirement for the parent to be onshore at the time of lodgement or at the time of grant. The visa can be granted while the parent is overseas, and they then travel to Australia to activate it.

Does holding an 870 affect eligibility for a permanent parent visa?

Holding an 870 does not disqualify your parent from applying for or being granted a permanent parent visa. The 870 and the permanent visa applications are independent. Many families run both concurrently. The 870 also does not affect your queue date for the permanent visa.

Can my parent work in Australia on the 870?

No. The 870 does not include work rights. Your parent cannot work in paid employment in Australia while on this visa. They also do not have access to Medicare, so arranging adequate private health insurance before arrival is essential. This is a firm requirement, not optional.

What happens when the 10-year maximum on the 870 is reached?

The 870 allows a total of 10 years of stay in Australia across all grants. Once that maximum is reached, no further 870 grants are available for that parent. If a permanent visa has not been granted by then, your parent would need to leave Australia unless another visa pathway is available. This is why lodging the permanent visa early, and using the 870 as a bridge rather than a long-term solution, is important planning advice.

Ready to get your parent to Australia sooner?

The 870 is a powerful tool when used as part of a well-planned parent visa strategy. Getting the sponsor approved, the application complete, and the timing right makes a real difference to how quickly it resolves.

Andrew Heathcote, MARN 0850840, has helped many families structure the 870 as a bridge to permanent residency. Contact us at parentvisas.com.au/contact to talk through your options.

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