Live in Australia with your children without meeting the Balance of Family test.

The 870 visa lets parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens live in Australia temporarily for up to 3 or 5 years at a time, for a maximum of 10 years.

Unlike other parent visas, you don’t need to meet the Balance of Family test. It’s a great option if you’re not ready or eligible for permanent residency.

Key Features of the 870 Visa

• Live in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years (renewable, up to 10 years total).

• No requirement to leave Australia during the visa stay.

• No Balance of Family test required.

• Doesn’t lead to permanent residency, but may be suitable while waiting for a PR parent visa to process.

• Starts from day of grant not the date of arrival in Australia.

Step 1: Sponsor Approval

Before a parent can apply, the child must be approved as a sponsor.

To be eligible, the sponsor must:

• Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.

• Be 18 years or older and settled in Australia.

• Have a combined household income of at least $83,454.80 in the most recent financial year (includes income of spouse/siblings if applicable).

• Pass character checks and provide police clearances if requested.

• Have no unpaid public health debts (or be on a payment plan).

• Agree to share visa-related information with the parent.

Sponsor Obligations

Once approved, the sponsor must:

• Support the parent financially and provide accommodation if needed.

• Report any significant changes (like criminal charges or address updates).

• Keep records (e.g. tax returns) and provide them if requested.

• Repay any public health debts incurred by the parent.

Failure to meet these obligations could result in losing the right to sponsor in future.

Step 2: Lodging the Visa

Once the sponsor is approved, the parent has 6 months to apply for the visa. Be aware:

The visa starts from the grant date, not your arrival date—so be ready to travel when it's approved.

Limitations to Be Aware Of

• The 870 visa does not provide a pathway to permanent residency.

• A parent can only stay in Australia on this visa for a total of 10 years (across multiple visas).

• There must be at least a 90-day gap between two 870 visa grants.

• If you are planning to apply for a PR visa later, speak to a Registered Migration Agent—timing matters. You cannot apply for PR parent visas like 143 or 173 after you’ve been granted an 870 visa (unless already lodged before getting the 870).

Costs

• Visa application fee (per parent):

  • $5,895 for a 3-year visa

  • $11,785 for a 5-year visa

  • Fee is split:

    • $1,180 paid at time of application

    • Remainder paid before visa grant

• Sponsor application fee: $420

Still Unsure if You’re Eligible?

We’ll help you understand your options.

Complete our free online assessment, and one of our Registered Migration Agents will review your situation and let you know the best way forward.

Eligibility for the Subclass 870 Temporary Parent Visa

To apply for an 870 visa, parents must meet the following criteria:

• Your child is eligible to sponsor you
  You must have a biological, adoptive or stepchild who is:

  • An Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, and

  • Has been living in Australia for the past 4 years (note: this is longer than the 2-year requirement for other parent visas).

• You’re at least 18 years old

• You can support yourself financially
  You need to show you have access to funds for your stay in Australia.

• You have suitable health insurance
  You must provide proof of adequate private health insurance for your time in Australia.

• You meet health and character requirements
  This applies to all applicants included in the visa.

• No outstanding public health debts
  You must have no unpaid public health debts in Australia, or have a payment plan in place.

• You apply from outside Australia
  The application must be lodged while you are offshore.