Overview
The Subclass 870 lets a parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen stay in Australia for 3 or 5 years at a time, with a lifetime maximum of 10 years. It is a two-stage process: the Australian child first applies to become an approved Parent Sponsor — showing household taxable income of at least A$83,454.80 — then the parent must apply for the visa within 6 months of the sponsorship approval. Up to 15,000 visas can be granted each program year. The 870 does not permit work, does not give Medicare access, and does not lead to permanent residence.
The 870 is the practical answer for families who want their parents in Australia for years at a time without waiting for the very-long-queue permanent parent visas. The key is the two-stage process — the sponsorship must be approved first, and the parent must then apply within 6 months — and the sponsoring child’s A$83,454.80 income test is a real hurdle.
How long can a parent stay on an 870?
Each 870 is granted for 3 or 5 years (the fee differs; the current charge is shown above and is paid in two instalments). A parent can hold further 870s up to a lifetime maximum of 10 years in Australia on this visa. The visa is temporary: it does not lead to permanent residence, does not allow work, and does not give Medicare access — private health insurance from an Australian provider is a condition for the whole period.
Who can sponsor, and what income is needed?
The sponsor must be the parent’s child (or the child’s partner), an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible NZ citizen aged 18 or over who has lived in Australia for at least 4 years. The sponsor must show taxable income of at least A$83,454.80 in the most recent income year, evidenced by an ATO notice of assessment; the income of a partner or of another child of the parent can be combined, as long as the main sponsor provides at least half. The sponsor also passes police checks and signs undertakings to repay any public health debt.
What is the two-stage timeline?
- The child lodges a Parent Sponsor application and waits for approval.
- Within 6 months of approval, the parent lodges the 870 visa application — late lodgement means starting the sponsorship again.
- The parent provides health insurance, health and character evidence; the visa is granted subject to the 15,000-a-year cap.
How does the 870 compare with the 600 and the permanent parent visas?
The table above sets out the options. For visits of up to 12 months, a longer-validity Visitor visa (600) is cheaper and needs no income test. For permanent residence, the Contributory and non-contributory Parent visas remain the only routes — but Home Affairs estimates around 18 years for new contributory and around 42 years for new non-contributory applications, and the 2026-27 Migration Program allocates just 7,060 Parent places. An 870 can be held while a permanent parent application is in the queue.
Fees and processing times shown above are sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and displayed with the date verified.
Who is eligible for the Subclass 870 visa?
- Be the biological, adoptive or step-parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible NZ citizen who has lived in Australia for at least 4 years
- Be sponsored by an approved Parent Sponsor — the child's sponsorship must be approved before the parent applies, and the visa application lodged within 6 months of that approval
- The sponsor (alone or with a partner or sibling) must show taxable income of at least A$83,454.80 in the most recent income year and accept liability for the parent's public health debts
- Hold adequate private health insurance from an Australian provider for the whole visa period
- Have no outstanding public health debt and meet health and character requirements
How much does the Subclass 870 visa cost?
The base application charge is A$1,515. Per parent applicant. The sponsor must be an approved family sponsor first. Checked against the official Home Affairs pricing table on 29 October 2026. See every Subclass 870 stream's charge and processing time, or compare every visa on our Australian visa fees table. Fees are indexed each year — see the official Visa Pricing Estimator for the current figure.
How long does the Subclass 870 visa take to process?
For the Visa Application stream, around 75% of applications are finalised within 8 months, and 90% within 9 months.
| Stream | 75% finalised within | 90% finalised within |
|---|---|---|
| Visa Application | 8 months | 9 months |
| Sponsorship | 4 months | 4 months |
Official figures as at 29 September 2026. Source: Department of Home Affairs — Global visa processing times. Compare all visas on our processing times tracker. Times are a guide only — complete, decision-ready applications are generally faster.
How do you apply for the Subclass 870 visa?
- Sponsor application by the child. The Australian child applies first to become an approved Parent Sponsor — with ATO notices of assessment proving the A$83,454.80 income threshold, police checks and signed financial undertakings.
- Sponsorship approval. Once the sponsorship is approved, the parent must lodge the 870 application within 6 months; otherwise a fresh sponsorship application is needed.
- Parent's visa application. The parent applies for a 3- or 5-year visa and provides health insurance, identity, health and character evidence. The application charge is paid in two instalments.
- Arrival and ongoing health cover. On grant, the parent must keep qualifying health insurance for the full visa period and cannot work. A further 870 can follow, up to 10 years in total.
How it compares
| Option | Stay | Work / Medicare | Sponsor income test | Permanent? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sponsored Parent 870 | 3 or 5 years at a time, 10 years total | No work; no Medicare (private insurance required) | A$83,454.80 household taxable income | No |
| Visitor 600 (parent longer-validity) | Up to 12 months per visit; 12 in any 18 months | No work; no Medicare | None | No |
| Contributory Parent 143 / 864 | Permanent | Full work rights and Medicare | Assurance of Support (10 years) | Yes — multi-year queue |
| Parent 103 / Aged Parent 804 | Permanent | Full work rights and Medicare | Assurance of Support (2 years) | Yes — decades-long queue |
Frequently asked questions
How is the 870 different from the contributory and non-contributory parent visas?
The 870 is a temporary visa (3 or 5 years per visa, 10 years total) with no work rights and no Medicare, but it can be granted within months. The contributory (143/173/864/884) and non-contributory (103/804) parent visas are permanent, with full work rights and Medicare, but have very long queues — Home Affairs estimates around 18 years for new contributory and around 42 years for new non-contributory applications. Many families use the 870 to spend time together while a permanent application sits in the queue; you can hold an 870 while a 143 or 103 application is pending.
What income does the sponsoring child need?
The approved Parent Sponsor must show taxable income of at least A$83,454.80 in the most recent income year, evidenced by an ATO notice of assessment. The sponsor's income can be combined with a partner's or a sibling's of the parent, but the main sponsor must contribute at least half. The figure is set by the Migration (Income Threshold for Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa) Instrument (LIN 19/146).
How long does my parent have to apply after the sponsorship is approved?
Six months. The 870 visa application must be lodged within 6 months of the sponsorship approval date; after that the sponsorship lapses and the child must apply again. Plan both stages together so the parent's documents, health insurance and health checks are ready when approval comes through.
Can my parent work on an 870?
No. Work is not permitted on the 870. It is designed for extended family visits, not employment, and the sponsor is liable for any public health costs the parent incurs.
Is there a cap on the number of 870 visas issued?
Yes — up to 15,000 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visas can be granted each program year (1 July to 30 June). If the cap is reached, further grants wait until the next program year, so timing the sponsorship and visa applications matters.
What about health costs? Is Medicare available?
870 holders are not eligible for Medicare. Qualifying private health insurance from an Australian provider covering the full stay is a visa requirement, and the sponsor undertakes to repay any public health debt the parent leaves behind.
Related visas
- Parent visa (Contributory & non-contributory)
- Visitor visa (Subclass 600)
- Partner visa (Subclasses 820/801 & 309/100)
- Child visa (Subclasses 101, 802 & 445)
- Prospective Marriage visa (Subclass 300)
- New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (Subclass 461)
Related guides
- Visitor Visa 600 for Parents: Long Stays, Multi-Year Validity and the Alternatives
- The medical examination for your Australian visa
- Complete guide to Australian immigration in 2026
- Visa Refused? Your Appeal Options and the ART Review