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Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) Visa

Bring your parents to live with you in Australia with a Sponsored Parent visa

A Parent Visa subclass 870 may allow you to apply for one or both of your parents to join you in Australia for up to 3-5 years. This is a popular option for many families and therefore the processing times can be longer than hoped. Due to this, submitting a high quality application is vital and the use of qualified lawyers at Australian Migration Lawyers is highly recommended.

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What is a Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa?

If you are an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen, you may be eligible to sponsor your parent/s to come and live with you temporarily in Australia. A Parent Visa Subclass 870 may allow parents to join their children to live in Australia.

It is designed to reunite parents and children on a temporary basis for up to 3-5 years with an option to reapply for a visa of longer length allowing a stay of a maximum of 10 years.

Please be mindful that this visa does not lead to permanent residence and your parents cannot apply for other types of parent visa when they have applied for or hold a Subclass 870 visa. Additionally, your parents will not be allowed to work whilst in Australia when using this visa.

Eligibility requirements for a Subclass 870 visa

Some requirements to be an eligible Subclass 870 visa sponsor or applicant include:

Sponsor

  • Be the biological, adopted, or step-child of the prospective visa applicant
  • Be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident usually residing in Australia for at least 4 years, or eligible New Zealand citizen usually residing in Australia for at least 4 years
  • And more

Applicant

  • Is outside Australia when applying for this visa, unless your parent have Permission to Apply in Australia
  • Is able to provide evidence demonstrating genuine intention to stay in Australia temporarily
  • Is able to provide evidence of accessing to sufficient funds
  • And more

Benefits of Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa

The principal benefit of the Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent visa is providing eligible parents to travel to Australia and unite with their children and grandchildren for up to five years. Unlike Subclass 600 Visitor visa, Subclass 870 visa offers the visa holder a significantly longer period of stay without departing. 

There is a range of temporary and permanent parent visas each with different processing times, requirements, and costs associated with them. The Subclass 870 visa may vary from some other options as you currently do not need to meet the balance of family test or have an assurance of support. Speak to the Australian Migration Lawyers team to understand more about this and how we can support you to achieve your goals.

Benefits of being a subclass 870 visa-holder include:

  • It’s more cost effective than other parent visas
  • It has much shorter processing times
  • It does not require you to pass the balance of family test and have the assurance of support
  • It allows you to live, study, work and travel without restrictions during your temporary visa grant period.

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Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa checklists

The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa application process requires a significant amount of documentary evidence to satisfy the Australian government that you are the child of the prospective visa applicant and you are capable of fulfilling all sponsorship obligations to the applicant.

Moreover, your parent also needs to prove his/her genuine intention to stay in Australia temporarily and he/she will leave Australia before the visa expiry date, which is not always an easy job to demonstrate and satisfy the government. 

To support you in meeting the legislative requirements, Australian Migration Lawyers has developed two comprehensive checklists (one for sponsor and one for visa applicant) of documents that will be provided to you upon engagement. 

We will also review and provide feedback to ensure the compliance and completeness of the evidence so you are putting forward the best possible application.

  • Personal documents - Identity and financial information 
  • Relationship documents - Various evidence to demonstrate family relationships
  • Financial documents - Copy of Notice of Assessment issued by the ATO for most recent taxable income year
  • Character documents - Police and military documentation
  • Personal documents - Identity and financial information 
  • Evidence of genuine intention to stay in Australia temporarily - Genuine Temporary Statement demonstrating your intention and supporting documents for your statement
  • Character documents - Police and military documentation

How the subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa works

The subclass 870 Sponsored Parent visa is a temporary visa that grants the applicant a temporary stay within Australia. The process in applying for the visa can be complicated and it is highly recommended to enlist the help of of a migration lawyer to make the process clearer and smoother for all involved.

Some steps you can take to give you the best chance of a successful outcome include the following:

Step 1: Check that you have an approved sponsor - You cannot apply for this visa type unless you have a sponsor that is approved by the Department of Home Affairs. Once the sponsor is approved you can lodge your application within 6 months.

Step 2: Enlist the help of a professional - Learn more about your specific circumstances by speaking with a migration lawyer. This will help you to understand what is required and what you can expect from the process ahead.

Step 3: Gather required information - Working with a lawyer will help you now exactly the type of information you should gather to help build a strong case. Such information might include personal, financial and health-related information.

Step 4: Lodge application - You can then lodge the application and wait to receive the outcome.

As mentioned, we recommend contacting us if you have any questions about your circumstances. We can help you at whatever stage of the process you’re in.

Future visa pathways

The Subclass 870 visa is a valuable pathway to allow families to reunite and may be considered as parents/families are waiting for permanent visa application decisions.

However, a Subclass 870 visa is a temporary visa, and it does not lead to permanent residence. If your parents intend to stay in Australia permanently, consideration will need to be given to other permanent parent visas such as Subclass 143 Contributory Parent visa or Subclass 103 Parent visa. The Australian Migration Lawyers can discuss longer term migration strategies and eligibility requirements.

Although you are not obliged to become an Australian citizen, there are a number of benefits that come with the citizenship, these include:

  • Consular services and support whilst overseas
  • Visa-free travel to over 100 countries on an Australian passport
  • Access to Australian government jobs
  • No issues relating to visa cancellations

Benefits of using Australian Migration Lawyers for your Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa application

Due to the popularity of parent visa applications, the number of places available in Australia for people to utilise the Subclass 870 visa is capped at 15,000 primary applications each financial year. Therefore, it’s vital to get the right support to increase your chances of obtaining a visa.

  • The team at Australian Migration Lawyers is made up of qualified Australian lawyers who draw on their knowledge of relevant legislation and case law in advising you on your visa application, and other migration options and strategies available to you. 
  • As lawyers, we have an obligation to advise you on your eligibility for the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa and alignment with all legislative requirements. 
  • We assist you with preparing your primary application and are available to assist you with advice and support at any stage whilst you want for your visa to be granted, including working with you to action any additional requests from the Department of Home Affairs.

Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa costs

There are two main costs associated with a Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa application.

1. Professional fees payable to Australian Migration Lawyers to prepare your primary application

Our fees will vary depending on the complexity and circumstances of your application. Some applications will be more complicated than others, requiring more time to prepare submissions and our fees are designed accordingly. Where possible, we work on a fixed-fee basis rather than billing hourly to provide our clients with certainty about the total costs associated with their Parent visa application. We may also offer payment plans based on financial need.

2. Department fees

As of 1 July 2023, the fees charged by the Department of Home Affairs for a Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa are divided into two categories:

  • Sponsorship application fee: $420
  • Visa application fee: up to 3 years: $5,735, up to 5 years: $11,470

These fees must be paid upfront at the time of lodgement and the Department of Home Affairs does not accept split payments. You can pay using debit/credit card, PayPal, UnionPay and BPAY.

Visa application process

Applying for a visa to Australia can be complex. With help from an Australian Migration Lawyer, we can untangle this complexity, and help you apply for the right visa.

1. Consultation and engagement

2. Preparation and support

3. Submission and communication

4. Representation and success

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Visa processing times for Subclass 870 visa applications

The processing times can vary by the Department of Home Affairs, and your lawyers will keep you updated throughout the process. At the time of publication, the processing times for the sponsorship step by the Department of Home Affairs is approx 25- 77 days, and the processing times for the visa application step can be anywhere between 35 days to 6 months. Processing times are subject to the complexity of your case, the completeness of your application and the caseload being processed by the Department of Home Affairs. At Australian Migration Lawyers, our goal is to submit high-standard and comprehensive applications that are as complete as possible to help reduce delays.

Considerations

Our legal team at Australian Migration Lawyers are qualified lawyers practising specifically in Australian migration law. 

As lawyers, we cannot issue guarantees that your Parent visa will be granted as the decision rests with the Department of Home Affairs. However, we take utmost care in every matter and can offer you advice and support given our sound understanding of the law. 

We do our best to make ourselves as accessible to you as possible:

  • Most initial consultations are free
  • Recurring services will incur a fixed-fee that we will discuss with you
  • We offer online consultations so you can speak with us from anywhere in Australia
  • We can assist you regardless of where you are in the Parent visa process

Meet your Australian Migration Lawyer

We’re a diverse team of professionals with decades of combined experience. We care about your situation and will make sure you always get the support and advice you need.

Australia-wide services

We offer professional migration advice and support, no matter where you are based. Those located in Australia have the choice of meeting with us at one of our offices or online, and for those offshore, we are available to you online.

Frequently asked questions

Read our most commonly asked questions about the Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa

I am an Australian citizen/permanent resident, how many parents can I sponsor?

If you are an approved Parent Sponsor, your sponsor’s household is limited to one sponsorship at a time. Your sponsor’s sponsorship can cover up to 2 parents per household at a time. Your sponsor cannot lodge a new sponsorship application until their current approved sponsorship ends.

Can I work while holding this visa?

No, the parent (applicant) can not work whilst on this visa. Subclass 870 visa does not come with work rights and you are not allowed to work in Australia. However, you may be allowed to undertake unpaid work including providing care for grandchildren, undertaking volunteer work for charitable organisations, or assisting at a local school where your grandchildren study. Speak to Australian Migration Lawyers for specific advice on your situation.

Am I eligible to access Medicare if I get this visa granted?

No, the Subclass 870 is a temporary visa and you cannot access Medicare. You will be required to have and maintain adequate private health insurance with a private health insurance company while you are in Australia.

How long can I stay on a Subclass 870 visa?

The Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa may allow you to stay in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years, and you may be eligible to reapply for this visa to stay up to 10 years. If you have held this visa subclass for the cumulative 10 year period, you cannot be granted a further Subclass 870 visa.

Once I have my Subclass 870 visa, do I have permanent residency?

The Subclass 870 visa is a temporary visa. If you are seeking permanent residence, please consider other types of visa such as Contributory Parent visa (subclass 173/143) or Parent visa (subclass 103). The team at Australian Migration Lawyers can discuss your migration options and advise you on what might be the best option for you to consider.

About the content author

Jenny Le
Australian Legal Executive

Jenny is an Australian Legal Executive who holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree from Deakin University. She is a passionate individual with vast practical experience in Australian migration law. Prior to joining Australian Migration Lawyers, Jenny worked for a registered migration agent and focused on work and business visas.

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