Sponsored Parent visa (subclass 870)

Who can sponsor?

The sponsor must:

• be 18 or older and be the child (biological, adopted or step) of the applicant
• be an Australian citizen, an eligible New Zealand citizen, or a permanent resident who has lived in Australia for at least four years
• meet the income requirement set for sponsors
• have no debts to the federal government, such as a Medicare debt

A sponsor can sponsor a maximum of two parents at a time, and the sponsorship must be approved before the visa application is lodged.

What does it cost?

The visa charges are the current Home Affairs figures. A lower charge applies from 1 July 2026 to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens. Medical exams, police checks, translations and health insurance cost extra. You cannot switch from a 3-year to a 5-year visa later; you would need a new application.

What are the main conditions?

• The parent cannot work in Australia.
• The parent must hold health insurance for the whole stay.
• Multiple entries are allowed while the visa is valid.
• The parent must meet health and character requirements and have enough funds for the stay.

How long can a parent stay in total?

A parent can renew after spending 90 days outside Australia following expiry, for up to 10 years in total. This comes from a 2024 article.

When do you lodge the visa application?

After sponsorship approval, a parent outside Australia has 6 months to lodge the visa application. A parent already in Australia who has been allowed to apply there has 60 days. A parent on an 870 in Australia generally cannot apply for another parent visa onshore and must apply from overseas after the 870 ends.