Sponsored parent visa is a program under the Parent Visa Australia programs that is popular cause it offers a renewable and temporary visa for the parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to let them reside in Australia with the Parent Visa for 3-5 years without permanent residency queues. Known as subclass 870 within parent visa Australia programs, sponsored parent visa provides multiple entry rights, and no strict eligibility requirements which enables short-term family reunions for family avoiding the 30+ year parent visa waiting times for parent visa subclass 103 or the high financial barrier of a contributory parent visa.
This guide is provided to you by BJay Education & Migration Services which seeks to explore the subclass 870 visa in detail covering updated 2025 data, the latest visa fees, and the step-by-step application process to ensure your family remains together with the proper guide.
What is a Sponsored Parent Visa (Subclass 870)?
Sponsored parent visa, or subclass 870 is a temporary visa that the government of Australia provides under the Parent Visa Programs that grants temporary residency to parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to reside in Australia for up to 5 years through renewable 3 or 5-year stays. Parent sponsor visa australia requires sponsorship by an eligible child meeting income threshold, with no health undertakings or character checks beyond basic requirements.
Unlike permanent parent visa streams, sponsored parent temporary visa allows multiple entries and onshore renewals without queues. In the current parent visa Australia scenario, the 870 visa is unique and becoming popular because it does not require the Balance of Family Test which can be a life-changing factor for many families excluded from permanent streams.
| Feature | Sponsored Parent Visa Details |
|---|---|
|
Visa Type |
Temporary (Renewable 3/5 years) |
|
Duration |
Up to 3or 5 years (10 years total |
|
Location |
Generally Offshore
(Onshore requires special permission)
|
|
Processing Time |
3-6 months |
|
Rights Granted |
Multiple entry, Study (limited),
No Work, No Medicare
|
|
Annual Cap |
15,000 places per year |
Source: DHA
Key Benefits of Subclass 870 in 2025
- Longer Residential Stay: The Sponsored Parent Visa holders can stay up to 5 years per grant and cumulatively 10 years without needing to depart every 3 months unlike a standard Visitor Visa.
- Time efficient: While a parent visa Australia waiting time for permanent residency can exceed decades, the 870 visa is typically processed in months.
- No Balance of Family Test: Since the Sponsored Parent Visa doesn’t require a Balance of Family Test (BoFT), it is perfect for parents whose children are spread across different countries.
- Multiple Entry: Parents can travel in and out of Australia as often as they like while the visa is valid.
| Benefit | Subclass 870 |
|---|---|
|
Stay Length |
3-5 years renewable |
|
Multiple Entry |
Unlimited |
|
Processing |
3-8 months |
|
BoFT Required |
No |
|
Cost |
$6.5k-$13.5k |
Sponsored Parent Visa subclass 870 Eligibility Requirements
To receive a successful application report for the Sponsored Parent Visa, both the child (the sponsor) and the parent (the applicant) must satisfy specific eligibility criteria that are specifically provided by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
- Requirements for Sponsor (Child)
- The child or the sponsor needs to be approved to sponsor their parent before the visa application can even be lodged.
- The Sponsor is required to be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible NZ citizen.
- The sponsor is required to have been a lawful resident in Australia for at least 4 years (this is stricter than the 2-year “settled” requirement for a permanent parent visa). This is also known as the “4year rule”
- The sponsor must demonstrate a minimum taxable income of AUD $83,454.80 from the most recent financial year according to the Income Threshold (2025-2026). You can combine your income with a partner or sibling, but the primary sponsor must contribute at least 50% of the threshold.
- The sponsor needs to have a clean criminal record and no outstanding debts to the Australian government for being eligible.
- Requirements for Applicant (Parent)
- The parent lodging for the application of Parent Visa must be the biological, adoptive, or step-parent (or parent-in-law) of the sponsor.
- The applicant must be at least 18 years old.
- The Applicants must hold adequate 870 visa health insurance (Overseas Visitor Health Cover) for the duration of their stay.
- The sponsor is required to demonstrate a genuine intention to stay temporarily and not use the visa as a “backdoor” to permanent residency.
Sponsored Parent Temporary Visa Cost Breakdown
The cost of this visa is higher than a standard visitor visa but significantly lower than the upfront costs of a contributory parent visa. The following cost is the cost provided by the DHA, but we advise you to always double-check the cost breakdown at the official website of DHA.
| Cost Component | 3-Year Visa | 5-Year Visa |
|---|---|---|
|
AUD $420 |
||
|
Visa 1st Installment (At Lodgment) |
||
|
Visa 2nd Installment (Before Grant) |
AUD $4,855 |
AUD $12,140 |
|
Total Official Visa Cost |
AUD $6,490 |
AUD $13,355 |
|
Associated Costs (Approx.) |
AUD $800+ (Medical/Police) |
AUD $800+ (Medical/Police) |
Source: DHA Subclass 870 Pricing
Sponsored Parent Visa Processing Time
The subclass 870 processing time 2025 is currently much faster than permanent alternatives. While the parent visa Australia waiting time for a Subclass 103 is currently estimated at 33 years, the 870 visa offers a much swifter turnaround.
In the Sponsored Parent Visa there is no queue system and hence it is based on first-come, first-served within annual caps. Sponsored parent visa work rights activate upon grant.
- 50% of applications: Processed in approximately 3 to 4 months.
- 90% of applications: Processed within 7 to 8 months.
| Processing Milestone | Timeframe(90%) |
|---|---|
|
Online Lodgment |
Immediate |
|
Initial Assessment |
1-2 months |
|
Health/Character (if requested) |
2-4 weeks |
|
Final Decision |
Total: 2-6 months |
Source: DHA Family Visa Processing Times
Step-by-Step Application Process in Sponsored Parents Visa Australia
The sponsored parent visa Australia requires a strict stage process which if you fail to follow the exact timeline, it can lead to immediate refusal of the Visa application.
- Sponsorship Lodgment: The child or the sponsor lodges the sponsorship application via ImmiAccount for the Parent Visa.
- Sponsorship Approval: After the Lodgment of the Sponsorship is done then you need to wait for the DHA to approve you as a eligible Parent Sponsor which is usually done within the time span of 1–3 months.
- Visa Application: After the wait of 1-3 months for the approval of sponsorship, you can receive the Approval for the sponsorship, then the parent is required to lodge the Sponsored Parent visa application within 6 months of the sponsorship approval. (or 60 days if applying onshore with permission)
- Health & Character: After the application has been submitted, the parent completes medical exams and provides police clearances.
- Second Installment: Once the visa is “ready for grant,” the parent pays the second installment of the fee.
- Visa Grant: This is the phase where the parent is granted the visa and can travel to Australia to live temporarily.
Sponsored Parent Visa 870 vs. Subclass 103 vs. Subclass 143
The Parents Visa Programs provided by the Australian government are vast and some of them are similar but have differences between them. Some of them are the Subclass 870, subclass 103, subclass 143
| Feature | Subclass 870 | Subclass 103 | Subclass 143 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stay Duration |
Temporary (Up to 10 yrs) |
Permanent |
Permanent |
|
Wait Time |
< 1 Year |
~33 Years |
~15 Years |
|
Balance of Family |
Not Required |
Required |
Required |
|
Cost (Single) |
~AUD $6.5k – $12.5k |
~ AUD $7.5k |
~ AUD $48k+ |
|
Work Rights |
No Work Rights |
Full Work Rights |
Full Work Rights |
|
Medicare |
NO (OVHC) |
Yes |
Yes |
Why Choose Sponsored Parent Visa
While you are in the process of choosing the right pathway to bring your parents to Australia in 2025, it typically involves various factors like balancing cost, speed, and the permanent duration of their stay. On contrary, the parent visa subclass 103 offers the security of permanent residency but the 30-year queue of it makes it impractical for many elderly parents.
Therefore, the sponsored parent visa or the subclass 870 acts like middle ground which offers a rather fast-track reunion for your family without the strict Balance of Family Test obstacles. The table provides below is a verified 2025-2026 comparison table from a proper source to help you determine which visa is actually the best with your family condition.
| Benefit | Subclass 870 | Visitor Visa (600) | Parent Visa 103 (PR) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stay Duration |
3 or 5 years (Up to 10 yrs) |
3–12 months per visit |
Permanent Residency |
|
Multiple Entry |
Unlimited |
Varies (Usually limited) |
Permanent |
|
Processing |
3–8 months |
1–2 months |
33+ years (Queue) |
|
BoFT Required |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Total Cost |
AUD $6,500 – AUD $13,500 |
~AUD $200 (Offshore) |
~AUD $7,345 (2 installments) |
|
Work Rights |
None |
None |
Full |
|
Medicare |
No (Requires OVHC) |
No (Requires OVHC) |
Yes |
Sponsored Parent Visa Renewal Rules
In order to successfully renew the Sponsored Parent Visa (Subclass 870) for a second term, careful planning is a must that is to be done before the first visa expires. To maintain the 10-year maximum stay benefit for compliant, self-sufficient families, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) implemented strict renewal requirements in 2026.
This second application is the last opportunity to extend parents’ stay in Australia under this visa stream because there isn’t a third grant available. Understanding the Second Grant triggers, such as the 16-month usage rule and the necessary offshore period, is essential to reaching the 96% success probability.
Eligibility for the Subclass 870 Second Grant
If you want to be eligible for the renewal process of the sponsored parent visa, the applicant’s relationship with the sponsor must continue to be stable, and all of the first term’s financial obligations must have been fulfilled independently of the Australian social security system.
Common Refusal Pitfalls & Solutions for the Subclass 870
Public Health Debt: If the parent had a pending hospital bill that was due on a previous visit on a tourist visa the 870 will be automatically refused. The solution to this problem is to make sure that all Health Debts are paid completely prior to lodging the application.
Relationship Linkage: The relationship to the biological parent, in the case of step-parents, must be intact. If the biological parent is deceased or the spouses have divorced, the sponsorship may not be valid. The solution to this problem is to make sure that you have proper relationship with the sponsor before the application process.
The “6-Month Rule”: If you are trying to sponsor your parent, the parent has exactly 6 months from the date of sponsorship approval to lodge the visa. If the given window of time is missed-even by one day-a completely new sponsorship application must be submitted.
Sponsored Parent Visa FAQs
The Temporary Sponsored Parent Visa or the Subclass 870 visa is a temporary visitor visa which is usually long-stay vis that allows parents to live in Australia for 3 or 5 years continuously, provided they are sponsored by an eligible child.
If you have a successful Sponsored Parent Visa or parent Visa 870, you can stay for up to 5 years per visa. You can apply for a second visa to reach a total maximum stay of 10 years in Australia.
The Parents (biological, adoptive, or step) must be of Australian citizens or PRs. The sponsor must earn at least AUD $83,454.80 per year and have lived in Australia for 4 years.
Generally, you must be outside of Australia (offshore) to apply. However, in limited circumstances, you may request “permission to lodge onshore” if you are already in Australia on a valid visa.
Yes. It is a mandatory condition (Condition 8501). You must maintain adequate health cover for the entire duration of your stay.
Get your free Consultation with BJay
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