Published Jul 17 | 2025

Temporary Parent Visa (Subclass 870)

Temporary Parent Visa (Subclass 870)

Temporary Parent Visa

Subclass 870

If you want to spend quality time with your children and grandchildren in Australia—but without the long wait and high cost of a permanent visa—the Subclass 870 Temporary Sponsored Parent Visa could be your ideal option.

This visa lets parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents stay in Australia for up to 5 years per visa (and up to 10 years total), making it perfect for family support, life events, or just being there for everyday moments.

Why Choose the 870 Visa?

Benefit Details
No Balance of Family Test You don’t need to have half your children living in Australia—just one eligible sponsor.
Faster Processing Skip the decades-long queue of permanent parent visas. The 870 is usually approved in months.
Extended Stay Stay for 3 or 5 years at a time, and reapply later (up to 10 years total).
Multiple Entries Travel in and out of Australia during your visa period.
Simple Sponsorship Only your child (or their partner) needs to sponsor you. No complex family assessments.

Quick Facts About the Visa

  • Visa Length: 3 or 5 years per application
  • Total Stay Allowed: 10 years maximum across all 870 visas
  • Work Rights: No work permitted
  • Health Insurance: Required throughout your stay
  • Pathway to PR: This visa does not lead to permanent residency
  • Processing Time: Varies—typically faster than permanent parent visas

Eligibility: Who Can Apply?

For Parents For Sponsors (Your Child or Their Partner)
Be the biological, adoptive, or step-parent of the sponsor Be a settled Australian citizen, PR, or eligible NZ citizen
Be outside Australia when applying (usually) Have lived in Australia for at least 4 years
Hold private health insurance Meet the income test (taxable income of at least AUD $83,454.80*)
Pass health and character checks Agree to support you financially and cover any health system debts
Genuinely intend to stay temporarily Pass character checks

đź’ˇ *The income threshold is indexed each year by the Department of Home Affairs.

How the Application Works: 2 Simple Steps

Your child applies to become an Approved Parent Sponsor. This includes submitting income proof, identity documents, and agreeing to the sponsor obligations.

Once the sponsorship is approved, you (the parent) can lodge your visa application within 6 months. This step includes your health and character checks.

  • Step 1 – Sponsorship Approval
  • Step 2 – Visa Application

Subclass 870 – Processing Times

The processing duration for visas depends on the visa stream and applicant profile together with government workload requirements. The official government source provides the most accurate and current information about visa processing times.

đź”— Check current visa processing times

Subclass 870 - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I work on the 870 visa?

No, you can’t work. However, you can assist with unpaid family duties like caring for grandchildren.

Can I apply for permanent residency later?

Not while you hold the 870 visa. One of the visa conditions prevents applying for a permanent parent visa until you leave Australia.

Can I apply again after my first 5 years?

Yes, but only after you spend at least 90 days outside Australia. The total stay must not exceed 10 years across all 870 visas.

Do I need to meet the Balance of Family Test?

No—this is one of the visa’s biggest advantages. You just need one eligible sponsor.

covid_visa_australia_408_questra_immigration_visa_extension

Let Questra Help You Stay Connected

Spending extended time with family is one of life’s greatest joys. The 870 visa makes this possible—without the long wait, high cost, or complexity of permanent visas. But it must be done right, with the proper sponsor approvals, insurance, and documentation.

At Questra, we guide families step by step—ensuring applications are complete, compliant, and stress-free.

Book a consultation today and start planning your stay in Australia.

We’re a five-star rated agency!
Kim Fejeran
Kim Fejeran
October 10, 2025.
If you’re looking for a sign that you’ve chosen the right migration agent — this is it. Many can become migration agents, but not everyone does their work with genuine care and heart. That’s why choosing a migration agent with genuine care and compassion for their clients is so important. And Bill Mitroulas of Questra Immigration is definitely one of them. Our gratitude to Bill and the Questra Team is beyond words — they were the ones who made it possible for us to achieve the future we’ve been dreaming of here in Australia. Even though the process wasn’t easy and at times felt almost impossible, Bill and the Questra Team stood by us and helped us successfully complete our PR application. And because of the positive outcome of our PR application, we were able to get the house we’ve always dreamed of. In behalf of my partner, Jhoseph Paxton, we want to thank you, Bill and the Questra Team, for changing our lives — giving my children a future filled with hope and opportunity. I pray for Questra's continued success.✨
Juan Sebastian Pardo Sanchez
Juan Sebastian Pardo Sanchez
September 22, 2025.
We have had great professional support from Questra in our immigration process. They are always open to listen our concerns, responding promptly and clearly. We've been grateful for their help and guidance. Thank you, Questra team.
kevin muñoz
kevin muñoz
August 4, 2025.
Excellent service, great team, 100% recommended
Katherin Alvarez
Katherin Alvarez
July 23, 2025.
A heartfelt thank you to Questra and their amazing team! 💜 We’re writing this with so much joy because… our visa was approved! And honestly, we couldn’t have done it without their unwavering support and dedication. From the very beginning, we felt guided with professionalism, empathy, and a warmth that gave us peace throughout the entire journey. It wasn’t just paperwork it was a path filled with dreams, fears, and hope… and they were right there with us the whole way. Thank you for helping us turn this dream into a reality. We truly recommend their work with all our hearts.
Jhonatan steve Rojas giraldo
Jhonatan steve Rojas giraldo
July 7, 2025.
Excelente help and customer service to homologate my degree. With VETASSES
Carlos Andres Ramirez Contreras
Carlos Andres Ramirez Contreras
June 13, 2025.
Questra Immigration has been an excellent choice for us. Their approach throughout the entire process was professional, transparent, and of high quality from start to finish.
Johana Genez
Johana Genez
March 19, 2025.
Thanks Questra Immigration •Overall Experience: I had an excellent experience working with Questra Immigration on my 407 Training Visa application. The team was professional, efficient, and incredibly knowledgeable. Their expertise made the entire process smooth and stress-free. I highly recommend their services to anyone looking for immigration assistance in Australia! •Communication & Support: The communication with Questra Immigration was outstanding. They kept me informed at every stage of my 407 Training Visa application, promptly answered all my questions, and ensured I fully understood each step. Their support gave me confidence throughout the process. •Visa Process Success: Thanks to the expert guidance of Bill, Alejandra and the entire team, I successfully obtained my 407 Training Visa. Their dedication and attention to detail made all the difference. I’m extremely grateful for their help in making my Australian journey possible!
Jorja Naidu
Jorja Naidu
August 20, 2024.
Was recommended to Bill and his team by a good friend who was also with Questra. They took on my case after a last minute situation, and were honest, professional and assuring the entire process. Will definitely be using them again! Thank you team :)
Aurore Susini
Aurore Susini
July 12, 2024.
Great Efficient agency. Extremely helpful. listens and takes the time to answer our questions and find the best solutions to move forward with the visa .
Vignesh M
Vignesh M
April 24, 2024.
Bill Questra is nothing short of exceptional. His assistance was instrumental in helping my wife and me navigate the complexities of the visa process, ultimately leading to our successful visa grant. What sets Bill apart is not just his expertise, but his approachability and willingness to go the extra mile for his clients. He patiently guided us through each step, answering our questions, addressing our concerns, and ensuring that we felt confident and supported throughout the process. His professionalism, coupled with his warmth and empathy, made all the difference during what could have been a stressful ordeal. Thanks to Bill's tireless efforts and unwavering commitment, my wife and I can now embark on this new chapter of our lives with peace of mind and excitement for the future. He is truly an amazing person and a consummate professional.
Why Partner with Questra Immigration?
99.9%
Success Rate
icon

Maximise your chances of a successful outcome with our highly experienced team.

Split Fee
Payments
icon

We offer split fee payments to assist you financially whilst your application is being prepared. It’s easy to make a start!

Custom
Technology
icon

Our team of developers build technology to help streamline the workflow of our migration team and improve the client experience for our clients

Trusted
Partner
icon

Our clients love our service! Check out our reviews for yourself. You too could be receiving a phone call from us with your visa approval.

Cost
Certainty
icon

Know exactly every cent you will be paying upfront with no hidden additional charges along the journey with our transparent fees.

Simple &
Seamless
icon

We take the stress out of preparing and lodging visa applications.
We do this every day of the working week.