870 Visa Australia: Temporary Parent Visa with Great Benefits for Your Parent
The 870 Visa Australia, a temporary visa with a validity period of up to 3 and 5 years, offers unique benefits that set it apart from other parent visas. Notably, it is the only parent visa that does not require a balance of family tests, making it an attractive option for many. The 870 Visa also has relatively easier requirements compared to other parent visas.
Considering the benefits that the 870 Visa offers you, we have compiled all the important information on why you should consider the 870 Visa for your parents!
Who is eligible for the 870 Visa Australia?
Parents of Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens are eligible for the 870 Visa Australia. It is a great option if you and your parents are looking for a longer-term temporary visa so your parents can spend more time with you and their grandchildren.
The 870 Visa Australia offers up to 5 years of visa validity, offering an opportunity to reunite with you in Australia without waiting an extensive time for the permanent parent visa. And at the same time, your parents don’t need to extend their Visitor Visa every 3 months.
The 870 Visa Australia is an effective solution if you feel the processing time for a permanent parent visa is too long and the Visitor Visa validity period is too short for them.
What are the requirements for 870 Visa Australia?
Both the applicant (your parents) and sponsor (yourself) must meet the specified requirements for an 870 Visa Australia. It includes:
Requirements for 870 Visa Applicants:
- Be at least 18 years old;
- Be sponsored by an approved parent sponsor (usually the child or the child’s partner);
- Be outside of Australia (exemption may apply in certain conditions);
- Never engaged in payment for visas conduct;
- Provide evidence of access to funds;
- Provide proof of health insurance;
- Does not have an outstanding public health debt;
- Meet all health, character and national security requirements.
Requirements for 870 Visa Sponsor:
- Must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
- Must have a taxable income of at least AUD 83,454.80 (you may combine it with your partner)
- Must be the biological/adoptive/stepchild of the applicant
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must have met any previous sponsorship obligations
- Must not have any debts or issues in characters
- Must agree to comply with the sponsorship obligations for the 870 visa, including:
- Providing financial support and accommodation during the parent’s stay in Australia;
- Keeping records of certain information and providing them to the Department of Home Affairs (if asked);
- Informing the Department of Home Affairs when certain events occur;
- Paying outstanding public health debts incurred by the parent, even after the parent leaves Australia (suppose the debt hasn’t been finalised).
Learn more: Complete Document Checklist for Parent Visa Application in 2025
What benefits does 870 Visa Australia offer to you?
Here are some benefits that the 870 visa offers to you and your parents (and they mostly sound better than other parent visas):
1. Win-Win Situations
If your parents are looking for a way to spend their leisure time for a longer time, they should seriously consider the 870 Visa Australia.
“Well, I can get a Visitor Visa for my parents for leisure time. Why should I get this visa for them?”
That’s right, you can get your parents a Visitor Visa to spend leisure time with you and the other family members. But, have you considered the limited stay period that the Visitor Visa provides? Or the complexities of extending their stay in Australia with an onshore Visitor Visa because of the GTE requirement and others?
We believe there is nothing more convenient and reassuring for your parents than being able to spend time with their children and grandchildren for up to 5 years without the need to leave the country or extend the Visitor Visa for a specific period.
2. Cost Flexibility
The 870 visa cost is much cheaper than other parent visas, which is important to consider. You also don’t have to pay for the assurance of support while being an eligible sponsor for your parents. Here is the breakdown of 870 Visa costs as of March 2025:
- AUD 1,180 as the first payment.
- AUD 4,715 as the second instalment if you’re applying for the 3-year stay period; or
- AUD 10,605 as the second instalment if you’re applying for the 5-year stay period; and
- AUD 420 for the sponsorship application.
These costs are much cheaper than other parent visas, which may cost more than AUD 40,000!
3. You don’t need to meet the Balance of Family Test
870 Visa Australia is the only parent visa without a balance of family test, providing a sense of relief. This is why an 870 Visa is the best answer if you are not able to meet the balance of the family test!
4. Efficient Processing Times
Best of all, many people consider the 870 visa to be their thing because the processing time is faster than any other parent visa. While other Parent visas might take more than 10 years to be processed, the 870 visa in Australia needs less than 1 year to be processed.
Also, 870 Visa Australia is an online application, so you can track your parent’s visa application progress directly on your Immi Account, which is much more efficient!
Read more: Parent Visa Processing Time – Latest Update 2024
Places available for 870 Visa Australia each year
The Department of Home Affairs may grant up to 15,000 870 Visa annually, assuring families to reunite in the country. This is also part of the 870 Visa benefits compared to other parent visas, in which the 870 visa is not subject to the queue or cap! So you can apply for the visa without any worries.
870 Visa application process and processing time
The application process for an 870 Visa consists of two important steps:
- Sponsorship application
- Visa application
You must first lodge a sponsorship application through the ImmiAccount. Once approved, you can continue with the visa application, which must be lodged within six months of the sponsorship approval.
The current processing time for the 870 Visa application is between 4 to 7 months. Meanwhile, the sponsorship application takes 3 to 4 months to be processed.
Does the 870 Visa have any disadvantages?
While this sponsored temporary parent visa is known for its easier applications and flexibility, it also has some disadvantages you should consider:
- Your parents must be outside Australia when applying for this visa
- You’ll need to cross a two-step process that includes the sponsorship approval
- This visa won’t allow your parents to work in Australia (exemption may apply)
- Your parents won’t be entitled to Medicare
- Your parents can be granted this visa for an extension if they are outside Australia for 90 consecutive days.
So, are the benefits that 870 Visa offers much more worth it than the disadvantages?
Consulting with a professional and registered migration agent is highly advised to get the best answer to your concerns. ONEderland Consulting has 15 years of experience assisting family reunions with the 870 Visa, all of which were completed hassle-free. So, book an appointment with our registered migration agent now, and let’s explore the other benefits you will get with the 870 Visa Australia!
Are you looking for professional assistance for your visa application?
Our visa specialists at ONEderland Consulting will assist you and give you complete suggestions for your 870 visa application, the only parent visa without balance of family test. We have a 98% success rate and are one of Australia’s most highly recommended migration agents. Read our 4.9* score customer reviews.
We are complex visa specialists. As a registered Australian migration agent with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA), we are regulated in our professional practice and bound by the profession’s Code of Conduct issued by the Migration Agents Registration Authority.
Take the first step and get in touch with us. Our team members are honest, professional and accountable. Contact us through email at [email protected] or via phone at 1300 827 159. Alternatively, you may book your consultation online, and it is backed by our 100% Money Back Guarantee Program.
