Subclass 870 allows an eligible parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen to visit Australia for a longer period than a standard Visitor visa. It is a temporary visa and does not itself provide a pathway to permanent residence.
Who this pathway is generally for
- An approved parent sponsor is required before the visa application.
- The applicant must be an eligible parent or parent-in-law of the sponsor.
- The visa can be granted for a three-year or five-year period, subject to the applicable requirements.
How the process usually works
- First obtain approval of the parent sponsorship.
- Lodge the visa application within the permitted sponsorship period.
- Provide health insurance and other required evidence.
- Plan carefully if the parent also has or is considering a permanent Parent visa pathway.
Issues that commonly need closer analysis
- sponsor eligibility and income requirements
- timing between sponsorship approval and visa application
- health insurance and health issues
- interaction with permanent Parent visa plans
- maximum cumulative stay limits
Why the details matter
Visa criteria often operate together with application-validity rules, location requirements, previous immigration history and evidence requirements. Two people applying for the same subclass can therefore face very different legal and evidentiary issues.
Last reviewed: 6 October 2026. Migration law and policy can change. This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice.