Sponsoring Your Parents on the 870 Visa: Sponsor Requirements Explained

The Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa lets parents stay in Australia for 3 or 5 years at a time, up to 10 years in total. Before your parent can apply, you must be approved as a parent sponsor. This guide explains who can sponsor, the income test and the other requirements for the sponsorship stage.

How the 870 process works

1. Sponsor approval: the child applies online to be approved as a parent sponsor.
2. Visa application: once approved, the parent applies for the 870 within 6 months. If they do not, the sponsorship approval lapses.
3. Grant: the parent chooses a 3 year or 5 year stay and pays the second instalment of the visa charge before grant.

Each parent applies separately. The 870 cannot include a partner or children as secondary applicants.

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Who can be a sponsor

• you must be 18 or over;
• you must be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen;
• if you are a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, you must have been usually resident in Australia for at least 4 years immediately before applying;
• during those 4 years you must not have been unlawful or held a bridging visa other than a Bridging Visa A, B or C.

Time on a temporary visa can count towards the 4 years. The 4 year rule does not apply to Australian citizens, and there is no waiver. Organisations cannot be sponsors.

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Who you can sponsor

You can sponsor your own biological, legal (including adoptive) or step-parent. You can also sponsor your partner’s parent, but only if your partner is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. A step-parent can only be sponsored while they remain in a genuine relationship with your biological or legal parent.

There is a limit of two parents per household. You and your partner together can sponsor up to two parents at any one time. For example, one set of parents, or one parent from each side. The limit becomes tighter if parents you sponsored before stayed in Australia after their 870 ended.

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The income test

• you must meet a minimum annual income set by the Department and indexed over time;
• only taxable income counts, shown on your Australian Taxation Office Notice of Assessment for the most recent completed income year;
• you can combine income with your partner, or with a sibling who is also a child of the parent and is a citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen;
• if you combine incomes, you as the sponsor must earn at least half of the required amount;
• there is no discretion for a shortfall, even a small one.

Check the current income threshold before you apply, because it changes. You also cannot swap to a different sponsor once the sponsorship application is lodged, so choose the sponsor with the strongest income position at the start.

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Police checks and other checks

Sponsors must provide police certificates for Australia and for every country where they spent 12 months or more in total in the last 10 years since turning 16. The Department also considers adverse information, your history with previous sponsorships, and outstanding debts to the Commonwealth. Your partner must also meet certain requirements.

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After approval

Approved sponsors must meet sponsorship obligations, such as notifying the Department of certain events. Obligations can continue for a period after the sponsorship ends. If the sponsorship is cancelled or withdrawn, the parent’s 870 ceases 35 days later unless a new sponsor applies.

If a sponsor dies, their widowed partner can apply to take over the sponsorship within 90 days of the death, where the parent already holds an 870. Without a new sponsorship, the 870 ceases 90 days after the death.

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The visa stage

Once the sponsorship is approved, the parent must apply from outside Australia, unless they have permission to apply in Australia in exceptional circumstances. They need enough money to support themselves, adequate health insurance, and must show they intend a genuine temporary stay. They cannot work on the visa. The 870 does not lead to permanent residence. See our 870 visa guide and long stay visitor visas for parents.

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What you should do now

• Check the 4 year rule: permanent resident sponsors need 4 years of usual residence before applying.
• Get your Notice of Assessment: only taxable income on your latest assessment counts.
• Choose the right sponsor: you cannot change sponsor after lodging.
• Plan the 6 month window: your parent must apply within 6 months of approval.