Australia Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa (Sponsored Parent Visa Subclass 870)

The Subclass 870 is best suited to families in the following situations:

• The child has only recently obtained PR or citizenship and the Subclass 143 long-term plan is not yet a fit
• Families who do not want to pay the high contributory parent migration fees (such as the Subclass 143)
• Families who want their parents to reunite with them in Australia as soon as possible rather than waiting years in a queue
• Families planning to transition later to another parent migration pathway (using the Subclass 870 as a “bridge visa”)

In practice, the Subclass 870 works very well as a “trade time for room to plan” strategic tool — reunite first, then decide on the next migration step based on family income, policy changes and other factors.

Yes — the key question is whether they can pass the Australian health requirement.

Practical points to consider:

• Chronic conditions (such as hypertension or diabetes) are generally not a barrier
• Serious illnesses (such as cancer or organ failure) may affect the outcome
• Health-risk assessment focuses on whether the condition would place a burden on the Australian healthcare system

Because Subclass 870 holders do not access Medicare and must take out private health insurance, some medical risks can effectively be “risk-transferred” under policy. We recommend a pre-application health screening so the medical examination stage does not catch you off guard.

Yes — and it is one of the more common refusal-risk factors.

The Department of Home Affairs looks beyond a single year of income, also considering:

• Whether the income is sustained and stable (not just meeting the threshold short-term)
• Whether the income source is lawful and sustainable
• Whether the figures rely on one-off income (such as a single bonus)

For example:

• Recently changing jobs or experiencing large fluctuations in income
• Self-employed individuals with unstable income
• Incomplete tax records

Any of these can affect sponsor approval. The professional approach is to plan income 1–2 financial years in advance, rather than “patching the file” at the last minute.

Yes. The Subclass 870 is generally a multiple-entry visa, allowing parents to come and go from Australia during the visa validity period.

A few points to keep in mind:

• Each entry still has to satisfy the visa conditions
• Health insurance must remain valid at all times
• Long absences from Australia may affect future renewal assessments

When planning a long-term stay, factor travel plans and visa periods into the same timeline.

Policy does not set a single fixed offshore period, but several key limits apply:

• Cumulative time in Australia is capped at 10 years
• Once the 10-year cap is reached, an offshore “cooling-off” period typically applies
• On reapplication, the Department will review the overall residence history

In practice, the strategy varies between cases — some can reapply relatively quickly while others need a longer gap. We recommend planning the next steps during the first Subclass 870 period rather than waiting until expiry.

The two differ substantially:

Subclass 600 Visitor Visa (Family Visit)

• Short stay (typically 3–12 months)
• Faster approval, but not suited to long-term residence
• May require frequent renewals

Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Visa

• Long stay (up to 10 years)
• More stable, suited to family reunion
• Stricter sponsorship and income requirements

In short:

• Short-term family visit → Subclass 600
• Long-term company → Subclass 870

Based on current case experience:

• Sponsor approval: approximately 2–4 months
• Visa approval: approximately 3–6 months

Overall timeline is typically around 5–10 months, depending on:

• Completeness of documentation
• Case complexity
• Department of Home Affairs processing speed

The better-prepared the documentation, the more predictable the overall timeline.