For Indian Australians hoping to spend more time with parents, the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa—Subclass 870—can offer a longer visit than a standard short holiday. But it is not a permanent parent visa, and the process begins with the Australian-based child or eligible family member becoming an approved Parent Sponsor.
That sponsor-first sequence is the detail families most often need to build their plans around. The Department of Home Affairs says the visa allows an eligible parent to visit Australia for up to three or five years at a time, subject to the period granted. Here is a practical 2026 checklist for families comparing their options.
What the Subclass 870 visa does—and does not do
The 870 is a temporary visa designed to reunite parents with children in Australia for an extended stay. According to the Department of Home Affairs, holders may travel to and from Australia while the visa is valid and can apply for further 870 visas up to a cumulative maximum stay of 10 years.
Important limits apply:
- It does not provide a pathway to permanent residence.
- The parent cannot work in Australia on this visa.
- Family members cannot be included in one application; each parent needs a separate visa application.
- The sponsor’s household can sponsor up to two parents at a time and is limited to one sponsorship at a time.
Unlike permanent parent visa pathways, Home Affairs states that the 870 has no Balance of Family test and no Assurance of Support requirement. That can make it relevant to some families who do not meet the family-balance rules for permanent visas, but it does not remove the other sponsorship, health, character and financial requirements.
Step one: secure Parent Sponsor approval
A parent cannot lodge a valid 870 visa application without an approved Parent Sponsor. In many Indian families, the sponsor will be the parent’s adult child who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, although the formal rules also cover eligible New Zealand citizens and particular family relationships.
The sponsor should use ImmiAccount to complete the sponsorship stage and provide accurate evidence of identity, relationship and eligibility. Families should keep names consistent across Indian birth certificates, marriage records, passports and Australian documents. Where spellings differ, prepare a clear explanation and the supporting records rather than assuming the discrepancy will be overlooked.
Approval of sponsorship is not approval of the parent’s visa. It simply permits the parent to move to the visa-application stage.
Step two: lodge within the permitted window
Home Affairs says the visa application generally must be lodged within six months of sponsorship approval. If exceptional permission is given to apply while the parent is in Australia, the period is 60 days. The department says permission to apply in Australia is available only in limited circumstances.
Ordinarily, the parent must be outside Australia when applying. Families should therefore avoid booking non-refundable flights or making long-term care arrangements before checking the location rules and receiving a visa decision.
Documents to organise early
- Valid passport and identity records for each parent applying.
- Evidence of the relationship to the approved sponsor.
- Police certificates and health examinations when requested.
- English translations of documents that are not in English.
- Evidence that the parent has, or can access, enough funds for the stay.
- Information supporting a genuine intention to stay temporarily.
Upload complete, readable colour scans and respond promptly if Home Affairs requests more information. Processing-time figures are only guides based on recently decided cases; they are not guarantees for an individual family.
Budget beyond the visa charge
The 870 visa charge is paid in two instalments: the first when the parent applies and the second when Home Affairs requests it. Because charges can change, families should use the official Visa Pricing Estimator rather than relying on an old social-media post or an agent’s screenshot.
Also budget for police certificates, health examinations, biometrics where required, travel and ongoing living costs. The parent must maintain adequate health insurance from an Australian health insurer for unexpected medical treatment. India does not have a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia, so families should not assume a visiting parent will have ordinary Medicare access.
Plan for the maximum stay and the exit rules
The visa may be granted for up to three or five years, but the grant letter controls the actual dates. It cannot simply be extended while continuing the same visa. A parent seeking another 870 will generally need to apply from outside Australia and, under the published rules, may need to have been outside Australia for at least 90 consecutive days before a further grant.
The cumulative limit is 10 years. Families should treat that limit as a planning boundary, not as an automatic entitlement to a decade in Australia.
A sensible decision checklist for Indian families
- Choose the objective: an extended temporary reunion or a permanent migration pathway.
- Check sponsor eligibility first: do not begin with the parent’s application.
- Compare total costs: include insurance and living expenses, not only visa charges.
- Review other applications: Home Affairs warns that restrictions apply to applying for permanent or temporary parent visas after applying for or while holding an 870.
- Use registered help: if immigration assistance is needed, verify that the adviser is a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner.
The takeaway
The Sponsored Parent visa can give Indian families valuable time together without the Balance of Family test, but it remains a temporary, no-work visa with a strict sponsor-first process. Start with the official Home Affairs eligibility rules, map the sponsorship and application deadlines, and budget for health insurance and the full stay. For complex histories or overlapping parent visa plans, obtain individual advice before lodging rather than trying to repair an avoidable mistake later.
This article provides general information, not migration or legal advice. Visa rules and charges can change; check Home Affairs before applying.