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AU Family Temporary

Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870)

The practical workaround for the decade-long parent queue: live with your child in Australia for up to 5 years at a time, no balance-of-family test.

Official Australia page

Who this route is for

Parents of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen who want to spend long, continuous periods in Australia while waiting for (or instead of) a permanent parent visa.

Eligibility requirements

  • Be sponsored by an approved child sponsor who is an Australian citizen, PR, or eligible NZ citizen, aged 18+, and who has lived in Australia for at least 4 years.
  • The sponsor must be approved FIRST (a separate sponsorship application) before the parent can lodge the visa.
  • Sponsor must meet a minimum income test - household income of at least AUD 83,454.80 (a partner's income can be combined, with the main sponsor earning at least 50% of it).
  • No 'balance of family' test (unlike permanent parent visas).
  • Hold adequate private health insurance for the stay and have no outstanding public health debts.
  • Meet health and character requirements; the parent must not work but may study.

Requirements reviewed June 2026. They change frequently — confirm the current rules on the official page before relying on them.

Recent changes & caveats

Capped at a limited number of grants per year. It does not lead to permanent residence and does not give work rights or Medicare, but it is the main way parents physically live in Australia while a permanent parent application sits in the multi-year/decade queue. Total stay is capped at 10 years across grants.

Australia visa requirements on VisaGlance — Before the points test, check whether you need a visa just to enter Australia — and which one fits your passport — on our companion site VisaGlance.

Other Australia routes

Partner visa - onshore (subclass 820/801)

Pathway

Two-stage onshore route for the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian, leading to permanent residence.

Partner visa - offshore (subclass 309/100)

Pathway

The offshore equivalent of the partner route: a provisional 309 first, then the permanent 100.

Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300)

Temporary

The 'fiance(e)' visa: enter Australia to marry your intended Australian partner, then apply for a partner visa.

Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143)

Permanent

The faster (but very expensive) permanent parent visa for parents of Australians willing to pay a large contribution.
All Australia immigration routes