Visa 870 – Sponsored Parent (Temporary) is an option for parents who want to come Australia live with your children for a long time without having to wait according to the queue mechanism of permanent Parent Visa categories. According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs, Visa 870 allows the parents of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen to stay in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years per grant. The total holding period for 870 Visas can be up to 10 years.
However, this is a Temporary Residence Visa, not a Settlement Visa. Therefore, parents need to understand the accompanying limitations before choosing this Visa.
What is Visa 870?
Visa 870 is designed to help parents reunite with their children in Australia for a longer period of time, in a context where permanent Parent Visa categories are in high demand and must apply a number and queue limit mechanism. The sponsoring child must belong to one of the eligible groups:
- Australian citizens who have met the residency requirements.
- Australian permanent resident.
- Eligible New Zealand citizens.
Therefore, a child holding a temporary visa such as Visa 482 or Visa 485 cannot simply sponsor their parents under 870.
1. Can parents who come to Australia with Visa 870 work?
Are not. This is one of the most important conditions to understand before applying. Visa 870 is subject to condition 8103, which prohibits the visa holder from working in Australia. This regulation is expressed in the Migration Regulations 1994. This means that parents cannot come to Australia on Visa 870 and then:
- Work full time.
- Work part-time.
- Get a paid job.
- Self-employed to generate income in Australia.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs also emphasizes that work rights depend on the specific conditions of each visa type and visa holders need to check their visa conditions through VEVO. Therefore, if the parents’ main goal is to go to Australia to work, then Visa 870 is not a visa designed for that purpose.
2. Can Visa 870 stay in Australia for 3 or 5 years?
Can be 3 years or 5 years, depending on the duration of the visa issued. According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs, Visa 870 allows parents to stay in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years. The regulations also limit the total validity period of 870 Visas that a person can hold to no more than 10 years. For example, in terms of overall term there can be combinations such as: 3 + 3 years or 3 + 5 years or 5 + 5 years
Depending on the circumstances and conditions applicable at the time of application. The important point is that Visa 870 is not a permanent residence visa. At the end of the visa term, parents must meet the conditions of another visa if they want to continue in Australia.
3. Does Visa 870 have Medicare?
Do not understand that if you have an 870 Visa, your parents will be entitled to Medicare as permanent residents. Visa 870 is a temporary visa and belongs to the 8501 conditional visa group on health insurance. This condition requires the visa holder to maintain arrangements for adequate health insurance during their stay in Australia. Therefore, families need to pay special attention to health insurance suitable for Visa 870 and avoid interruption of insurance. This is an expense that needs to be included in the family budget right from the moment you plan to bring your parents to Australia.
4. Can a child with Visa 482 sponsor their parents under Visa 870?
No, if only based on Visa 482. This is where many families easily get confused. To sponsor parents under Visa 870, the sponsor must be: Australian Citizen → Australian Permanent Resident → Eligible New Zealand Citizen. Therefore, if the child is currently holding a 482 Visa, they are not in the sponsor group mentioned above. A route often considered by families could be: 482 → 186 → PR → qualified sponsor → Visa 870
Of course, the ability to switch from 482 to 186 depends on the specific conditions of the employee, the employer and the applicable 186 category.
5. How is Visa 870 different from Visa 143?
This is a point that needs to be clearly distinguished.
| Criteria | Visa 870 | Visa 143 |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Temporary residence | Permanent residence |
| Duration of stay | 3 or 5 years each time issued | Permanent residence if granted |
| Total time 870 | Maximum 10 years | Does not apply under 870 |
| Must be employed | No | Subject to permanent resident rights |
| Health insurance | Must maintain insurance that meets condition 8501 | Subject to PR benefits and related regulations |
| Sponsor | Eligible Australian/PR/NZ citizen conditions | Eligible Australian/PR/NZ citizen |
| Purpose | Long-term temporary reunification | Parent settlement |
Visa 143 belongs to the Parent Visa permanent residence group and is subject to capping and queuing; The Australian Department of Home Affairs said it is not possible to provide accurate processing times for Parent Visas due to the number of applications and allocated places. Meanwhile, Visa 870 is designed as a temporary pathway for parents to reunite with their children for a longer period of time.
6. Why are some families still interested in Visa 870?
The appeal of Visa 870 lies in its ability for parents to stay close to their children and grandchildren for a long period of time, instead of just relying on short-term visits to Australia.
Especially, for families where parents:
- There is no need to work in Australia.
- Wants to live near children and grandchildren.
- Wants to stay in Australia for a long time.
- Able to meet financial requirements.
- Able to maintain adequate health insurance.
then Visa 870 may be an option that needs to be considered. The Australian Department of Home Affairs also requires Visa 870 applicants to prove they have enough financial resources to cover expenses during their intended stay in Australia and intend to stay in Australia temporarily.
Visa 870: 5 things parents need to remember
If your family is looking into Visa 870, remember 5 important points:
1. Not allowed to work
Visa 870 is subject to condition 8103, which prohibits working in Australia.
2. This is a temporary residence visa
Not a permanent residence visa.
3. Can be granted for 3 or 5 years
The total time to hold Visa 870 can be up to 10 years according to regulations.
4. Must maintain appropriate health insurance
Visa 870 belongs to visa group subject to condition 8501.
5. Sponsor must be qualified
A child holding a temporary visa like 482 cannot rely solely on that visa to become a sponsor Visa 870.
Visa 870 can be a family reunification option in the meantime
For families who are aiming for Visa 143, learning about Visa 870 can help open up another temporary reunification option.
Can imagine:
Child has PR
↓
Eligible to sponsor
↓
Consider Visa 870
↓
Parents come to Australia to reunite
↓
Also consider other suitable Parent Visa options
However, each family has different circumstances. The choice of 870, 143 or another visa category should be based on the child’s visa status, parents’ status, goals in Australia, finances, health and legal conditions at the time of application. __________ determined.
If the family’s goal is long-term reunion, Visa 870 and Visa 143 should be considered in the overall picture instead of just looking at the time spent in Australia.
- Note: Visa conditions are subject to change. The article is updated based on information from the Australian Department of Home Affairs at the time of editing. Before submitting your application, you need to check the specific conditions of each case on official sources.
- Source: Department of Home Affairs
- Nếu mục tiêu của gia đình là đoàn tụ lâu dài, Visa 870 và Visa 143 nên được xem xét trong bức tranh tổng thể thay vì chỉ nhìn vào thời gian được ở Úc.
Lưu ý: Điều kiện visa có thể thay đổi. Bài viết được cập nhật dựa trên thông tin của Bộ Nội vụ Úc tại thời điểm biên tập. Trước khi nộp hồ sơ, cần kiểm tra điều kiện cụ thể của từng trường hợp trên nguồn chính thức.
Nguồn: Department of Home Affairs
