What is the 870 Sponsored Parent Visa?+
The Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870) is a temporary visa that lets an eligible parent of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen visit Australia for up to 3 or 5 years.
How long can you stay in Australia on an 870 visa?+
The visa can be granted for up to 3 or 5 years per visa, with further subclass 870 visas potentially allowing visits up to the maximum period permitted by Home Affairs.
Can an 870 visa holder work in Australia?+
No. Home Affairs states that subclass 870 visa holders cannot work in Australia.
Who can sponsor a parent for an 870 visa?+
An approved Parent Sponsor is required before the visa application can be lodged. Sponsor eligibility requirements apply, including relationship, status, residence and income requirements.
How many parents can be sponsored at one time?+
A household can generally have one approved sponsorship covering up to two parents at a time, subject to Home Affairs rules.
Does the 870 visa lead to permanent residency?+
No. The subclass 870 is a temporary visa and does not itself provide a right to permanent residence.
Do you need health insurance for an 870 visa?+
Yes. Home Affairs requires subclass 870 applicants to have and maintain adequate health insurance from an Australian health insurance provider for unforeseen medical treatment while in Australia.
What is Condition 8501 on an 870 visa?+
Condition 8501 requires the visa holder to maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance while in Australia. Check the individual visa grant letter and VEVO.
What should I compare when choosing 870 health insurance?+
Compare the premium, hospital benefits, hospital excess, GP and out-of-hospital benefits, radiology/pathology, ambulance, waiting periods, exclusions, limits and commencement rules.
Can I change health insurers while holding an 870 visa?+
Potentially, but coordinate the old and new policy dates carefully, check continuity and waiting-period rules, and avoid an unintended gap in adequate cover.
What hospital excesses are shown in Policy Direct's current 870 comparison?+
The current comparison shows a $500 hospital excess for the Medibank and Allianz Care options and $250 for the Bupa option. Confirm the insurer's current policy documents before purchase.
Are GP visits and medical tests covered by every 870 insurance option?+
No. Benefits vary by product. The guide notes that the Bupa option compared shows eligible GP/doctor and radiology/pathology benefits, while the specific Medibank and Allianz Care options compared are more hospital-focused.
Can waiting periods apply to pre-existing conditions?+
Yes. Visitor health policies can impose waiting periods for pre-existing conditions and some policies may exclude certain pre-existing illnesses. Check the insurer's definitions and current terms.
Why should I arrange 870 insurance before the last minute?+
Different insurers can have different commencement rules. The Allianz Care option in this comparison has a 14-day commencement lead time, so planning ahead is important.
Can an insured parent still have out-of-pocket medical costs?+
Yes. Private insurance may not cover the full cost of every treatment or service. Excesses, benefit limits, exclusions and provider gap charges can still result in out-of-pocket costs.
