870 vs contributory parent visas in 2026: why eligibility tests differ
Explains why the 870 temporary sponsored parent visa has no balance of family test or Assurance of Support, unlike contributory parent visas.
Short answer: the Subclass 870 does not apply the balance of family test, and it carries no Assurance of Support requirement. According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs' official Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870) page (as at the August 2026 official page), “There is no balance of family test or Assurance of Support requirements for this visa.” That sentence is the clearest sourced contrast with the permanent parent visa streams, including the contributory parent visa: the 870 is a temporary, sponsor-based visa, so its eligibility checks test the parent-sponsor relationship and a genuine intention to stay temporarily, not the family-balance and financial-assurance tests used for permanent parent migration. The balance of family test and the Assurance of Support belong to the permanent parent visa streams; the Department sets the contributory parent visa criteria on its contributory parent visa page. This article is general information only and is not personalised migration or legal advice, so confirm current criteria on the Department’s official pages or with a registered migration professional for your circumstances.
Does the 870 use the balance of family test?
No. The Department’s official 870 page states there is no balance of family test for this visa. The balance of family test is a mechanism of permanent parent migration, and the 870 explicitly excludes it, so the 870 will not ask you to satisfy that test. The contributory parent visa’s balance of family test rules are set out on the Department’s current contributory parent visa page.
What does the 870 ask instead of the balance of family test?
The 870 replaces those permanent-parent tests with sponsor-focused and temporary-stay checks. You must:
- be the biological, legal (including adoptive) parent, step-parent or parent in-law of the Parent Sponsor;
- be at least 18 years of age;
- have an approved Parent Sponsor;
- have met and complied with any previous visa obligations;
- meet the health requirement and the character requirement;
- have, or have access to, enough money to support yourself in Australia;
- have a genuine intention to stay in Australia temporarily and do only what the visa allows;
- have and maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance with an Australian health insurance provider;
- have no outstanding debt to the Australian Government, or have repayment arrangements in place.
The Migration Regulations 1994 and PAM3 guidance add the corresponding criteria: sponsorship by a parent sponsor (cl.870.221), sufficient funds (cl.870.222), adequate health insurance (cl.870.224), substantial compliance with previous visa conditions (cl.870.225), a genuine intention to stay temporarily (cl.870.226), no outstanding public health debt (cl.870.227), the public interest criteria (cl.870.228) and the special return criteria (cl.870.229). The regulations set no secondary criteria, so every applicant — for example, each parent — must meet the primary criteria.
Why are the 870’s eligibility tests different from a contributory parent visa’s?
The 870 is a temporary visa, so its tests are built around temporary stay and sponsorship rather than permanent migration. The Department requires a genuine intention to stay only temporarily, and the visa gives no right to permanent residence. If you have already lodged a permanent parent visa application, you may visit Australia on the 870, but you cannot remain in Australia permanently while that application is being decided. The balance of family test and the Assurance of Support belong to the permanent-parent side of the system, and the 870 page’s statement that they do not apply to this visa is the structural reason the tests differ. The contributory parent visa is a permanent stream, so its criteria are set on the Department’s contributory parent visa page, not on the 870 page.
Can holding an 870 block a contributory parent visa application?
Yes. The official 870 page states: “You cannot apply for a permanent or temporary parent visa if you have applied for or hold this visa.” So if you hold, or have applied for, an 870, you cannot apply for a contributory parent visa. If you have already lodged a permanent parent visa application, you may visit Australia on the 870, but you must not remain permanently while the application is decided. The order of applications therefore matters for anyone comparing the two pathways.
| Entry test | Subclass 870 (Sponsored Parent Temporary) | Contributory parent visa (permanent parent stream) |
|---|---|---|
| Balance of family test | Not required; the official page states there is no balance of family test for this visa. | Set out on the Department’s contributory parent visa page. |
| Assurance of Support | Not required; the official page states there is no Assurance of Support requirement. | Set out on the Department’s contributory parent visa page. |
| Relationship test | Must be the biological, legal (including adoptive), step or parent-in-law of the approved Parent Sponsor, and at least 18. | Set out on the Department’s contributory parent visa page. |
| Health insurance | Required: adequate arrangements with an Australian health insurance provider (cl.870.224). | Set out on the Department’s contributory parent visa page. |
| Outcome | Temporary only; no right to permanent residence. | Permanent parent visa stream; not a temporary pathway. |
How long is the 870 granted for, and what limits apply?
The Migration Regulations 1994 and PAM3 notes set a maximum grant period of up to five years, with a cumulative cap of 10 years across all 870 visas you have held. If you apply from outside Australia after previously holding an 870, cl.870.223 generally requires you to have been outside Australia for at least 90 consecutive days since the last 870 ceased, unless exceptional circumstances are accepted. Sponsorship can also end in defined circumstances — for example, if the sponsor’s permanent visa is cancelled, the sponsor dies, or the sponsor withdraws — and the visa may then cease early with a short buffer period. These points come from the Migration Regulations 1994 and the Department’s procedural guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 870 require the balance of family test?
No. The Department’s official Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (Subclass 870) page says there is no balance of family test for this visa. The balance of family test is a permanent parent visa mechanism, and the contributory parent visa’s version of the test is set out on the Department’s contributory parent visa page.
Is an Assurance of Support needed for the 870?
No. The same official 870 page confirms there is no Assurance of Support requirement for this visa. Assurance of Support is not part of the 870; for the contributory parent visa’s Assurance of Support settings, see the Department’s current contributory parent visa page.
Who can be sponsored as a parent on the 870?
You must be the biological, legal (including adoptive) parent, step-parent or parent in-law of the approved Parent Sponsor, and you must be at least 18 years old. Under cl.870.221 of the Migration Regulations 1994, you also need a parent sponsor who has been approved. Both parents must independently meet the primary criteria, because the regulations set no secondary criteria for this visa.
Can I apply for a contributory parent visa if I already hold an 870?
No. The official 870 page states you cannot apply for a permanent or temporary parent visa if you have applied for or hold this visa. If you have already lodged a permanent parent visa application, you may visit Australia on the 870, but you cannot remain in Australia permanently while that application is being decided.
Does the 870 lead to Australian permanent residence?
No. The 870 is a temporary visa only, and the Department requires a genuine intention to stay temporarily. It does not give the right to permanent residence, and you cannot use it to remain permanently while a permanent parent visa application is being decided.
Do I need health insurance for the 870, and what if proof is missing?
Yes. The official page requires adequate health insurance from an Australian health insurance provider for your stay, and cl.870.224 repeats this as a criterion. PAM3 guidance notes that if no evidence is provided, the decision maker must ask for it before refusing; you should still confirm the current requirement on the Department’s official page.
How long is the 870 granted for?
The Migration Regulations 1994 and PAM3 notes set a maximum grant period of up to five years, with a cumulative cap of 10 years across all 870 visas you have held. If you reapply from outside Australia after a previous 870, cl.870.223 generally requires at least 90 consecutive days outside Australia since it ceased, unless exceptional circumstances apply. These figures come from the Migration Regulations 1994 and the Department’s procedural guidance.