Many families planning long-term parent reunion in Australia often ask:Is there a visa that avoids decades-long waiting queues and allows parents to stay with their children legally for a long period? The answer is the Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent Temporary Visa.This guide covers the two most critical parts clearly:1. Complete document checklist you need to prepare. 2. Exact GTE (Genuine Temporary Entrant) writing logic.
- Core Logic of Subclass 870 Visa
It is not a migration visa, but a long-term visitor visa. A common misunderstanding:The 870 is a temporary long-stay visa (3-year or 5-year validity), not a pathway to permanent residency. The Department of Home Affairs focuses not on whether you want to settle, but whether you will depart Australia on time.All documents and your GTE statement serve one purpose:I intend to visit Australia temporarily and will definitely return to my home country.
- Document Checklist Breakdown, Do not just submit documents — you need to present a clear logical story.
Step 1: Sponsor (Child) – Prove you are eligible and capable to support your parents
- Identity & Residential Stability
- Australian PR or Citizenship
- At least 4 years of long-term residence in Australia
- Australian driver licence, property ownership documents, tax records
Purpose: Prove you are permanently settled in Australia, not just staying short-term.
- Income Requirement (Key Assessment Criterion)
- ATO Notice of Assessment
- Spouse’s income can be combined (requires de facto relationship proof if applicable)
Core purpose: Prove you can fully cover your parents’ living expenses in Australia.
- Genuine Relationship Evidence
- Notarised birth certificate/ Household registration record/ Official kinship certificate
Step 2: Applicant (Parent) – Prove you have strong ties to return home
- Basic Identity Documents
- Valid passport
- National ID card
- Birth certificate (notarised)
- Health examination & OVHC
- Police clearance from your home country
- AFP clearance if you have previously resided in Australia
- Minimum 12 months OVHC overseas visitor health cover
These are mandatory compliance documents.
- Financial Evidence (Easily Overlooked)
- Personal savings deposit
- Pension/retirement income
- Financial support letter from your child
Purpose is not to show wealth — but to prove no need to work illegally in Australia.
- Domestic Family & Binding Ties
- Spouse’s information
- Other children remaining in home country
Key logic: You still have unbreakable family connections and obligations in your home country.
- GTE Statement – The Most Critical Part (Decides Visa Approval)
- What most applicants write wrong:
Simply writing emotional sentences like“I want to go to Australia to look after my child”or“I want to stay with my grandchildren”carries no weight at all. GTE is essentially a logical factual statement, not an emotional essay.
- 1. Home Country Binding Ties (Why you will return)
- Family ties (spouse, other children staying in home country)
- Retirement income / stable domestic livelihood
- Assets (real estate, investments, savings)
Core message:I have a stable life and established roots in my home country; I have no reason to stay in Australia permanently.
- 2. Purpose of Visiting Australia (Why you apply)
- Family reunion
- Spend time with children and grandchildren
- Avoid frequent long-distance travel
Important rule: Only state genuine temporary visit purposes — never mention long-term settlement intentions.
- 3. Source of Funds (Why no overstay motive)
- Personal pension and savings
- Financial support letter from your child
Logic:I have sufficient funds to cover all expenses; I have no need to seek illegal employment or overstay my visa.
- 4. Previous Australian Travel History (Bonus Credibility)
- Past Australian visa records
- Proof of complying with previous visa conditions and departing on time
This acts as strong credibility endorsement for your temporary visitor intention.
- Common Reasons for Subclass 870 Visa Refusal
- Claim to own assets but provide no supporting documents
没有逻辑，全是情绪。
Inconsistency between GTE content and supporting documents
- Claim to own assets but provide no supporting documents
- Declare income that does not match tax records
- Insufficient home country binding ties,
Typical high-risk situations:
- No occupation / retirement income in home country
- No domestic assets
- All children already settled in Australia
The Department of Home Affairs will presume you are highly likely to overstay and not depart Australia.
Practical Real-Life Advice
- Conduct eligibility assessment first before preparing documents — not every family is suitable for the 870 visa
- Write GTE in structured formal format, not casual personal writing
- More documents do not equal higher approval chance; all documents must corroborate each other logically
Every document you submit must support your overall temporary visitor and return-home intention.