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Pathway

Australia Dependent Child Visa

Australia Residency
Pathway overview

At a glance

Australia's Dependent Child visa lets a dependent child stay in Australia temporarily while their parent's permanent Partner visa is being processed.

Type
Temporary family residence
Sponsor
Parent with a temporary Partner visa
Core requirements
Dependency and parent's pending permanent Partner visa
What to know
Temporary until the parent's permanent application is decided
What it gives
Subclass 445 lets the child live in Australia temporarily while Home Affairs considers the parent's permanent Partner visa.
Main limit
This is not permanent residence and is not a stand-alone child migration route.

Summary

The Dependent Child visa (Subclass 445) is a temporary visa for a dependent child whose parent holds a temporary Partner visa—usually Subclass 309 or 820—and is still waiting for the related permanent Partner visa decision.

It is most often used when the child was not included before the parent's temporary Partner visa was granted. Subclass 445 lets the child travel to or remain in Australia during the permanent-partner stage, but it does not automatically add the child to the parent's permanent application.

After the 445 is granted, the family must separately ask Home Affairs to add the child to the pending Subclass 100 or 801 application, normally using Form 1002 and the relevant ImmiAccount process.

Pathway fit check

Eligibility

The child must be a dependent child of a parent who holds an eligible temporary Partner visa and whose permanent Partner visa application has not been finally decided. The child must continue to meet the migration-law dependency definition.

Broadly, a dependent child is under 18, or is an older child who fits the applicable financial-dependency or disability rule. The child must not be married, engaged or in a de facto relationship where the child definition prohibits it. Evidence can include birth or adoption documents, custody records, education and financial-support records, and medical evidence when dependency is based on disability.

The same person who sponsored the parent generally sponsors the child. Health, character, identity, parental-consent, government-debt and best-interests requirements can apply. Home Affairs' location rules affect both grant and the later permanent addition: for an 801 case, a 445 holder generally must be in Australia to be added; for a 100 case, the child may be inside or outside Australia.

What This Route Allows

Subclass 445 lets the child live in Australia temporarily while Home Affairs considers the parent's permanent Partner visa. It generally allows travel, study and work subject to the conditions recorded for the individual visa.

If the child is validly added to the parent's pending permanent Partner visa application and all requirements are met, the child may later receive permanent residence with that family application.

What This Route Is Not

This is not permanent residence and is not a stand-alone child migration route. The child's long-term result depends on the parent's pending Subclass 100 or 801 application and on the required post-grant addition step.

Grant of the 445 does not automatically notify the permanent-partner processing team or add the child. Missing Form 1002 or the required ImmiAccount notification can leave the child outside the permanent decision.

It is also not available after Home Affairs has already granted the parent's permanent Partner visa. Families should act before that decision and notify Home Affairs promptly about a new child or changed family composition.

Next Steps

  1. Confirm the parent currently holds Subclass 309 or 820 and that the related Subclass 100 or 801 application remains undecided.
  2. Confirm the child meets the current dependent-child definition and gather relationship, custody and dependency evidence.
  3. Have the eligible partner sponsor complete the 445 sponsorship process.
  4. Lodge the Subclass 445 application using Home Affairs' current paper instructions and retain the receipt and application identifiers.
  5. After grant, complete Form 1002 and attach it to the parent's permanent Partner visa application in ImmiAccount.
  6. Notify the Partner Processing area as directed and verify the child appears in the permanent application before a decision.
  7. Keep the child's visa, passport, health and location requirements current while both processes are pending.
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