Australian Immigration Article

When you’re building a new life in Australia on a partner visa, one of the most pressing thoughts is often about your children. You want your family to be whole, to share in this journey with you, here and now. The process of uniting your family can seem like another mountain to climb, but understanding the specific pathway designed for this situation is the first step.

This is where the Subclass 445 Dependent Child visa comes into play. It’s a specific visa with a very important purpose: to bring your child to Australia to join you while you are on your temporary partner visa. Let’s walk through what this means for your family.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration law is complex and every family’s situation is different. For guidance tailored to your specific circumstances, you should seek assistance from a qualified immigration lawyer.

What is the Subclass 445 Visa? The Bridge for Your Child

Think of the Subclass 445 visa as a bridge. It’s not the final destination, but it is the essential link connecting your child to your own migration journey.

Specifically, the Subclass 445 is a temporary visa for a child whose parent holds a temporary partner visa (Subclass 309 or 820). Its sole purpose is to allow the child to enter or remain in Australia with their parent. Once the child holds this visa, they can then be added to the parent’s permanent partner visa application (Subclass 100 or 801), allowing them to be considered for permanent residency alongside their parent.

Without this visa, a child might have to wait until you have your permanent residency before they could apply to join you through a standard Child visa, a process that could keep your family separated for a much longer period.

If you are still an applicant for a temporary partner visa (Subclass 820 or 309) and you are wondering how to include your child onto your pending temporary partner visa application, you may be interested in reading our other step-by-step guide article here.

Why Would You Apply for This Visa? The Intent and Benefit

The primary reason to apply for the 445 visa is to unite your family in Australia as soon as possible. When you applied for your partner visa, you might not have included your child in the initial application for various reasons. The 445 visa provides a dedicated process to bring them into the fold without waiting years.

The main benefits are:

• Family Unity: It allows your child to live, study, and work in Australia with you.
• Access to Services: Your child can typically access Medicare, providing support for healthcare needs.
• A Pathway to Permanence: It directly links your child to your permanent partner visa application, creating a continuous path for them to become a permanent resident with you.
  
   

Applying for this visa is a proactive step towards building your family’s future in Australia, together.

Key Eligibility Criteria: The Foundations of the Application

For a successful application, there are requirements for the child, the sponsoring parent, and the location of the application.

For the Child (the Applicant):

• Relationship: The child must be the biological child, adopted child, or stepchild of the sponsoring parent.
• Age: The child must generally be under 18 years old. However, a child who is over 18 may still be eligible if they are financially dependent on the sponsoring parent. This could be because they are a full-time student or because they have a disability that prevents them from working. Proving dependency for an adult child requires detailed documentation.
• Sponsorship: The child must be sponsored by the same person who is sponsoring their parent on the partner visa.
• Health and Character: The child must meet the standard health and character requirements.

For the Sponsoring Parent:

• Visa Status: You, the parent, must hold a temporary Partner visa (Subclass 309 or 820) or a Dependent Child visa (Subclass 445) yourself. This is the crucial link. If you have already been granted your permanent partner visa (100 or 801), this pathway is not available; you would need to look at other Child visa options.

A key consideration here is timing. If you are approaching the two-year mark for your permanent partner visa assessment, it’s important to understand how a 445 application fits into that timeline.

If you are unsure about how these eligibility requirements apply to your family’s structure or timeline, planning your approach is key. A 20-minute discovery call can help you understand the support options available to navigate these steps.

The Two-Step Journey: From 445 (Temporary) to Permanent Residency

It’s vital to understand that getting the Subclass 445 visa is only the first of two critical steps.

Step 1: The Subclass 445 Visa Application

You lodge the application for your child. Once the Department of Home Affairs assesses it and is satisfied that all criteria are met, they will grant the temporary 445 visa. This allows your child to travel to or remain in Australia.

Step 2: Adding the Child to Your Permanent Partner Visa

This step is not optional. As soon as the 445 visa is granted, you must add your child to your pending permanent partner visa (Subclass 100 or 801) application. This is usually done by completing a specific form and notifying the Department through your ImmiAccount. There is no additional Visa Application Charge for this step.

Failing to complete this second step means your child will not be considered for permanent residency when you are, and their 445 visa will eventually expire, leaving them without a valid visa in Australia. Ensuring this two-step process is managed correctly is fundamental. 

The Financial Aspect: Understanding the Costs

Like most visa applications, there are costs involved that you should budget for.

• Visa Application Charge (VAC): There is a fee payable to the Department of Home Affairs when you lodge the 445 visa application. As of mid-2025, this is $3,055 AUD, but fees are subject to change, so you should always verify the current amount on the Department’s website.
• Other Costs: You will also need to account for expenses related to health examinations, obtaining police clearances if required, and translating any documents that are not in English.

Case Study: Bringing Leo to Brisbane

(The case study of Leo highlights the joy of family reunion. The Subclass 445 Dependent Child visa is the bridge that makes priceless moments like these in Brisbane possible for families on the partner visa journey.)

Let’s look at a common scenario.

The Situation: Maria is living in Brisbane on a Subclass 820 temporary partner visa, which she applied for a year ago. Her 10-year-old son, Leo, remained in their home country with his grandparents to finish his school year. Maria and her Australian partner, Tom, now feel the time is right for Leo to join them permanently in Australia. They realise waiting another year or more for Maria’s permanent 801 visa to be assessed is too long to be separated.

The Pathway: Maria, as the holder of an 820 visa, is eligible to sponsor Leo for a Subclass 445 visa.

The Process:

1. Application: Maria and Tom gathered Leo’s documents: his birth certificate (showing his relationship to Maria), school reports to help show dependency, and consent forms from Leo’s other biological parent. They lodged the 445 visa application for Leo while he was still overseas.
2. Health Checks: The Department requested that Leo undertake a medical examination at an approved clinic in his home country.
3. Visa Grant: After a few months, Leo was granted the Subclass 445 visa. This allowed him to travel to Australia and join Maria and Tom in Brisbane. He enrolled in a local school and quickly started making new friends.
4. The Final Step: Immediately after Leo’s 445 visa was granted, Maria logged into her ImmiAccount and formally added Leo to her pending Subclass 801 permanent visa application.

The Outcome: When Maria becomes eligible for her permanent visa assessment, the Department will assess both Maria and Leo for permanent residency together. The 445 visa acted as the perfect bridge, allowing their family to be reunited in Australia while they wait for the final stage of their migration journey.

Final Thoughts: Preparing Your Application

The Subclass 445 Dependent Child visa is a powerful tool for reuniting your family. It acknowledges the importance of keeping parents and children together during the often lengthy partner visa process. Your journey is unique, and presenting a clear and complete application is important.

Remember to:

• Check the Timing: Ensure you, the parent, hold the correct type of temporary visa.
• Gather Your Documents: Be meticulous with birth certificates, proof of dependency and consent documentation.
• Don’t Forget Step Two: Adding your child to your permanent application after the 445 grant is essential.

Navigating family migration requires careful attention to detail and a clear understanding of the process. With over 8 years of dedicated experience in Australian family and partner visas, we have assisted many families in bringing their children to Australia. We focus on getting the details right from the start to create a smooth and structured pathway for your loved ones.

If you believe your family could benefit from this visa and you would like to discuss your situation, we invite you to book a 20-minute discovery call with our team to see how we can assist.