Moving to Australia on a temporary visa does not always mean your family members have to remain overseas. In many circumstances, eligible partners and dependent children can join you later through a subsequent entrant visa application.
However, the process depends on your visa subclass, when the family relationship began, and whether you are adding someone to an application that is still being processed or to a visa that has already been granted.
If you are already in Australia on a Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa, for example, your partner or dependent child may be able to apply separately as a subsequent entrant. Similar arrangements exist for several other temporary visas, including the Subclass 491, Subclass 494 and Subclass 500.
Can I add my partner to my 482 visa after it has been granted?
Yes. New family members of a Subclass 482 visa holder can apply separately for a Subclass 482 subsequent entrant visa to join the primary visa holder in Australia.
The applicant generally needs to be a member of the primary visa holder’s family unit and satisfy the relevant health and character requirements.
For a partner, you will need to provide evidence that your relationship is genuine and meets the applicable definition of a spouse or de facto partner.
This may include evidence such as:
- A marriage certificate, if you are married
- Evidence of a de facto relationship
- Joint financial commitments
- Evidence of living arrangements
- Shared bills or accounts
- Evidence of your social and personal relationship
- Other documents showing that the relationship is genuine and continuing
Important: the length of a de facto relationship can depend on the visa and circumstances. For some visa applications, a 12-month relationship requirement applies unless an exception applies, such as a registered relationship. The 482 visa only requires a ‘reasonable period’ of living together, which is usually at least six months. The evidence should be assessed against the specific visa criteria.
What if we have only been together for a short period of time?
This is an area where applicants need to be particularly careful.
Simply having lived together does not necessarily mean that a relationship qualifies as a de facto relationship for migration purposes. The applicable visa rules and any relevant exceptions need to be considered.
If your relationship is registered with an Australian state or territory, registration may affect the usual relationship-duration requirement where the legislation provides for that exception.
If you are unsure whether your relationship qualifies, it is worth getting professional migration advice before lodging the application.
Can I add a child to my 482 visa?
Dependent children can also potentially join a primary Subclass 482 visa holder as subsequent entrants, provided they meet the relevant requirements.
You will generally need to provide evidence of the child’s identity and relationship to the primary applicant, such as a birth certificate or adoption documents where applicable.
The child must also satisfy the relevant health and character requirements.
The situation can be different if the child was born after the primary visa was granted, particularly depending on whether the child was born in Australia or overseas.
What happens if my baby is born in Australia?
If a child is born in Australia while you hold a temporary visa, you should notify the Department of Home Affairs as soon as possible and then provide the birth certificate and passport when available.
A child born in Australia is automatically eligible for the temporary visa/s held by the parents, but Immigration needs to be notified so the visa can actually be granted to them.
Until Immigration is notified, the child has no visa status in Australia, so travelling overseas after the birth can have significant consequences.
The Department has specific processes for notifying about newborn children, depending on the visa held by the parent.
What if my baby is born overseas?
If your child is born overseas after you have been granted your Subclass 482 visa, the child may be able to apply for a Subclass 482 subsequent entrant visa to join you in Australia.
The child will generally need to meet the relevant visa requirements and provide evidence of their relationship to you.
This can be particularly important for families where one parent has already moved to Australia for work while the other parent remains overseas.
The Department specifically confirms that subsequent entrant arrangements can be used by eligible family members of Subclass 482 holders who apply separately to join the primary visa holder.
Can my new family member study in Australia on a 482 subsequent entrant visa?
Yes. New family members who are granted a Subclass 482 subsequent entrant visa can generally live, work and study in Australia, subject to the conditions attached to their visa.
The exact work rights and any applicable conditions should always be checked using the family member’s visa grant notice or VEVO.
If you want more information about employment rights for dependent visa holders, see our guide on work rights for dependent visa holders.
How much does a 482 subsequent entrant visa cost?
The current Department of Home Affairs information lists the Subclass 482 subsequent entrant visa at from $4,015, although the amount payable depends on the circumstances and applicant. Additional costs may also apply, including health examinations, police certificates and biometrics where required.
A subsequent temporary application charge may also apply in some circumstances. This is separate from the standard visa application charge and depends on the applicant’s previous visa history.
Because visa fees can change, applicants should check the current Visa Pricing Estimator before lodging.
How long does a 482 subsequent entrant visa take?
There is no guaranteed processing timeframe for a subsequent entrant application.
The Department’s processing time guide provides an indication based on recently decided applications, but processing times can change and are not a guarantee for an individual application.
Applications can also take longer if the Department needs additional documents, health or character checks, or further information.
For this reason, families should avoid making travel arrangements based solely on an estimated processing timeframe.
What other visas allow subsequent entrants?
The ability to bring new family members to Australia after the primary visa has been granted is available for a number of temporary visa subclasses.
Subclass 491
Eligible family members of a Subclass 491 Skilled Regional visa holder can apply separately as subsequent entrants. The Subclass 491 is a provisional regional visa, so family members who join the primary applicant are subject to the relevant regional conditions.
Subclass 494
The Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa also has a subsequent entrant pathway for eligible members of the primary visa holder’s family unit. New family members can apply separately to join the primary applicant in Australia.
Subclass 500 Student visa
Student visa holders can also bring eligible family members later as subsequent entrants.
For a Student visa, eligible new family members generally include the student’s partner and dependent children who meet the relevant requirements. Existing family members must have been declared when the original Student visa application was lodged.
There are specific rules around financial capacity for Student visa subsequent entrants, and the joining family member must provide evidence of sufficient funds where required.
What if my visa application hasn’t been decided yet?
Adding a new family member to a visa application that is still being processed is different from adding someone after the visa has been granted.
Whether you can add another applicant depends on the visa subclass and the circumstances.
For some applications, eligible family members can be added before a decision is made. For others, the new family member may need to lodge a separate application.
There is also a difference between:
A family member who already existed when you lodged your application, and
A new family member who became part of your family after you lodged your application, such as a child born after lodgement.
You should notify your migration agent about changes in your family circumstances rather than assuming the information will be updated automatically.
What if I forgot to declare my family member?
This is particularly important for Student visa applicants.
The Department states that Student visa applicants must declare their family members, even if those family members do not intend to travel to Australia immediately. If an existing family member was not declared, they may not be eligible to join the primary applicant later as a subsequent entrant.
There can be exceptions where the person became your new family member after the original application was lodged, such as through marriage or the birth of a child.
This is why it is important to provide complete and accurate family information when you first apply.
Does every family member use a subsequent entrant visa?
No.
A subsequent entrant is only available where the relevant visa subclass provides for one.
For example, a partner of a Subclass 482 holder can generally use the 482 subsequent entrant pathway. However, someone seeking to join a family member who is already a permanent resident is applying for a different visa in their own right.
Similarly, certain circumstances may require a separate visa for a child, rather than simply adding the child to a parent’s existing visa.
The correct pathway therefore depends on:
- The visa held by the primary applicant
- Whether the family member was declared in the original application
- When the family relationship arose
- Whether the family member is a spouse, de facto partner or dependent child
- Whether the relevant visa subclass provides a subsequent entrant pathway
- Whether the applicant is in or outside Australia
What documents will my family member need?
The exact document checklist depends on the visa, but applicants should generally be prepared to provide:
- Valid passport and identity documents
- Evidence of the family relationship
- Marriage or relationship registration documents, where applicable
- Evidence supporting a de facto relationship
- Birth certificates for dependent children
- Health examination results, if required
- Police certificates, if required
- Evidence of health insurance where applicable
- Evidence of the primary visa holder’s visa
- Additional financial evidence where required
Providing complete documentation at the time of application can help avoid unnecessary delays.
What should you do before bringing your family to Australia?
If you are already in Australia on a temporary visa and want your partner or child to join you, don’t assume they automatically receive the same visa as you.
First, check whether your visa subclass has a subsequent entrant pathway. Then confirm that your family member meets the definition of a member of your family unit and that they satisfy the relevant requirements.
For Subclass 482 holders, the subsequent entrant pathway can provide a straightforward way for eligible partners and dependent children to join the primary visa holder. The Department confirms that new family members can apply separately after the primary 482 visa has been granted.
For other visa subclasses, including 491, 494 and 500, subsequent entrant options also exist, but the requirements and conditions differ.
Need help bringing your family to Australia?
Adding a partner or child to your Australian visa can involve more than simply completing another application. The correct pathway depends on your visa, relationship, timing and individual circumstances.
At Australian Visa and Immigration Experts (AVIE), we can assess your circumstances and help you understand whether a subsequent entrant application or another visa pathway is appropriate for your family.
Book a consultation with AVIE to discuss your options.
