Dependent Child Visa: This visa allows a child to stay in Australia temporarily while the Department of Home Affairs (“DHA”) processes the child’s parent’s Partner visa application (subclass 309 or subclass 820). Sponsorship is only available for dependent children under 18 years old before the DHA approves the parent’s permanent Partner visa (subclass 100 or subclass 801), otherwise must prove that the child is financially dependent on the parent who has the temporary Partner or Dependent Child visa.
Eligibility
The child must be a dependent child of the visa-holding parent and be sponsored by the nominator or sponsor of the visa-holding parent.
With this visa the child can:
- Move to or stay in Australia until the DHA decide the parent’s permanent Partner visa application
- Travel to and from Australia
- Work and study in Australia
Length of stay:
Temporarily, the child can stay until the DHA decide their parent’s permanent Partner visa application or their parent withdraws their permanent Partner visa application.
Location
The child can be outside or inside Australia when the application is lodged. If the child was outside Australia when the application is lodged, the child must be outside Australia when the visa is granted. If the application is made in Australia, the child must be in Australia when the visa is granted.
Cost
$4,040 (government visa application charge from 1 July 2026)
Who could get this visa
To get this visa, the child must be:
- Sponsored by the same person who provided sponsorship to the parent
- Younger than 18 years old (*if older than 18 years old, please see below)
- Must be unmarried
- Must not hold another visa that has condition 8503 (‘No Further Stay’)
Age
The child must be under 18 years old. If over 18 years, must be financially dependent on the parent who has the temporary Partner or Dependent Child visa (subclass 445). For evidence of dependency, the child needs to show that they are completely or substantially reliant on the parent for financial assistance with the basics like food, clothing and shelter for a lengthy period of time. The child cannot rely on any other person for this help more than on the parent.
In general, if a child is living at a home and is studying full-time, they will be classified as dependent. However, dependency is assessed on a case-by-case basis so it would depend on the child’s individual circumstances.
Parent
The child’s parent must hold either a temporary Partner visa (subclass 309 or 820) or hold a Dependent Child visa themselves.
Best interests of the child
This visa will not usually be granted if it is against the best interests of a child younger than 18 years of age.
Health
The child must meet certain health requirements. The results are usually valid for 12 months.
Character
A child older than 16 years of age must meet certain character requirements. They must be prepared to provide a police certificate from each country they have lived in for 12 months or more during the past 10 years after they turned 16 years of age.
Debts to the Australian Government
The child must have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government or have arranged to repay any outstanding debts to the Australian Government.
Have Consent to Travel to Australia
Visa will only be granted to a child younger than 18 years if either:
- The child has the written consent of everyone who can legally decide where they live. Or
- The laws of the child’s home country allow them to leave their home country, or
- It is consistent with any Australian child order about the child
Sponsor
The child must be sponsored by the same person sponsoring the child’s parent. Sponsor must be one of the following:
- An Australian citizen
- The holder of an Australian permanent visa
- An eligible New Zealand citizen
Suitable to sponsor
Sponsorship must be approved. Sponsorship might not be approved if the sponsor or their partner has been charged or convicted of offences involving children.
Cost for the sponsor
There is no cost to apply for sponsorship, however financial obligations will apply.
Sponsor obligations
Sponsor will need to agree to the following from the date that the child’s visa is granted and until the child’s parent’s permanent Partner visa application has been decided:
- Be responsible for the cost to the Australian Government of the child living in Australia
- Ensure the child complies with the visa conditions attached
- Ensure the child complies with workplace legislation and awards if the child decides to work in Australia
When Is the 445 Visa Needed?
The best time to include a child is when the parent first lodges their Partner visa application. A child included at that stage moves through the temporary and permanent stages with the parent, and there is no need for a separate visa.
The Dependent Child visa (subclass 445) fills the gap for a child who was not included in the parent’s original application. Common examples are:
- the child was living with their other parent when the Partner visa was lodged, and custody arrangements have since changed
- the other parent did not consent to the child migrating at the time, but now does, or a court order has been obtained
- the family decided the child would join later, for example after finishing a school year
The parent must already hold the temporary Partner visa (subclass 309 or 820), and the permanent stage (subclass 100 or 801) must not yet have been decided. Once the parent’s permanent visa is decided or the application is withdrawn, a 445 can no longer be granted and any 445 already held ends.
Who Is a Dependent Child?
The child can be the parent’s biological child, adopted child or stepchild. To count as dependent:
- Under 18: the child is generally treated as dependent, but the parental responsibility (custody) requirement must be met.
- 18 or older: the child must be wholly or substantially reliant on the parent for food, clothing and shelter, more than on anyone else, and this must have been the case for a substantial period before applying. Evidence such as regular money transfers, bank statements and proof of shared living arrangements is commonly used.
- Any age: a child who cannot work because of a total or partial loss of bodily or mental function may also be dependent.
A child who is married, in a de facto relationship or engaged to be married is not a dependent child. If the child has a dependent child of their own, that child can usually be included in the application.
Consent from the other parent
For a child under 18, anyone else who can legally decide where the child lives, usually the other parent, must give written consent to the child coming to Australia. This is normally done on the parental consent form or a statutory declaration, with a certified copy of their identity document showing their signature. If consent is not available, a court order allowing the child to live permanently in Australia can be provided instead.
How to Apply for the 445 Visa
- Check the timing. Confirm the parent holds a 309 or 820 visa and that the permanent stage has not been decided.
- Confirm the sponsor. The sponsor must be the same person who sponsored the parent’s Partner visa. There is no separate sponsorship application: the sponsor completes and signs their part of the application form.
- Gather documents. See the checklist below.
- Pay the visa application charge online. Payment is made through ImmiAccount before lodging, and the receipt is included with the form.
- Lodge on paper. The 445 application is lodged by post or courier with the Child and Other Family Processing Centre in Perth. An application sent to any other office, or without the full charge, is not valid. A residential address must be given, not a post office box.
- Complete health and character checks when asked.
- Grant of the 445. If the child applied outside Australia, they must be outside Australia at grant. If they applied in Australia, they must be in Australia at grant.
- Join the parent’s permanent application. This final step is essential and is explained below.
The Step Many Families Miss: Form 1002
The 445 does not by itself lead to permanent residence. After the 445 is granted, the child must apply to be added to the parent’s permanent Partner visa application using form 1002. This must be done before Home Affairs decides the parent’s permanent visa.
There is no visa application charge for this step. The form can usually be uploaded to the parent’s Partner visa application in ImmiAccount. The child is then assessed as a member of the parent’s family unit and, if approved, is granted the permanent visa with the parent:
- subclass 100, where the child can be in or outside Australia, or
- subclass 801, where the child must be in Australia.
If form 1002 is not lodged in time, the 445 ends when the parent’s permanent visa is decided. A child in Australia could then become unlawful and may have no other permanent visa option available. If the permanent stage looks close, for example because the parent is about to become eligible for assessment, act quickly.
Document Checklist
For the child:
- certified copy of passport (and the travel document used to enter Australia, if applying in Australia)
- two passport sized photos
- birth certificate showing both parents’ names, or adoption papers
- evidence of the stepchild relationship, if applicable
- evidence of any change of name
- police certificates for each country lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years, if aged 16 or older
- for children 18 or older, evidence of financial dependence or medical evidence of incapacity
- for children under 18, the other parent’s consent or a court order
For the parent and sponsor:
- the parent’s passport and evidence of their 309 or 820 visa
- evidence of the sponsor’s Australian citizenship, permanent residence or eligible New Zealand citizenship
- police checks for the sponsor and parent where the child is under 18, if requested
Documents not in English need certified English translations. In Australia, use a NAATI accredited translator.
Costs: Adding a Child Early vs Applying for a 445
The government charges below apply from 1 July 2026 (see our fee increases page):
| How the child is included | Government charge |
|---|---|
| Included in the parent’s Partner visa application at lodgement (child under 18) | $2,935 |
| Included in the parent’s Partner visa application at lodgement (child 18 or older) | $5,860 |
| Dependent Child visa (445) applied for later | $4,040 |
| Form 1002 to join the parent’s permanent application | No charge |
Health examinations, police certificates and translations are extra. See our Partner visa fees page for the full cost of a Partner visa.
445 vs Child Visa (101 or 802)
The 445 is only available while the parent holds a temporary Partner visa. If the parent’s permanent Partner visa has already been granted, the child cannot get a 445. The usual option then is a Child visa (subclass 101) for a child outside Australia, or a Child visa (subclass 802) for a child in Australia, sponsored by the parent as a permanent resident. See our Child visa guide for details.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not lodging form 1002 before the parent’s permanent visa is decided.
- Waiting too long to apply, so that the parent’s permanent stage is decided first.
- Using a sponsor who is not the same person who sponsored the parent.
- Not obtaining the other parent’s consent, or a court order, for a child under 18.
- Weak evidence of dependence for a child aged 18 or older.
- Lodging online or at the wrong office, giving a post office box, or underpaying the charge, which makes the application invalid.
Dependent Child Visa 445: Frequently Asked Questions
Can the 445 be extended?
No. The 445 lasts until the parent’s permanent Partner visa is decided or withdrawn. The child’s path to staying long term is to join the parent’s permanent application with form 1002.
Can I include several children in one 445 application?
Each dependent child needs their own 445 application. A child’s own dependent child can usually be included in that child’s application.
Does the child have work or study restrictions?
The 445 allows the child to study and work in Australia, and to travel to and from Australia while the visa is in effect.
What if my relationship with my partner ends?
The 445 depends on the parent’s Partner visa process and on the same sponsor. If the relationship breaks down, get advice promptly, as it may affect both the parent’s application and the child’s visa.
How long does the 445 take?
Processing times vary and Home Affairs updates its published times regularly. Lodge as early as possible after the parent’s temporary visa is granted, so the 445 and form 1002 can be completed before the permanent stage is decided. See our Partner visa processing times page.
Should I use a migration agent?
The timing rules and custody evidence make 445 applications easy to get wrong. A registered migration agent can check the timing, prepare the application and make sure form 1002 is lodged in time. Book a video consultation to discuss your family’s situation.
