Dependent child visa
(subclass 445)
You can move to or remain in Australia while we process your parent’s Dependent Child Visa application. Additionally, you are permitted to travel to and from Australia and engage in work and study activities within the country.
With this visa you can
- The child can relocate to or remain in Australia until a decision is made on their parent’s permanent Partner visa application.The child is permitted
- To travel to and from Australia as needed.
- The child can engage in work and study activities within Australia.
Upon being granted this visa, the child must apply to be included in their parent’s permanent Partner visa application. Once the application to add the child to their parent’s permanent Partner visa application has been lodged, the child becomes eligible to enroll in Australia’s public healthcare scheme, Medicare.
How long the child can stay
This visa is temporary and becomes effective on the date of its issuance.
The child is permitted to remain in Australia until a decision is made regarding their parent’s permanent Partner visa application, or until their parent withdraws said application.
Stay longer
The child can’t stay in Australia longer by extending this visa.
Include other children
Each of the child’s siblings must submit a separate visa application.
Dependent children of the child can be included in their application upon submission or at any point before a decision is reached.
It’s important to note that dependent children of the child applying for the visa must meet our health requirement. Additionally, family members who are not planning to migrate to Australia may also need to fulfill the health requirement.
Cost of dependent child visa
The visa fee for the main applicant is AUD3,055.00.
Additionally, there is a charge for each dependent child included in the main applicant’s visa application.
Furthermore, there may be additional expenses for health checks, police certificates, and biometrics.
To estimate the total cost of the visa, you can utilize the Visa Pricing Estimator. However, please note that this estimator does not factor in the additional costs mentioned above.
Apply from
The child can be in or outside Australia when the visa application is submitted.
Processing times
To get an estimate of the processing times for this visa, you can refer to the visa processing time guide tool. This tool provides information on the processing times of recently decided applications. However, please note that it serves as a general guide and may not reflect the exact timeframe for your application.
The processing of your application may be delayed if:
- It is not filled out correctly.
- It does not include all the required documents, or if additional information is needed.
- Verification of the provided information takes longer than usual.
Please ensure that the correct visa application charge is paid, as failure to do so may result in the inability to process your application. If this occurs, we will notify you accordingly and, if necessary, return the application.
The child's obligations
Travel
While the visa remains valid, the child has the freedom to travel to and from Australia as frequently as desired.
It’s important to note that the duration spent outside Australia does not extend the validity period of the visa.
Visa label
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Eligibility
Be dependent on a parent who holds a certain visa
The child must be dependent on a parent who holds a:
- Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309)
- Partner visa (subclass 820)
- Dependent Child visa (subclass 445)
The child must apply to be added to their parent’s permanent Partner visa application when they have been granted this 445 visa.
If the child is in Australia, they can’t hold another visa that has a ‘No further stay’ condition.
Citizenship by Descent
The child may apply for Australian citizenship by descent instead of a visa to travel to Australia, if:
- The child was born outside Australia
- One of their parents was an Australian citizen at the time of their child’s birth.
Have a sponsor
The child must be sponsored by the same individual who sponsored or nominated their parent’s permanent Partner visa application.
It’s imperative that this sponsorship is approved by us.
However, it’s important to note that the sponsorship may not be approved if the sponsor or their partner has been charged or convicted of offences involving children.
For further information regarding measures for the protection of children, please refer to additional resources.
Be this age
The child must meet one of the following criteria:
- Be under 18 years of age.
- Be over 18 years of age and financially reliant on the parent who holds the temporary Partner or Dependent Child visa.
Meet the health requirement
The child and any dependent children applying for the visa alongside them must fulfill our health requirement.
Moreover, family members who are not accompanying the child to Australia may also be required to meet our health requirement.
Meet the character requirement
If the child is aged 16 years and older, they must satisfy our character requirement.
Additionally, we may request that other dependent children applying for the visa also meet this requirement.
Sign the Australian values statement
If the child is 18 years of age or older, they are required to:
- Read, or have the Life in Australia booklet explained to them.
- Sign an Australian Values Statement, confirming their commitment to respecting the Australian way of life and adhering to Australian laws.
Have paid back debt to the Australian Government
If the child has any outstanding debts owed to the Australian Government, it is necessary to have either repaid the debt or established a formal arrangement to do so.
Have consent to travel to Australia
This visa will only be granted to a child under 18 years old if one of the following conditions is met:
- The child has obtained written consent from all individuals who have legal authority to determine their residence.
- The laws of the child’s home country permit them to depart from their home country.
- The visa application aligns with any existing Australian child orders pertaining to the child’s welfare.
Best interests of the child
We might not grant this visa if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18.