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Dependent child visa
(subclass 445)
The Subclass 445 Dependent Child Visa allows children to stay in Australia temporarily while their parent’s permanent Partner visa application is processed. This visa provides dependent children with an opportunity to live, study, and work in Australia until a decision is made on their parent’s permanent visa.
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 visa application. Once the application to add the child to their parent’s permanent visa application has been lodged, the child becomes eligible to enroll in Australia’s public healthcare scheme, Medicare.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Dependent Child (subclass 445) visa, the child must meet several requirements:
- Relationship to Parent: The child must be the dependent child of a parent who holds either a Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309), a Partner visa (subclass 820), or a Dependent Child visa (subclass 445).
- Age: The child must be under 18 years old. However, if the child is over 18, they must prove financial dependence on their parent.
- Health Requirement: The child and any dependents must meet the health requirements.
- Character Requirement: Children aged 16 and above must meet the character requirement and provide police certificates from all countries they’ve lived in for 12 months or more since turning 16.
- Parental Consent: If the child is under 18, they must have consent from anyone legally allowed to decide where they live.
Cost of dependent child visa
The visa fee for the main applicant is AUD $3,140.
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.
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.
The child's obligations
If outside Australia, the child is required to enter Australia before the specified date outlined in their grant letter, typically set at 12 months from the visa grant date.
Upon entry, both the child and any accompanying family members granted the visa must adhere to all visa conditions and comply with Australian laws.
Furthermore, after being granted this visa, the child must proceed to apply for inclusion in their parent’s permanent Partner visa application.
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 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 the Department of Home Affairs.
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.
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 fulfil the health requirement.
Moreover, family members who are not accompanying the child to Australia may also be required to meet the health requirement.
Meet the character requirement
If the child is aged 16 years and older, then they must satisfy the character 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
Your visa may be denied if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18.