Family migration after Subclass 445 in 2026: moving to child visas 101/802
A Subclass 445 (Dependent Child) visa is a bridge, not a destination. Under the Australian Department of Home Affairs Dependent Child visa (subclass 445) official page, the child may stay in Australia only until the parent's permanent Partner visa application is decided or withdrawn, and the visa cannot be extended to stay longer. The route the department expects families to use is Form 1002, lodged to add the child to the parent's permanent Partner application before that decision is made. When that window has closed, the child's permanent pathway moves to the Child visa categories instead: Subclass 101 where the child applies outside Australia, and Subclass 802 where the child applies in Australia. This article explains how those two stages fit together, and it is general information about how the categories work rather than advice on an individual case.
Why does a Subclass 445 stop working?
The visa is defined entirely by reference to the parent. Under the Migration Regulations 1994, the parent must be a "visa-holding parent" — a person holding a Subclass 309, 310, 445, 820 or 826 temporary visa — both when the application is made (clause 445.211) and when it is decided (clause 445.221). The visa's duration is tied to that parent's temporary visa, so it has no independent life of its own.
That is why the parent's permanent visa grant is the turning point. Home Affairs states that the child can stay until the department decides the parent's permanent Partner visa application, or until the parent withdraws it, and that the child cannot stay longer by extending the visa. Once the parent holds the permanent Partner visa (subclass 100 or 801), the parent is no longer a "visa-holding parent", which is why the Procedures Advice Manual (PAM3) guidance treats the 445 as an event-based visa that ends on that grant.
Two structural limits follow from this, and they catch families out: each sibling must apply for the 445 separately, and a dependant cannot be added after the application has been decided.
What is the bridge the department expects you to use?
The bridge is Form 1002 — Application by a subclass 445 dependent child for a permanent partner visa — and timing is everything. Home Affairs requires the 445 holder to apply to be added to the parent's permanent Partner visa application before the department decides that parent's application; doing so "ensures the child remains lawful in Australia".
Lodging is handled through the parent's existing application: upload the form to the parent's Partner visa application in ImmiAccount, then notify the department using the Partner Processing Enquiry Form; if the form cannot be uploaded, use that online form instead. Once the application to add the child has been submitted, the child can enrol in Australia's public healthcare scheme, Medicare.
Where the child must be depends on which permanent Partner visa the parent is seeking:
| Parent's permanent Partner application | Where the child must be | Other stated condition |
|---|---|---|
| Partner (subclass 100) | In or outside Australia | The child must be a member of the family unit |
| Partner (subclass 801) | In Australia | — |
A child who is outside Australia on the day the parent's subclass 801 application is decided is the classic failure case: the location rule is attached to the 801 pathway, and the 445 ends at the same moment.
If the child was not added in time, what do 101 and 802 actually mean?
The 445 has no extension mechanism, so the only options are other visa categories. The reference points in the PAM3 guidance are the permanent Child visa subclasses: Subclass 101 for a child who applies from outside Australia, and Subclass 802 for a child who applies from inside Australia. Which one is even available is therefore decided by where the child will be on the day the application is lodged — a planning decision, not a preference.
The strict part is age. The 445 criteria already require the child to be a "dependent child" within the meaning of regulation 1.03: a child or step-child who is not married or in a de facto relationship, and who is either under 18, or 18 or over and dependent — typically because of full-time study, or because a physical or mental impairment means they cannot work. PAM3 flags that children over 18 who move on to the 101 or 802 child categories must meet those strict conditions, including full-time study or being permanently incapacitated for work.
The criteria, charges and processing times for 101 and 802 are set out on the Department of Home Affairs pages for those subclasses, and they change over time; confirm the current figures there before deciding whether to lodge.
How do age and dependency change the evidence a family needs?
Under 18, dependency is usually established through the relationship and care arrangements, and additional criteria apply: parental consent and the best interests of the child (public interest criteria 4017 and 4018). From 18, the evidential burden shifts to the dependency itself — financial support, tuition being paid, not living independently — and the assessment can be revisited.
PAM3 describes a working assumption: where a person over 18 was assessed as dependent not more than six months earlier, continuing dependency is generally assumed; beyond six months, the decision maker is expected to take reasonable steps to check that nothing material has changed. Families with university-age children should assume that dependency evidence needs refreshing rather than being a one-off exercise.
The commonly recorded refusal grounds for the 445 track this closely: the applicant does not meet the dependent child definition, the parent no longer holds a qualifying temporary visa at decision time, sponsorship has lapsed or was never approved, and public interest criteria are not met — including health, character, and, for anyone 18 or over, the values statement (criterion 4019). Health for the 445 is assessed to the permanent standard under PAM3, not a lower temporary threshold.
What does timing look like in practice?
The 445 can be applied for from inside or outside Australia, but not while the applicant is in immigration clearance. Once granted, travel is unrestricted while the visa is valid, and time spent outside Australia does not extend the visa — a point worth repeating for families who assume a long overseas stay buys extra time.
The grant letter sets a first entry date, generally 12 months from the date of grant, and the child must enter Australia before that date. Home Affairs indicates that an acknowledgement of the application, including advice about any associated bridging visa, should arrive within approximately one month of lodgement, and that applications take longer where they are incomplete, require verification, or are unpaid at lodgement.
On cost, the official page describes a charge for the main applicant and a further charge for each dependent child applying at the same time, plus possible separate costs for health checks, police certificates and biometrics, and directs applicants to the Visa Pricing Estimator, which does not include those other costs. From 1 July 2026 a lower visa application charge applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid application, based on the primary applicant's passport.
In what order should a family plan the transition?
- Confirm the parent still holds a qualifying temporary visa (309, 310, 445, 820 or 826) and that the permanent Partner application has not been decided yet.
- If the child is not yet a 445 holder, lodge the 445 — Schedule 1 requires Form 918 — while the parent's temporary visa is still on foot.
- Lodge Form 1002 promptly after the 445 is granted, and in any event before the parent's permanent Partner application is decided.
- Report changes as they occur: passport changes, a new child, a change of name. PAM3 also reminds applicants of the obligation to notify changes in circumstances under section 104 of the Migration Act during processing.
- If the Form 1002 window has already closed, decide where the child will be at lodgement — outside Australia points to 101, inside Australia to 802 — and assemble dependency evidence for anyone 18 or over before moving.
Family structures differ and rules and charges move; treat all of the above as general information about how these categories connect, not as advice on your own case, and confirm current requirements against the official pages and a qualified practitioner before lodging anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Subclass 445 be extended after the parent's Partner visa is decided?
No. The official Home Affairs page states that the child cannot stay in Australia longer by extending this visa, and directs applicants to explore other visa options. The visa lasts until the parent's permanent Partner application is decided or withdrawn.
When exactly must Form 1002 be lodged?
It must be submitted before the department decides the parent's permanent Partner visa application. Home Affairs says lodging it in time is what ensures the child remains lawful in Australia, and it should be uploaded to the parent's Partner visa application in ImmiAccount, followed by notification through the Partner Processing Enquiry Form.
Can the child be outside Australia when added to a subclass 801 application?
No. For a parent's permanent Partner (subclass 801) application, the child must be in Australia. For a parent's subclass 100 application, the child can be in or outside Australia, provided they are a member of the family unit.
Which applies next if the child was never added: 101 or 802?
Subclass 101 is the route for a child applying from outside Australia, and Subclass 802 for a child applying in Australia, so the deciding factor is the child's location at lodgement. Children aged 18 or over face stricter conditions, including full-time study or being permanently incapacitated for work.
Do siblings have to be included in the same 445 application?
Each sibling must apply for the 445 separately, so a family cannot rely on one application to cover all children. A dependant also cannot be added after the application has been decided, which makes sequencing matter.
Does travelling outside Australia extend the 445?
No. The child can travel to and from Australia as often as they wish while the visa is valid, but time spent outside Australia does not extend the visa. The visa is also digitally linked to the passport, with no visa label issued.