Including an adult child in your 2026 subclass 887 application after they turn 23
Yes — a child who has already turned 23 can still be included in your Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887) application, but only if they hold an eligible visa that was granted to them on the basis that they were a member of your family unit. This is the rule set out on the Australian Department of Home Affairs Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887) official page, as of the October 2026 official page. Age alone does not end the possibility; what matters is the basis on which the child's current visa was granted.
What does the official 887 page say about a child who has turned 23?
The page states that you can include family members who no longer meet the standard definition of member of the family unit, provided they hold an eligible visa that was granted on the basis that they were a member of your family unit. The page gives a specific example of how this works: including a child in your application who has turned 23 years of age since they were granted an eligible visa.
The same requirement appears in the document checklist for older dependants. To include a child who is over 18, the page says they must hold an eligible visa that was granted on the basis that they were a member of your family unit.
Why does the child's current visa matter more than their age?
The provision is written around the granting of the earlier visa, not around the child's age on the day you lodge. Turning 23 after the eligible visa was granted is exactly the situation the page describes as covered. The logic runs in one direction: the child was a member of your family unit when their visa was granted, they have since aged past the standard definition, and the visa they still hold records that earlier family-unit basis.
Suppose an applicant's child was granted an eligible visa as part of the applicant's family unit and turns 23 while holding it. When the applicant lodges the subclass 887 application, the child can be included even though they no longer fit the standard definition, because their visa was granted on the family-unit basis.
The wording does not extend to a visa granted on some other footing. If the child's current visa was granted in their own right — for example on the basis of their own study or their own skills — that visa does not carry the family-unit basis the provision refers to.
Which documents does a child over 18 need?
The official page lists these documents for a dependant over 18:
- identity documents
- proof of your relationship with the dependant, such as a birth certificate or adoption papers
- character documents
- a marriage certificate, if applicable
- documents about other relationships, if applicable
You also have to give the relationship evidence the page asks for in any event, and to explain if a partner or dependent child is not included — for example because they already hold Australian citizenship or are already a permanent resident.
Does your adult child also need to meet health, character and English requirements?
Yes. The page says family members included in your application must meet the health and character requirements, and that family members not accompanying you to Australia may also need to meet those requirements. The character documents section asks for an Australian police certificate if the applicant has spent a total of 12 months or more in Australia in the last 10 years since turning 16, an overseas police certificate from every country where they spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since turning 16, military service records or discharge papers if they served in the armed forces of any country, and completed Form 80 (Personal particulars for character assessment) and Form 1221 (Additional personal particulars information).
On English, the page says applicants aged 18 and over who have not paid the second instalment of the visa application charge in respect of their eligible visa must show at least functional English. If they cannot, they will need to pay the second instalment of the visa application charge when asked. The page states the second instalment charge is AUD 4,890, and that you pay it only if and when it is requested — the request is made only if the visa is going to be granted.
When must you include them, and can you add them later?
You must include each family member who is eligible to apply at the time you lodge your application. The page is explicit that you cannot add family members after you have submitted your application. The only exception described is a newborn child: if a child is born after you submit but before a decision, you must tell the department as soon as possible.
There is also a separate step for a child born after your current visa was granted but before you lodge — the page says you must tell the department about that child before lodging, and notes that if the child's current visa has not been linked to their passport you will be unable to lodge their application online.
Do all of you need to be in Australia when you apply?
The page's "Apply from" section says all applicants must be in Australia and hold an eligible visa at the time a subclass 887 visa application is made, unless COVID-19 concessions apply. Once you have applied, you can be inside or outside Australia when the decision is made, and you do not need to tell the department if you travel while the application is being processed — though if you leave, you need a valid visa to return.
What will it cost, and how long will it take?
The page does not publish a single fixed figure for everyone; it says there is a charge for each family member who applies with you, and directs applicants to the Visa Pricing Estimator. It also warns that the estimator does not take into account the second instalment or other costs, and that you may have to pay for health checks, police certificates and biometrics. From 1 July 2026 a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid application, and the page says family members are also eligible for the lower cost based on the primary applicant's passport.
On timing, the page points to the visa processing time guide tool, which shows processing times for recently decided applications. It describes this as a guide only, not specific to your application, and lists factors that affect actual processing: whether you lodged a complete application with all necessary documents, how quickly you respond to requests, how long checks take, how long it takes to get information from external agencies on health, character and national security, and how many places are available in the migration program.
One practical note on reading all of this: the rules above are general information about how the subclass 887 requirements are published, not an assessment of your family's situation. Eligibility turns on the visa your child actually holds and on the page as currently published, so confirm both against the latest official wording or with a professional who is authorised to give immigration assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child be included if they turned 23 before their current visa was granted?
The provision described on the official page is tied to a child who "has turned 23 years of age since they were granted an eligible visa". The wording is about ageing past the standard definition after the grant, so the order of events matters. Check the exact basis recorded on your child's visa grant against the current official page.
Does my adult child need their own eligible visa, or is my visa enough?
They need their own eligible visa. The page says a dependant must hold an eligible visa, and for a child over 18 it adds that the visa must have been granted on the basis that they were a member of your family unit.
What proves the relationship for an adult child?
The page asks for proof of your relationship with the dependant, such as a birth certificate or adoption papers, along with identity documents and character documents. A marriage certificate and documents about other relationships are required if applicable.
Will my 23-year-old child have to pay the second instalment?
They may. The page says a second instalment charge of AUD 4,890 applies to a member of the family unit aged 18 or older who has less than functional English, where the second instalment was not already paid in respect of their eligible visa. It is charged only when requested, and only if the visa is going to be granted.
Can I add my child to the application after I lodge it?
No. The page says you cannot add family members after you submit your application; every eligible family member must be included at the time you lodge. The only exception described is a child born after you submit and before a decision.
Does my adult child have to meet health and character requirements too?
Yes. Family members included in the application must meet the health and character requirements, and the page adds that family members not accompanying you to Australia may also need to meet them.