What Subclass 445 holders must do in 2026: obey laws, check VEVO and join the parent’s PR case
A Subclass 445 holder's obligations come down to connected duties: obey Australian laws, meet every visa condition and enter Australia before the date in the grant letter, and apply — on Form 1002 — to be added to the parent's permanent Partner visa application before the Department decides that parent case; VEVO is the tool the Department points to for checking the visa's conditions, expiry and entitlements. This is general information rather than personalised advice, so your own circumstances should be confirmed against the official pages or a registered migration professional. The duties below are set out on the Australian Department of Home Affairs "Dependent Child visa (Subclass 445)" page.
What does the Subclass 445 visa allow the child to do?
This is a temporary visa that starts on the date it is granted. It lets the child move to or stay in Australia until the Department decides the parent's permanent Partner visa application, travel to and from Australia as often as they wish while the visa is valid, and work and study in Australia. Free English language classes under the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) are available if the child is eligible. Time spent outside Australia does not extend the visa, and the visa cannot be extended simply to allow a longer stay.
What must a 445 holder do about obeying laws and visa conditions?
The child, and any family members granted the visa, must meet all visa conditions and obey Australian laws. The grant letter also sets a first entry date: the child must enter Australia before that date, and it is generally set at 12 months from the date of visa grant. The conditions that may be attached to this visa are published by the Department on its visa conditions page, so they should be read before travel plans are locked in. Because the visa is temporary and runs only until the parent's permanent Partner application is decided or withdrawn, keeping to those conditions and dates is what preserves the child's lawful position in Australia.
How do you check the conditions and the visa expiry in VEVO?
VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) is the tool the Department points to for reading visa details, and it shows the child's visa expiry date, the attached conditions, and work and study entitlements. It is also the way to see by when the child must leave Australia, and it can be used to prove to someone — an employer, for instance — that the child holds a visa and what the conditions allow. Since the visa ends when the parent's case is decided or withdrawn, a VEVO check is the practical way to know where the child stands at any given moment.
How does the child join the parent's permanent Partner visa case?
Once the 445 is granted, the child must apply for the same permanent Partner visa as their parent, using Form 1002 — Application by a subclass 445 dependent child for a permanent partner visa. The application must reach the Department before it decides the parent's permanent Partner application, because that is what ensures the child remains lawful in Australia. The parent's own case is not automatically extended to the child; the Form 1002 step is separate and required.
Does the child need to be in Australia — subclass 100 versus 801?
It depends on the parent's visa. To be added to a Partner (subclass 100) application, the 445 holder can be in or outside Australia, provided they are a member of the family unit. To be added to a Partner (subclass 801) application, the 445 holder must be in Australia. The offshore 100 route allows either location; the onshore 801 route requires the child to be onshore.
How is Form 1002 lodged?
The Department describes two methods. The first is to upload the completed application to the parent's Partner visa application in ImmiAccount and then tell the Department about it using the Partner Processing Enquiry Form. If the form cannot be uploaded to the parent's ImmiAccount application, the completed form can instead be uploaded directly to the Partner Processing Enquiry Form.
What happens if the child does not join the parent's case in time?
The 445 is a temporary visa and cannot be extended; it ends when the Department decides the parent's permanent Partner visa application or the parent withdraws it. Submitting Form 1002 before that decision is what ensures the child remains lawful in Australia, so if the step is left until after the decision, that safeguard is not available. Where the 445 has ceased, the Department points people to explore other visa options rather than to extend this visa.
Do changes like a new passport or a new baby need to be reported?
Yes. The Department asks to be told about a change in situation, including:
- changes to the child's passport
- the birth of a child
- changes of name
Keeping details current matters because the visa is digitally linked to the child's passport — no visa label is placed in the passport.
Can the child work, study and access Medicare on this visa?
The child may be able to work or study in Australia from the date the visa is granted, and if they work they are protected by Australian workplace law. Free English language classes under the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) are available if the child is eligible. Medicare enrolment becomes available once the application to add the child to the parent's permanent Partner visa application has been submitted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Subclass 445 holder have to enter Australia by a specific date?
Yes. The child must enter Australia before the date specified in their grant letter, and the first entry date is generally set at 12 months from the date of visa grant. The exact date is the one written in the grant letter, so that letter is the document to check rather than a general rule.
Where can I see the conditions attached to a 445 visa?
Conditions are shown in VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online), which lists the visa expiry, the attached conditions, and work and study entitlements. The Department also publishes the conditions that may be attached to this visa on its visa conditions page.
Is the child added to the parent's Partner visa automatically?
No. Once the 445 is granted, the child must apply to be added to the parent's permanent Partner visa application using Form 1002, and must do so before the Department decides that parent application. This separate step is what ensures the child remains lawful in Australia.
Can the child be outside Australia when joining the parent's subclass 100 or 801 case?
It depends on the parent's visa. For a Partner (subclass 100) application, the 445 holder can be in or outside Australia as long as they are a member of the family unit. For a Partner (subclass 801) application, the 445 holder must be in Australia.
When does the Subclass 445 visa end?
The 445 is a temporary visa that starts on the grant date and runs until the Department decides the parent's permanent Partner visa application or the parent withdraws it. It cannot be extended to allow a longer stay, and time spent outside Australia does not extend it.
Can the child work, study and use Medicare on a 445 visa?
The child may be able to work or study from the date the visa is granted, and a working child is protected by Australian workplace law. Free AMEP English classes are available if the child is eligible. Medicare enrolment opens up once the application to add the child to the parent's permanent Partner visa application has been submitted.