Medicare and settlement entitlements for Subclass 445 children in 2026

Updated 2026-09-30 · General information, not migration advice · Run by the Arrivau team

Yes — a child holding the Dependent Child visa (Subclass 445) can enrol in Medicare once an application has been submitted to add them to their parent's permanent Partner visa application. That order of steps is set out on the Australian Department of Home Affairs' official "Dependent Child visa (Subclass 445)" page, current as at its July 2026 version.

What does the Subclass 445 let the child do?

On the Department's page, this visa lets a dependent child move to or stay in Australia until a decision is made on their parent's permanent Partner visa application. It covers the waiting period rather than replacing the Partner visa itself, and the page makes clear that once the child has been granted the 445 they must apply to be added to that permanent Partner visa application.

When does Medicare enrolment actually become available?

The trigger is the application to be added, not the 445 grant alone. The Department states that once an application to add the child to their parent's permanent Partner visa application has been submitted, the child can enrol in Australia's public healthcare scheme, Medicare. For families, the practical sequence is therefore: 445 granted, addition application lodged, then Medicare enrolment.

How long can the child stay in Australia?

The 445 is a temporary visa that starts on the date it is granted. The child can stay until the Department decides the parent's permanent Partner visa application, or until the parent withdraws that application. The visa cannot be extended to stay longer; the Department points people to its visa finder to explore other options. Time spent outside Australia does not extend the visa either, although travel to and from Australia is allowed as often as the child wishes while it is valid.

What other settlement entitlements come with the visa?

Beyond Medicare eligibility after the addition application is lodged, the child can work and study in Australia, and can attend free English language classes provided by the Adult Migrant English Program if eligible. Eligibility for those classes is a separate question from visa status, so it is worth checking against the program's own criteria.

Do siblings or the child's own children need separate applications?

Yes. Each of the child's siblings must apply for this visa separately. The child's own dependent children can be included in their application when they apply, or at any time before the Department decides it, and those dependent children must meet the health requirement. Family members who are not coming to Australia may also have to meet the health requirement. If a child is born after the application has been made, the Department has a separate process for that situation.

What does the visa cost in 2026?

The Department directs applicants to its Visa Pricing Estimator to work out the amount for a Subclass 445 application, and notes that the estimator does not include other costs such as health checks, police certificates and biometrics. From 1 July 2026, a lower visa application cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid application. The Department recognises eligible applicants by a valid passport issued by one of the specified countries — the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu or Vanuatu — and family members are eligible too, based on the passport of the primary applicant. The reduced charge is applied during the application process.

What happens after lodgement and grant?

The child can be in or outside Australia when the application is submitted. For processing times, the Department provides only a guide tool showing times for recently decided applications, and cautions that it is not specific to any individual application; incomplete forms, missing documents, verification delays and not paying the full charge at lodgement can all slow things down, and an unpaid charge may result in the application being returned. Applicants should receive an acknowledgement, including advice about any associated bridging visa, within approximately one month of lodgement.

After grant, the child must enter Australia before the date in their grant letter, with the first entry date generally set at 12 months from the date of grant. The visa is digitally linked to the child's passport — there is no physical label — and the child and any family members granted the visa must meet all visa conditions and obey Australian laws.

This article is general information for families navigating the Partner visa pathway, not individualised immigration or legal advice; confirm details against the Department's current pages or consult a registered professional before acting on your own circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Medicare automatic when the Subclass 445 is granted?

No. The Department's page ties Medicare enrolment to the lodging of the application to add the child to the parent's permanent Partner visa application. The grant of the 445 is followed by that application, and enrolment follows once it has been submitted.

Can the child attend free English classes without that step?

Yes, subject to eligibility. The Adult Migrant English Program classes are listed among the things the child can do with this visa, with eligibility assessed separately from the Partner visa addition step.

Can the Subclass 445 be extended while the Partner visa is pending?

No. It is a temporary visa that runs until the parent's permanent Partner visa application is decided or withdrawn, and the Department says the child cannot stay longer by extending it.

How soon must the child travel to Australia after grant?

The child must enter before the date specified in their grant letter. The Department states that this first entry date is generally set at 12 months from the date of visa grant.

Does one 445 application cover the whole family?

No. Each sibling must apply separately, though the child's own dependent children can be included in their application before a decision is made, and those children must meet the health requirement.

Will there be a visa label in the child's passport?

No. The Department links the visa digitally to the child's passport instead of issuing a label, and travel to and from Australia is permitted as often as they wish while the visa remains valid.