How long a Subclass 445 decision takes in 2026 and how to avoid return of the application
There is no fixed decision date for a Dependent Child visa (Subclass 445). According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs "Dependent Child visa (Subclass 445)" page, as of the July 2026 official page, the Department points applicants to its global visa processing times tool, which shows the processing times for recently decided applications and is described as a guide only, not specific to any individual application. The same page adds a practical marker families can rely on: you should receive an acknowledgement of the application, and advice about any associated bridging visa, within approximately one month of lodgement. The most common way to lose time is not slow processing at all — it is an application that cannot be processed or is returned because the correct visa application charge was not paid at lodgement.
This article is general information about how the published rules work, not personalised advice for a particular family; the current official page and a registered migration agent or legal practitioner are the appropriate places to check how they apply to your circumstances.
How long does a Subclass 445 decision take in 2026?
The Department does not publish a single number for this visa. It publishes a guide: the global visa processing times tool shows how long recently decided applications took, which gives you a sense of the current queue rather than a promise about your child's case. Two things follow from that. Past decisions are not a ceiling or a floor for yours, and a case that sits outside the published range is not automatically delayed — it may simply be one that needs more work.
The Department also states directly that it cannot provide progress updates on applications still within global visa processing times. In practice, silence after acknowledgement usually means one of two things: your application is in the queue, or the Department needs something from you and will contact you using your authorised method of communication.
Why would my application take longer than the guide?
The official page lists four reasons a Subclass 445 application takes longer to process:
- it is not filled in correctly
- it does not include all required documents, or the Department needs more information
- it takes time to verify the information provided
- full payment is not made at the time of initial lodgement
The first, second and fourth are within an applicant's control at lodgement; the third is not, and it is the one no amount of preparation can shorten.
What actually causes an application to be returned?
Unpaid or underpaid charges are the hard stop. The Department states it cannot process the application if you do not pay the correct visa application charge, and that if this happens it will let you know and may return your application. The step-by-step guidance repeats the point from the lodgement side: you must pay the application charge before you post your application, and your application should include proof of payment along with all relevant supporting documents.
Invalidity is the second route. A Subclass 445 must be lodged on paper using Form 918, sent by post or courier to the Child and Other Family Processing Centre in Perth, with correct prepaid postage. Lodging at any other office or in any other way makes the application invalid; the Department does not process invalid applications, will notify you, and will return the application if requested. Forms must also be completed in English, and applications cannot be submitted in person.
Suppose an applicant posts Form 918 to a different office, or posts it without proof that the charge was paid. On the published rules, that application is not simply slow — it is either invalid or not processable, and the family loses the time it takes to discover and fix the problem.
How do I get the payment right?
Because the visa charge for the main applicant is not a flat figure on the page, the Department directs applicants to the Visa Pricing Estimator to work out the cost. Note its limits: the estimator does not include other costs such as health checks, police certificates and biometrics, and there is a separate charge for each dependent child who applies with the main applicant.
One change is worth checking against your lodgement date. From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid application, recognised through a valid passport from a specified country: Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Family members are also eligible, based on the passport of the primary applicant. Whether this applies to your family depends on the passport actually held, so confirm the amount in the estimator before you pay.
What happens in the first month after lodgement?
Expect an acknowledgement letter within approximately one month. That letter matters for more than reassurance: once you have it, you can import a paper application made in Australia into ImmiAccount using the application ID, the child's date of birth and the identity document number. Importing gives online access to attach supporting documents, view messages, update details, check application status, apply for a bridging visa and withdraw the application.
If you realise you did not include everything at lodgement, the guidance is to provide it as soon as you can — through ImmiAccount if imported, or through the Child and Orphan Relative Visa Processing Centre online form if not. The same channels apply to Form 1023 if you need to correct an answer already given.
Can the child stay lawfully while the decision is pending?
If the child was in Australia when the application was submitted, a bridging visa is granted with the application. If their current visa expires before the decision is made, the bridging visa starts and the child can remain in Australia while the new application is processed. If the child applied onshore and wants to travel overseas during processing, they need a valid visa to return to Australia, since time outside Australia does not extend the 445.
What happens to the 445 once the parent's Partner visa is decided?
Subclass 445 is a temporary visa. It starts on the grant date and lets the child stay until the Department decides the parent's permanent Partner visa application, or the parent withdraws it. It cannot be extended. Once the child holds the 445, they must apply to be added to their parent's permanent Partner visa application; after that application to add them is submitted, they can enrol in Medicare. Each sibling must apply for the 445 separately, while the child's own dependent children can be included on their application at any time before the decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the published processing time a guarantee for my child's application?
No. The global visa processing times tool shows processing times for recently decided applications and is a guide only, not specific to your application. It describes how long comparable cases recently took, not how long yours will take.
When should I hear something after lodging?
The Department says you should receive an acknowledgement of your application, along with advice about any associated bridging visa, within approximately one month of lodgement. After that, it will contact you if it needs more information; otherwise the next contact is the outcome.
What happens if I do not pay the correct visa application charge?
The Department cannot process the application, will let you know, and may return it. The charge must be paid before you post a paper application, and proof of payment should be included with the application.
Can I lodge Subclass 445 online or in person?
Neither. The application must be made on paper using Form 918 and sent by post or courier to the Child and Other Family Processing Centre in Perth, with correct prepaid postage. Lodging elsewhere or another way makes it invalid, and invalid applications are not processed or considered further.
Will the fee be refunded if the application is refused?
No. The Department states it will not refund the application fee if the application is refused.
Does the 445 let the child stay until the parent's permanent Partner visa is granted?
Yes, in the sense that the visa lasts until the Department decides the parent's permanent Partner visa application or the parent withdraws it. It is a temporary visa that cannot be extended, and the child must then apply to be added to the parent's permanent Partner visa application.