Including siblings and the child’s own dependants on Subclass 445 in 2026

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

Every sibling needs their own Subclass 445 application — two brothers or sisters cannot be listed on a single form — while the child's own dependent children can be included on that child's application, either when it is lodged or at any time before the Department of Home Affairs decides it. This reflects the Department of Home Affairs' official Dependent Child visa (subclass 445) page. This is general information rather than personalised advice for any one family; the official Dependent Child visa (subclass 445) page and the current forms govern an individual case.

Do siblings go on the same Subclass 445 application?

No. The official page states plainly that each of the child's siblings must apply for this visa separately.

In practice that means a family with two or three children is lodging two or three separate applications, each with its own form, its own supporting documents and its own application charge. The applications move independently: one sibling's application can be decided while another is still waiting, and a problem with the documents in one application does not automatically hold up the others.

Separate applications also mean separate obligations later. Once a child is granted this visa, that child must apply to be added to their parent's permanent Partner visa application, and each granted sibling has to do this for themselves.

Can the child's own dependent children be included on the same application?

Yes, and the timing is generous. The child's dependent children can be included on their application when they apply or at any time before the Department decides the application.

So a young applicant who already has a baby of their own is not forced to run a second, parallel case from the start. The dependent child can be named at lodgement, or added while the application is still on foot.

There is a limit, though: the dependent child has to be a dependant of the 445 applicant, not a sibling of that applicant. A brother or sister falls on the "separate application" side of the line; only the applicant's own dependent children can ride along on their form.

What documents are needed for a dependent child who is included?

For every dependent under 18 applying with the child, the official document list asks for:

identity documents
proof of their relationship with the applicant, such as a birth certificate
character documents, if applicable

Photographs are another shared requirement: the application needs four recent passport-size photos (45mm x 35mm) of the child and of any other dependent child included in the application, less than six months old, in good quality colour, against a plain light-coloured background.

If the 445 applicant is over 18 when the application is made, they must also show they are dependent on the parent who holds the temporary Partner or Dependent Child visa for basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing, and how long that support has been provided — bank statements, money transfers and rent receipts are given as examples of evidence.

Does the child's dependent child have to meet the health requirement?

Yes. Dependent children of the child who apply for the visa must meet the health requirement. Family members who are not coming to Australia might also have to meet it.

Because dependent children can be added right up to the moment of decision, this requirement is worth planning around: adding a baby or young child late in processing can bring health checks into the timeline at a point when the rest of the file is already complete.

What if a baby is born after the application is lodged?

The official page points to its guidance on what to do when your child is born after you apply, under change-of-situation reporting. The birth of a child is listed among the things the Department must be told about.

For a baby born to the 445 applicant, the route described above still applies while the application is undecided: the newborn is the applicant's own dependent child and can be added before the decision. That is why notification matters — the Department needs to know about the birth, and the addition has to happen while the application is still open.

Can anyone be added after the decision is made?

No. After the application has been decided, a dependant cannot be added. The official page then directs families to explore visa options to find a visa for that family member.

This is the point where siblings and dependants behave differently. A sibling who was never part of the process was always going to need their own application. A dependent child who missed the window, however, loses the option of joining the application and has to be looked at against other visa options instead — which is why the "at any time before we decide" wording deserves attention rather than being read as open-ended.

How is each application actually lodged?

Each Subclass 445 application must be made on paper, using Form 918 (Application for a subclass 445 (temporary) visa by a dependent child). It is sent by post or courier to the Child and Other Family Processing Centre in Perth, and the application charge must be paid before posting; applications that arrive unpaid are not processed.

After lodgement, a paper application can be imported into ImmiAccount once the acknowledgement letter arrives, which then allows documents to be uploaded, details to be updated and status to be checked online. The official page repeats the same rule in the post-lodgement steps: the dependent children of the child can be added to the application at any time before the Department decides it.

Mistakes on an application are handled through Form 1023 (Notification of incorrect answers), which can be uploaded in ImmiAccount or attached through the Child and Orphan Relative Visa Processing Centre online form.

What does it cost when several children apply?

The official page states there is a charge for each dependent child who applies for the visa with the main applicant, and it also lists possible additional costs for health checks, police certificates and biometrics. It directs applicants to the Visa Pricing Estimator to work out what the visa will cost, and notes that the estimator does not consider those other costs.

The Visa Pricing Estimator is the reference for the amount payable at the time of lodgement.

One concession is described for 2026: from 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid visa application, recognised when they apply with a valid passport from one of the specified countries. Family members are also eligible for the lower cost, based on the passport of the primary applicant.

What changes once each sibling is granted the visa?

Each granted child must apply to be added to their parent's permanent Partner visa application, using Form 1002 (Application by a subclass 445 dependent child for a permanent partner visa), and must do so before the Department decides the parent's application.

Where the child is at that moment matters:

To be added to the parent's permanent Partner (subclass 100) visa application, the 445 holder can be in or outside Australia, and must be a member of the family unit.
To be added to the parent's permanent Partner (subclass 801) visa application, the 445 holder must be in Australia.

Filing that Form 1002 is also what opens the door to Medicare: once the application to add the child to the parent's permanent Partner visa application has been submitted, the child can enrol in Australia's public healthcare scheme. Since each sibling holds their own 445 visa, each one generates their own Form 1002 step — and families often find the siblings' grants and additions land at different times.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can two siblings be included on one Subclass 445 application?

No. Each of the child's siblings must apply for this visa separately, so a family with several children lodges several applications. Each one carries its own form, documents and application charge, and each granted child later files their own Form 1002 to be added to the parent's permanent Partner visa application.

Can the child's own baby be added to a Subclass 445 application?

Yes, the child's dependent children can be included when the application is made or at any time before the Department decides it. The birth of a child must also be reported as a change in situation.

Can a dependant be added after the 445 application is decided?

No. Once the application has been decided, a dependant cannot be added, and the official page directs families to explore visa options for that family member. This is why additions need to happen while the application is still on foot.

Do included dependent children have to meet the health requirement?

Yes. Dependent children of the child who apply for the visa must meet the health requirement, and family members who are not coming to Australia might also have to meet it.

What documents are required for a dependent child under 18 who is included?

Identity documents, proof of the relationship with the applicant such as a birth certificate, and character documents if applicable. Four recent passport-size photos (45mm x 35mm) are required for the child and for any other dependent child included in the application.

Does a sibling who is abroad while another is in Australia change anything?

The visa can be applied for from inside or outside Australia, so siblings in different locations can each lodge. The location rule returns later: to be added to a subclass 100 application the 445 holder can be in or outside Australia, while to be added to a subclass 801 application the holder must be in Australia.

How is a mistake on an application corrected?

Use Form 1023 (Notification of incorrect answers). It can be uploaded in ImmiAccount, or attached to a completed Child and Orphan Relative Visa Processing Centre online form if ImmiAccount is not being used.