Keeping a child lawful in Australia during a 2026 Subclass 445 application

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

Yes — if the child is in Australia when the Subclass 445 (Dependent Child) application is submitted, they are granted a bridging visa, and that bridging visa starts only if their current visa expires before a decision is made on the application. This is set out on the Australian Department of Home Affairs' official Dependent Child visa (subclass 445) page. This article is general information about how that mechanism is described publicly; it is not personalised advice, and a family's own circumstances should be checked against current official information or a qualified professional.

Does a child get a bridging visa when applying for Subclass 445 in Australia?

Yes. The Department's page states that when a child applies for this visa in Australia, they are granted a bridging visa. The grant is tied to the act of applying onshore: the child must have been in Australia when the application was submitted.

The page also states the underlying rule directly — if the child was in Australia when the application was submitted, they must stay lawful by holding a valid visa while the application is processed. The bridging visa is the mechanism that fills the gap between the old visa ending and the new one being decided.

When does the bridging visa actually start?

Not at lodgement. According to the same official page, the bridging visa starts if the child's current visa expires before the Department decides the application. Until then, the child remains on their existing visa.

Suppose a child holds a visa that runs to the end of October and the family posts the Subclass 445 application in July. The child stays on the existing visa through to October, and the bridging visa begins once that visa ends, provided the 445 has not been decided in the meantime. If the 445 is granted before the current visa expires, the bridging visa never needs to come into effect.

What does the bridging visa let the child do while waiting?

The official page describes it as the basis on which the child can stay in Australia while the new visa application is processed. It maintains lawful status during processing rather than granting permanent residence — the temporary Subclass 445 itself is what follows, if granted.

The Department states it will tell applicants in writing if it needs anything further, and that it cannot provide progress updates within global visa processing times. The practical implication is that the family waits on the decision, and the bridging visa covers the child's stay in the meantime.

Does the paper application route change any of this?

The substance does not change, but the process around it does. Subclass 445 must be applied for on paper using Form 918, sent by post or courier to the Child and Other Family Processing Centre in Perth, and the application charge must be paid before posting — the Department states it will not process the application until the charge is paid. Applications submitted at another office, in another way, or in person are not valid.

After lodgement, the paper application can be imported into ImmiAccount using the application ID, the child's date of birth and an identity document number. Among the online services this opens up, the Department lists applying for a Bridging Visa (BV), alongside attaching documents, viewing messages, updating details, checking application status and withdrawing the application.

What if the child wants to travel overseas during processing?

This is the part families most often miss. The official page states that if the child applied while onshore and wants to travel overseas during visa processing, they need a valid visa to return to Australia. A bridging visa keeps a child lawful inside Australia; it does not, by itself, solve re-entry.

So a bridging visa and travel plans pull in different directions. A family considering an overseas trip during processing needs to be clear about what visa, if any, would allow the child to come back before making travel arrangements.

What else has to be handled while the application is pending?

The Department lists several ongoing obligations after lodgement. It will tell applicants when to arrange the child's health examinations, and may ask for biometrics. Any documents missing at lodgement should be provided as soon as possible, either by upload in ImmiAccount or through a completed Child and Orphan Relative Visa Processing Centre online form.

Changes must be notified: a mistake on the application is corrected with Form 1023 (Notification of incorrect answers), while changes to the child's phone number, email, address, passport or relationship status, the birth of a child, or a wish to withdraw the application must also be reported. The dependent children of the child can be added to the application at any time before a decision is made.

What happens at the decision?

The child can be inside or outside Australia when the decision is made, and the Department will notify the decision in writing. If the visa is granted, the notice gives the visa grant number, the date the visa starts and any visa conditions. If it is refused, the notice sets out why and whether there is a right to a review of the decision; the application fee is not refunded on refusal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the bridging visa begin the moment the Subclass 445 application is posted?

No. The Department's official page states the bridging visa starts if the child's current visa expires before the application is decided. Until that point, the child continues on their existing visa.

Does the family need to apply separately for the bridging visa?

The official page states the child is granted a bridging visa when they apply for this visa in Australia. It also lists applying for a Bridging Visa (BV) among the services available in ImmiAccount after the paper application is imported.

Can the child leave Australia and come back while the 445 is being processed?

The official page states that if the child applied while onshore, they need a valid visa to return to Australia after travelling overseas during processing. Re-entry therefore depends on holding an appropriate visa, not on the bridging visa alone.

What happens if the child's visa has already expired when the application is submitted?

The bridging visa mechanism described on the official page is tied to the child being in Australia when the application is submitted, and the page states the child must hold a valid visa while the application is processed. Where there is no valid visa at that point, the family should confirm the position against current official information.

Is the child still covered if the 445 application is refused?

The Department states it will notify the decision in writing, including why the visa was refused and whether there is a right to review. The application fee is not refunded on refusal, and any lawful stay after that point depends on the child's own visa position at the time.

Can more children be added to the application later?

Yes. The official page states the dependent children of the child can be added to the application at any time before a decision is made, and that separate documents are needed for each dependent under 18 applying with the child.