Secondary criteria
Statutory definition
Secondary criteria for a visa subclass are set out in Schedule 2 of the Migration Regulations 1994. They typically require the secondary applicant to be a member of the family unit of the primary applicant; to meet the health requirement; to satisfy the character requirement; and to have no outstanding debt to the Commonwealth. Secondary applicants do not need to independently satisfy the skilled, educational, or employment requirements.
Explanation
Secondary criteria allow family members to be included in a visa application without needing to meet the full primary criteria. This means, for example, that the spouse and children of a skilled migrant can be included in a Subclass 189 application even though they have no skills assessment. Their visa grant is contingent on the primary applicant's visa being granted. If the primary applicant does not meet the primary criteria, all secondary applicants are also refused.