A subsequent entrant is a family member of a Skills in Demand (subclass 482) or former Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS, subclass 482) primary visa holder who applies for their own subclass 482 visa separately — rather than being included in the primary holder's original application. This typically arises where a family member was not originally included (for example, a new partner or a child born after the primary visa was granted), or where the family member needs to make a separate application due to their own circumstances. The subsequent entrant applies for a subclass 482 visa linked to the same nomination as the primary holder, and their visa is granted with conditions and a visa period aligned to the primary holder's visa. This page explains who can apply as a subsequent entrant, the application process (onshore and offshore), visa conditions, and work and study rights.

For current subsequent entrant requirements and application guidance, refer to the DHA Skills in Demand visa subsequent entrant page.

• Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2, Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) — secondary applicant criteria — sets the eligibility criteria for secondary applicants (family members) of primary subclass 482 holders, including the definition of eligible family members and the conditions applicable to secondary applicant visas
• Migration Regulations 1994, regulation 1.12 — member of the family unit — defines who constitutes a member of the family unit for the purposes of secondary applicant eligibility; includes partners (spouse and de facto) and dependent children
• Migration Act 1958, s 65 and s 97 — sets the framework for visa grants and the conditions under which secondary applicants are assessed; DHA assesses identity, health, and character for all secondary applicants
• DHA: Skills in Demand visa subsequent entrant — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/482-subsequent-entrant

Who is a subsequent entrant

A subsequent entrant is a family member of a subclass 482 primary holder who applies for their own subclass 482 visa after the primary holder's visa has already been granted. This arises in several scenarios:

• Family member not in original application: where the primary holder did not include a partner or child in the original subclass 482 application — for example, because the relationship commenced after the visa was granted, or a child was born after grant
• Change in family circumstances: where a new family member joins the primary holder's family after arrival in Australia — for example, a new de facto partner formed while the primary holder is in Australia
• Separate applications for logistical reasons: in some cases, family members may need to apply separately rather than as part of the primary application due to individual circumstances

Eligible subsequent entrants — member of the family unit

Eligibility as a subsequent entrant is based on the definition of member of the family unit under the Migration Regulations. Eligible subsequent entrants include:

• Partner: the spouse or de facto partner of the primary 482 holder — the partner must meet the definition of a de facto or spousal relationship under the Migration Regulations, which requires evidence of a genuine and ongoing relationship
• Dependent children: children of the primary holder (or the primary holder's partner) who are under 18, or who are over 18 and remain dependent due to disability or other circumstances recognised under the Migration Regulations
• Other dependent family members: in some circumstances, other dependent relatives may qualify as members of the family unit — the DHA subsequent entrant page sets out current eligibility

Application — onshore and offshore

A subsequent entrant can apply for the subclass 482 visa from within Australia (onshore) or from outside Australia (offshore):

• Onshore application: if the subsequent entrant is already in Australia on a valid visa (for example, a visitor visa or another temporary visa), they can apply for the subclass 482 as an onshore subsequent entrant; they should check whether they will be covered by a Bridging Visa A (BVA) while the application is being processed
• Offshore application: if the subsequent entrant is outside Australia, they apply as an offshore subsequent entrant; they cannot travel to Australia on the subclass 482 until the visa is granted
• In both cases, the application is a new subclass 482 visa application linked to the primary holder's approved nomination — the subsequent entrant is assessed against the health, character, and other criteria applicable to secondary applicants

For current application fees and processing times, refer to the DHA subsequent entrant page.

Visa period and conditions — aligned to primary holder

The subsequent entrant's visa is granted with conditions and a visa period aligned to the primary holder's visa:

• The subsequent entrant's visa expiry will generally not extend beyond the primary holder's current visa expiry — if the primary holder has 2 years remaining on their subclass 482, the subsequent entrant's visa will generally also be granted for up to 2 years
• If the primary holder's visa is renewed or extended (for example, by applying for a new subclass 482 nomination and visa), the subsequent entrant will generally need to apply for their own renewed visa linked to the new nomination
• The subsequent entrant's visa is tied to the primary holder's continued status — significant changes to the primary holder's situation (employer change, cancellation, departure) can affect the subsequent entrant's visa

Work and study rights for subsequent entrants

Secondary applicants on a subclass 482 subsequent entrant visa typically receive the following rights:

• Partners: the partner of a primary 482 holder generally receives unlimited work rights in Australia — they are not restricted to any particular employer or occupation
• Dependent children: dependent children on a subsequent entrant subclass 482 typically have study rights allowing them to enrol in Australian educational institutions; they may also have work rights (limited hours for school-age children, or full work rights for older dependants)
• The specific conditions on the visa grant letter confirm the applicable rights — subsequent entrants should check their visa conditions (via VEVO — Visa Entitlement Verification Online) to confirm what they are permitted to do in Australia

Health and character requirements

All subsequent entrants must meet the standard health and character requirements for a subclass 482 visa:

• Health: most subsequent entrants must undergo a health examination — the requirement depends on the applicant's age, nationality, and length of intended stay; DHA will advise whether a health examination is required
• Character: all subsequent entrants aged 16 and over must meet the character requirement — this typically involves providing a police clearance certificate from each country lived in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years

Former TSS visa holders — subsequent entrants

Family members of former Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS, subclass 482) visa holders who are still in Australia can apply as subsequent entrants under the remaining TSS visa period. From 7 December 2024, new applications for temporary skilled work are under the Skills in Demand visa — but TSS visa holders whose visas remain valid continue to hold valid status, and their family members can join them as subsequent entrants using the existing TSS nomination. When the primary holder transitions to a Skills in Demand visa (through a new nomination and visa application), the subsequent entrant will need to apply for their own new Skills in Demand secondary applicant visa linked to the new nomination.

The subsequent entrant pathway is important for sponsored workers whose family circumstances change during the period of their subclass 482 visa — for example, workers who form a new relationship in Australia, or who have a child during their visa period. The subsequent entrant applies for their own subclass 482 visa rather than being endorsed on the primary holder's existing visa, which means a separate DHA assessment (health, character, identity) and a separate visa grant. For practitioners, the key practical point is that the subsequent entrant's visa expiry is constrained by the primary holder's visa — if the primary holder has a short time remaining on their current subclass 482, it may be more efficient to coordinate the subsequent entrant application with the primary holder's visa renewal, so that both visas are granted for the same (maximum) period. For current subsequent entrant requirements, application forms, fees, and processing times, refer to the DHA Skills in Demand subsequent entrant page.