Subclass 445 — Dependent Child Visa — Australia — immi.wiki

The Subclass 445 Dependent Child visa is a temporary visa designed to allow a child in Australia to remain lawfully in Australia where the child was not included as a secondary applicant in a parent's permanent visa application, or where the child's circumstances require a bridging mechanism while longer-term arrangements are resolved.

The Subclass 445 can be granted in two stages — a temporary visa first, and potentially a permanent visa as a second stage. The temporary stage of the Subclass 445 allows the child to remain in Australia while the parent's underlying permanent visa application (to which the child is related) is being processed.

The visa covers children who are dependent on a parent who has a visa application pending in Australia, and the child has a right to be in Australia associated with that parent's application but was not included at the time the parent applied. It is a bridging mechanism in the family visa framework.

Core eligibility criteria:

• The applicant must be a child (under 18, or over 18 but financially dependent due to a physical or mental condition)
• The child must be in Australia at the time of application
• The child must be the dependent child of a person who holds a relevant visa or has a pending visa application in Australia — typically a parent who has applied for a permanent family visa and who holds a temporary visa pending that outcome
• The child must not be able to be included in the parent's existing application as a secondary applicant (for example, because the parent's application was already lodged before the child became eligible)
• Health and character requirements apply

Child protection measures: The Department of Home Affairs applies enhanced child protection checks where a visa would bring a child into the care of an adult in Australia. Sponsors (parent or guardian) must not have convictions for offences involving children, and the Department assesses the child's welfare and protection interests as part of the application.

Applications for the Subclass 445 are lodged using a paper form. The applicant is the child; the parent or guardian lodges the application on the child's behalf. For application forms, fees, and current processing guidance, refer to the DHA Subclass 445 page and the DHA current visa pricing page.

The Subclass 445 (temporary stage) allows the child to remain in Australia lawfully pending resolution of the underlying circumstances. The child may study but has limited work rights on the temporary stage. Once the parent's permanent visa is granted, the child may be eligible for a permanent stage of the Subclass 445 or to be added to the parent's visa as a secondary holder, depending on the visa class.

The visa holder is subject to the conditions applying to the particular stage of the Subclass 445. For specific conditions applicable at the time of application, refer to the DHA conditions check page.