Can I Include Family Members in My Subclass 835 Application in 2026?
You can include family in a subclass 835 application at lodgement or before a decision, but each person must meet health and character requirements.
Yes — you can include members of the family unit in your Subclass 835 (Remaining Relative) application when you lodge it, and you can also add them at any time before the Department of Home Affairs makes a decision, provided each person satisfies the health and character requirements. According to the Department of Home Affairs’ Remaining Relative visa (subclass 835) official page, family members who apply with you must meet those requirements, and family members who are not coming to Australia might also have to. This is general information only and not personalised advice, so confirm your situation against the official page or a registered professional before acting.
When can family members be added to a subclass 835 application?
The official page states two clear points on timing. First, you can include members of the family unit in your application when you apply. Second, you can also add them to your application at any time before the Department makes a decision.
That means the option is open at lodgement and stays open while the application is being processed, right up until the decision is made. You must be in Australia when you apply and when the Department decides the application, so any later addition still has to be handled while the application is on foot and you remain lawful.
Who can be included as a member of the family unit?
The official documents refer to members of the family unit rather than naming every possible relative. The step-by-step documentation identifies two main groups: a partner and dependent children.
A partner is a spouse, shown by a current marriage certificate, or a de facto partner where you can prove a de facto relationship of at least 12 months before you apply. For dependent children, the step-by-step page sets out three cases: the child is under 18; or is over 18 years of age but not yet turned 23 and dependent on you or your partner; or is over 23 and unable to earn a living to support themselves because of physical or cognitive limitations, and dependent on you or your partner.
Under the Migration Regulations 1994, a secondary applicant must be a member of the family unit as defined in regulation 1.12, and a family member added after lodgement must meet the requirements in regulation 2.08 or 2.08A.
Do included family members have to meet health and character requirements?
Yes. The official page states: “Family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health and character requirements.” The eligibility page repeats this separately for the health requirement and the character requirement: you and any family members who apply with you must meet them.
In practice, each added person is assessed in their own right rather than being carried onto the grant simply because they are named in the application. Departmental guidelines (PAM3) apply a “one fails, all fail” approach to the public interest criteria under clause 835.224, so an unresolved health or character problem for one member can affect the outcome for the whole family unit in the application.
Do family members who are not coming to Australia still have to meet these requirements?
They might. Both the official page and the eligibility page state that family members who are not coming to Australia might also have to meet the health and character requirements. The eligibility page adds that the Department might also ask other non-migrating family members to meet the character requirement.
This is why the assessment is not limited only to the relatives who intend to migrate; the family-unit check can extend to members who stay outside Australia.
What should you expect if you add someone before the decision?
Once a person is added, the Department can ask for the same kinds of checks as for any applicant. For health, the step-by-step page says the Department will let you know if health examinations are needed. For character, the page says the Department might ask for character documents, including police certificates, and warns that you should not arrange police certificates until it asks you to.
There is also a cost consequence. The official page states there is an extra charge for each family member who applies with you, and the visa is paid in two instalments: the first when you apply and the second when the Department asks. The page refers readers to the Visa Pricing Estimator to see the cost; the estimator does not consider other costs such as health checks, police certificates or biometrics. From 1 July 2026, a lower visa application cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens, and family members are also eligible for that lower charge based on the passport of the primary applicant or visa holder who satisfies the primary criteria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a family member after lodging my subclass 835 application?
Yes. The official page says you can add them at any time before the Department makes a decision. After they are added, they are assessed as applicants and must meet the health and character requirements. The Department will tell you what is needed for the added person.
Do non-migrating family members need to meet health and character requirements?
They might. Both the official page and the eligibility page state that family members who are not coming to Australia might also have to meet the health and character requirements. The eligibility page adds that the Department might ask non-migrating family members to meet the character requirement. This is assessed as part of the family unit even if the person does not migrate.
Does including a family member change the cost of the application?
Yes. The official cost section states there is an extra charge for each family member who applies with you. The visa is paid in two instalments, with the first paid when you apply and the second when the Department asks. The page refers readers to the Visa Pricing Estimator for the amount.
Can a family member be granted the visa before the primary applicant?
No. Clause 835.321 of the Migration Regulations 1994 provides that, at the time of decision, a secondary applicant must be a family member of a primary applicant who has already been granted the visa, or fall within a family violence exception. In other words, the secondary applicant’s grant follows the primary applicant’s grant.
What documents are needed for a dependant aged 18 or over?
The step-by-step page says that, for every dependant 18 years or older applying with you, you provide identity documents, documents about their other relationships if applicable, character documents, and proof of dependency. The child must also fit one of the three age and dependency categories: under 18; over 18 years of age but not yet turned 23 and dependent on you or your partner; or over 23 and unable to earn a living due to physical or cognitive limitations while dependent on you or your partner.