Adding Children on the Partner Visa PR Pathway in 2026: 445 and Stage 2

How to bring a child onto the Australian partner visa PR pathway: add family members, or use subclass 445 before Stage 2.

Published: 11 October 2026

If a child needs to join you on the partner visa permanent residence pathway, the Department of Home Affairs describes two entry points on its Partner Visa Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page as at October 2026: you add the child as a family member through the "after you apply" step on the relevant visa page, or the child applies for a Dependent child visa (subclass 445) while you hold a temporary Partner visa (subclass 309 or 820) and is then added to your partner application. Which one applies turns on whether you already hold subclass 309 or 820, and on whether the question is about the permanent stage — subclass 100 or 801. This is general information about the published process and not personalised advice, so check the current wording on the official pages before acting.

What are the two official routes for adding a child?

The FAQs page answers the question in two separate places. One entry sits under "After you apply for a Partner visa" and covers adding a child as a family member to an application already lodged. The other is written specifically for subclass 801 and subclass 100, and directs the reader to subclass 445.

	Add family members	Dependent child visa (subclass 445) first
FAQ heading	Add a child to a Partner visa application	Add a child to a subclass 801 or subclass 100 visa application
Visas covered	Subclass 820, 801, 309, 100 and 300	Parent holds subclass 309 or 820
First action	Visa page → step-by-step → "after you apply" → "add family members"	Child applies for the Dependent child visa (subclass 445)
Next action	Attach supporting documents in ImmiAccount	Once the child holds 445, follow the "When you have this visa" instructions on the 445 page

Both routes end in the same place: the child being dealt with inside the partner application. They differ in what has to happen first.

When is subclass 445 the route rather than "add family members"?

The FAQ states the 445 route conditionally: "If you hold a temporary Partner visa (subclass 820 or 309), your child can apply for a Dependent child visa (subclass 445)." It is written for applicants who already hold the temporary partner visa, not for applicants still waiting on that decision.

The same entry appears under the heading about adding a child to a subclass 801 or subclass 100 application. In other words, where the question concerns the permanent stage, the FAQ's answer runs through 445 rather than through the general add-family-members step.

How do you add a family member after you apply?

The four steps published on the FAQs page are short.

Open the web page for the visa you applied for.
Select the step-by-step tab.
Go to "after you apply".
Choose "add family members".

The page lists this path for subclass 820, 801, 309, 100 and 300. Documents requested afterwards are attached through ImmiAccount.

What happens once the child holds a subclass 445 visa?

The FAQ instruction is narrow: once your child holds a Dependent child visa, follow the instructions for adding them to your partner application in the "When you have this visa" section of the Dependent child visa (subclass 445) page.

The FAQs page does not restate the eligibility criteria, conditions or charge for subclass 445. Those sit on the 445 visa page itself, which is also where the "When you have this visa" instructions are published. Treat that page as the authority for anything specific to 445.

Where does Stage 2 fit, and what is the two-year rule?

The permanent partner visa is not granted automatically. If you hold a temporary Partner visa (subclass 309 or 820), two years must have passed since you applied for that visa before you are eligible for assessment of the permanent visa. The FAQ sets out the filing steps:

Log in to ImmiAccount.
Select "New application" and then "Family".
Select "Stage 2 - Permanent Partner Visa Assessment (100, 801)".
Complete the online form using your application ID.

Your application ID appears in the Department's correspondence, including the acknowledgement of application received letter and the notification of visa grant letter. If you did not use ImmiAccount to lodge the partner visa, you need to create one first.

For a family, the two-year point marks when the permanent stage can be filed: if you hold a temporary Partner visa (subclass 309 or 820), two years must have passed since you applied for that visa before you are eligible for assessment of the permanent visa.

One consequence is worth noting. The FAQ states that if the permanent Partner visa (subclass 801 or 100) is refused, the applicant no longer holds a temporary Partner visa, and should check visa details and conditions using VEVO.

What else should families weigh before choosing?

Three published points affect timing more than the choice of route itself.

Processing priority. Under Ministerial Direction 117, onshore applications for the Partner visa (subclass 820 and 801) are given highest priority. Lower priority is given to offshore applications for the Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) and the Partner visa (subclass 309 and 100), and those applications are likely to experience longer processing times. A longer wait is one reason families on the offshore pathway look at whether the child needs a visa of their own in the meantime.

Health examinations. You can complete health examinations after you apply. Results are valid for 12 months from the time you complete them, and a health undertaking is valid for 6 months. The Department may ask you to provide them again if they expire before it decides the visa.

Withdrawing later. If a partner application is withdrawn, every applicant aged 18 or over included in the withdrawal must consent, and a signed statement is required for each of them. For a Partner visa (subclass 309 and 100) or (subclass 820 and 801) application, both subclasses must be withdrawn together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a child after the partner visa application is already lodged?

Yes. The Department's published path is to open the page for the visa you applied for, select the step-by-step tab, go to "after you apply", and choose "add family members". This is listed for subclass 820, 801, 309, 100 and 300.

Can my child apply for subclass 445 while my partner application is still being processed?

The FAQ frames subclass 445 around holding a temporary Partner visa (subclass 820 or 309): if you hold that visa, your child can apply for the Dependent child visa (subclass 445). The eligibility criteria and conditions for 445 are published on the 445 visa page.

Which route applies to subclass 801 and subclass 100 specifically?

The FAQs page has a dedicated entry for adding a child to a subclass 801 or subclass 100 application, and it points to subclass 445 rather than to the general add-family-members step. After the child holds 445, the "When you have this visa" section of the 445 page sets out how to add them to the partner application.

How long do I have to wait before the permanent stage can be assessed?

Two years must have passed since you applied for the temporary Partner visa (subclass 309 or 820). After that point you file the permanent stage in ImmiAccount under "New application" → "Family" → "Stage 2 - Permanent Partner Visa Assessment (100, 801)", using your application ID.

Do health examination results expire while we wait?

Yes. Results are valid for 12 months from the time you complete the examinations, and a health undertaking is valid for 6 months. The Department may ask for them again if they expire before it decides the visa.

Do offshore applications take longer than onshore ones?

Ministerial Direction 117 gives highest priority to onshore Partner visa (subclass 820 and 801) applications and lower priority to offshore subclass 300 and subclass 309/100 applications, which are likely to have longer processing times. The Department publishes current indications in its visa processing time guide.