Subclass 445 location rules in 2026 for children joining the Partner visa PR pathway
Where a child can be when a Subclass 445 application is lodged, decided and granted, and how the visa leads into the parent's permanent Partner visa.
A child does not have to be in Australia to be pulled into the parent's Partner visa pathway through the Dependent Child visa (Subclass 445). According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs' Dependent Child visa (subclass 445) official page, the child can be in or outside Australia when the visa application is submitted, and can also be inside or outside Australia when the Department makes its decision (as at the July 2026 official page). What location does change is the paperwork around the grant, the first entry deadline and whether a bridging visa is involved — not eligibility to use the visa at all.
This article is general information about how the location rules work, not personalised advice on any one family's circumstances; the official wording, and the current text of the Migration Regulations 1994, are what govern an individual case.
Where can the child be when the Subclass 445 application is lodged?
Either. The official page states plainly under "Apply from" that the child can be in or outside Australia when the visa application is submitted. There is no requirement that the child first travel to Australia, hold another visa, or be present for the application to be accepted.
The one location-related limit on validity concerns immigration clearance. The Migration Regulations 1994 (as published on the Federal Register of Legislation) and the Department's policy guidance treat an application made while the child is in immigration clearance — that is, in the process of passing through the border at an Australian airport or seaport — as not validly made. Confirm the current wording against the official page and the legislation before relying on it.
Where does the child need to be when the Department decides the application?
Again, either. The official page's visa outcome section says the child can be inside or outside Australia when the decision is made, and that the Department will notify the decision in writing. A grant notice sets out the visa grant number, the date the visa starts and any visa conditions; a refusal notice sets out why the application was refused and whether there is a right to a review of the decision.
| Stage | Inside Australia | Outside Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Lodgement | Permitted | Permitted |
| Decision | Permitted | Permitted |
| Immigration clearance at lodgement | Not permitted | Not permitted |
| Bridging visa on application | Granted, starting if the current visa expires before decision | Not applicable to an offshore applicant |
That bridging visa point is the practical difference between the two starting positions. The official page says that when a child applies in Australia, they are granted a bridging visa; if their current visa expires before the application is decided, the bridging visa starts and they can stay in Australia while it is processed. An offshore applicant has no bridging visa to fall back on, so there is no pressure to enter Australia before the 445 is granted.
Does being overseas change how the application is lodged?
No — the method is the same regardless of location. This visa must be applied for on paper using Form 918, sent by post or courier to the Child and Other Family Processing Centre in Perth, with correct prepaid postage and payment of the application charge made before posting. The official page warns that submitting the application at any other office, in any other way, or in person makes it invalid, and that invalid applications are not considered further.
Two administrative points follow from an offshore lodgement. The application must be complete in English, and only certified copies should be sent, never originals. Once the acknowledgement letter arrives, an application made in Australia can be imported into ImmiAccount; the official page frames that import option around applications made in Australia, so an offshore applicant should check what online services are available in their own case.
What happens after grant if the child is still overseas?
The visa starts on the date it is granted, and the grant letter specifies a date by which the child must enter Australia. The official page states that this first entry date is generally set at 12 months from the date of visa grant. Missing that date is the main risk created by an offshore grant, because the visa is temporary and its purpose is to keep the child in step with the parent's Partner visa process.
After entry, travel is flexible: the child can travel to and from Australia as often as they wish while the visa is valid. Time spent outside Australia does not extend the visa. There is also no visa label — the visa is digitally linked to the child's passport.
How does the 445 connect to the parent's permanent Partner visa?
The 445 is a temporary visa that exists to bridge a gap. Under the official page, it lets the child move to or stay in Australia, travel, work and study, and access free English language classes through the Adult Migrant English Program if eligible, until the Department decides the parent's permanent Partner visa application or the parent withdraws it. It cannot be extended to stay longer.
The step that converts this into the PR pathway is a separate one: once the 445 is granted, the child must apply to be added to the parent's permanent Partner visa application. Departmental policy guidance describes that step as being made with Form 1002, and the official page notes that once the application to add the child has been submitted, the child can enrol in Medicare. Per the Regulations, the parent must still hold a temporary visa of the relevant kind — the guidance identifies subclasses 309, 310, 445, 820 and 826 — for the 445 criteria to be met at decision; if the parent's permanent Partner visa is granted first, that basis falls away.
What documents does an offshore child need?
The document list is location-neutral, but a few items are easier to overlook when the child has never lived in Australia:
- Identity: the pages of the child's current passport showing photo, personal details and issue and expiry dates, plus a national identity card if they have one and proof of any change of name.
- Photographs: four recent passport-size photos (45 mm × 35 mm) of the child and of any dependent child included, less than six months old, against a plain light background.
- Character: children over 16 must provide a police certificate from every country they have spent 12 months or more in during the last 10 years since turning 16, issued under Code 33 – Immigration/Citizenship, and must complete Form 80. Certificates are valid for 12 months from issue. Military service records or discharge papers are required where applicable.
- Relationship: evidence the child is related to the parent, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, adoption certificate, or an officially issued family status certificate or family book.
- Dependency: if the child is over 18 when the application is made, evidence of dependence on the parent who holds the temporary Partner or Dependent Child visa for food, shelter and clothing, and how long that support has been provided — bank statements, money transfers or rent receipts.
- Health and biometrics: the Department advises when to arrange health examinations, and may ask for biometrics.
Each sibling must apply separately for this visa. The child's own dependent children can be included on the application when it is made, or at any time before it is decided, and must meet the health requirement.
What about cost and processing?
The official page directs applicants to the Visa Pricing Estimator rather than publishing a single figure; there is a charge for each dependent child included, and separate costs may apply for health checks, police certificates and biometrics. From 1 July 2026, a lower visa application cost applies to eligible citizens of specified Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste who lodge a valid application, recognised by a valid passport from one of those countries, with family members also eligible based on the primary applicant's passport.
Processing times are published only as a guide for recently decided applications. The Department says an acknowledgement, with advice on any associated bridging visa, should arrive within approximately one month of lodgement, and that applications can take longer where forms are incorrect, documents are missing, information needs verification, or the correct charge was not paid at lodgement. The application fee is not refunded if the application is refused.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Subclass 445 application be lodged while the child is outside Australia?
Yes. The Department of Home Affairs' official page states the child can be in or outside Australia when the visa application is submitted. There is no requirement to be onshore at lodgement, and no requirement to hold another Australian visa first.
Does the child have to be in Australia when the 445 is granted?
No. The official page states the child can be inside or outside Australia when the decision is made. The location constraint comes afterwards, in the first entry date specified in the grant letter.
How long does the child have to enter Australia after a 445 grant?
The child must enter Australia before the date specified in their grant letter, and the official page says that first entry date is generally set at 12 months from the date of visa grant. The visa itself starts on the grant date, not the entry date.
Can an offshore grant holder travel in and out of Australia on the 445?
Yes, once the visa is valid the child can travel to and from Australia as often as they wish. Time spent outside Australia does not extend the visa, and the visa is digitally linked to the passport rather than shown as a label.
Is the Subclass 445 itself the PR step for the child?
No. It is a temporary visa that runs until the Department decides the parent's permanent Partner visa application or the parent withdraws it. Once granted, the child must apply to be added to the parent's permanent Partner visa application to continue on the pathway.
Can the 445 be applied for online from overseas?
No. The official page states this visa must be applied for on paper, using Form 918, posted or couriered to the Child and Other Family Processing Centre in Perth. Applications lodged in person, at another office or by another method are invalid and are not considered further.