Can I Add Family Members to a Subclass 802 Application in 2026?
How siblings and dependent children are treated on a Child visa (subclass 802) application, when someone can join, and when a new application is needed.
Only one category of family member can be added to a Child visa (subclass 802) application, and it isn't siblings. According to the Department of Home Affairs official Child visa (Subclass 802) page, as of August 2026, siblings who also want to apply must be lodged as separate applications, while the child's own dependent children can be included either when the application is made or at any time before the Department decides it. That split — siblings out, dependent children in — is the whole answer, and each side of it has different consequences.
| Family member | Can they join the 802 application? | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Sibling of the child | No — each sibling needs a separate application | Lodged independently |
| The child's dependent children | Yes | At lodgement, or any time before the decision |
| Any family member after the decision | No — requires a new visa application | After grant only |
Who counts as a family member on a subclass 802 application?
The subclass 802 is a permanent Child visa: the child becomes a permanent resident on the day the visa is granted, can stay indefinitely, work and study, enrol in Medicare, and sponsor relatives later. The "family member" question only arises because the main applicant — the child — may themselves have children, and the child's parent may have other children who also want to migrate.
Those two groups are handled completely differently, which is where most confusion comes from. Siblings sit outside the application entirely; dependent children sit inside it.
Why do siblings need separate applications?
The official page states plainly that if the child has siblings who also want to apply, you submit separate applications for each sibling. There is no mechanism described for bundling siblings into one subclass 802 application, and no "add a sibling later" pathway on the same application.
Practically, that means each sibling's eligibility has to stand on its own — their own relationship evidence, their own dependency evidence if they are over 18, their own forms, and their own fee. A refusal or delay affecting one sibling's application does not, on the published rules, automatically affect another's.
When can the child's dependent children be added?
The Department's guidance gives two windows: at the time the child applies, or at any time before a decision is made. The step-by-step guide repeats the second window in its post-lodgement section — you can add the child's dependent children to the application any time before the decision.
The cutoff is the decision, not the grant or any later date. Once the Department has made its decision, the "add family members" option is closed.
What do dependent children have to satisfy?
Inclusion isn't automatic. Dependent children of the child who apply for the visa must meet the health requirement, and the Department will tell you when to arrange health examinations.
Document requirements for a dependant under 18 applying with the child include:
- identity documents
- travel documents
- proof of the child's relationship with the dependant, such as a birth or marriage certificate
- character documents, where applicable
You also need four recent passport-size photographs (45mm x 35mm) for the child and for any dependent child included — under six months old, colour, full face, plain light background. Character obligations can extend further: anyone in the application who has served in a country's armed forces must provide military service records or discharge papers, and anyone over 16 must complete Form 80 (Personal particulars for assessment including character assessment). Police certificates may be requested based on time lived in an Australian state or territory, or overseas.
What if a family member isn't coming to Australia?
Health is the one requirement that can reach people who never intend to travel. The official page notes that family members who are not coming to Australia might also have to meet the health requirement. If you're assessing whether someone can be added, treat that as a live possibility rather than an exemption.
Can anyone be added after the decision?
No — and this is a different problem from the one most applicants expect. The Department's post-visa guidance says you can't add a family member after the application has been decided; if a decision has been made and you want to bring a family member to Australia, they need a new visa application of their own.
So the practical rule is: before decision, dependent children can still come in; after decision, nobody can, and the family member has to be assessed under whatever visa category actually fits them.
What does including a dependent child cost?
The official page describes a charge for the main applicant and an additional charge for each dependent child who applies with them, but it does not publish fixed figures on that page, and costs can change — use the Department's Visa Pricing Estimator for the current amount rather than relying on any figure quoted elsewhere. Other costs, such as health exams, police certificates and biometrics, are not included in the estimator.
One concession is documented: from 1 July 2026, a lower visa application cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid application, and family members are also eligible for the lower cost, based on the passport of the primary applicant.
How do you actually add someone to a lodged paper application?
A subclass 802 application must be made on paper — Form 47CH (Application for migration to Australia by a child) and Form 40CH (Sponsorship for a child to migrate to Australia), sent together by post or courier to the Child and Other Family Processing Centre in Perth.
After lodgement, the Department suggests importing the paper application into ImmiAccount once you receive the acknowledgement letter. That gives you online access to attach supporting documents, view messages, update details and check status. If you can't use ImmiAccount, additional documents can be attached through the Child and Orphan Relative Visa Processing Centre online form. If you need to correct something already submitted, that's Form 1023 (Notification of incorrect answers).
One condition stays constant throughout: the child must be in Australia, and not in immigration clearance, both when the application is submitted and when the decision is made. If the child needs to travel during processing, the Department asks to be told, and the child needs a valid visa to return.
Processing times are published only as a guide via the Department's visa processing time tool, based on recently decided applications, so no specific timeline should be assumed. The Department says you should receive an acknowledgement, including advice on any associated bridging visa, within approximately one month of lodgement.
This article is general information about published visa rules, not personalised advice about any individual's circumstances, and the Department's own pages remain the authority on current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child's siblings be included on the same subclass 802 application?
No. The Department of Home Affairs states that siblings who also want to apply must be lodged as separate applications, one for each sibling. Each application is assessed on its own evidence and its own fee.
Can a dependent child be added after the 802 application has been lodged?
Yes, as long as the Department has not yet made a decision. The child's dependent children can be included when the application is made or at any time before the decision is made.
Do added dependent children need to meet the health requirement?
Yes. Dependent children of the child who apply for the visa must meet the health requirement, and the Department will advise when health examinations need to be arranged.
Can I add a family member after the subclass 802 visa is granted?
No. You cannot add a family member after the application has been decided; the family member would need to submit a new visa application under a category that suits them.
Does a family member who isn't travelling to Australia still need to meet health requirements?
Possibly. The official page states that family members who are not coming to Australia might also have to meet the health requirement, so it should not be assumed they are exempt.
What documents are needed for a dependent child under 18 included in the application?
Identity documents, travel documents, proof of the relationship to the main applicant such as a birth or marriage certificate, and character documents where applicable. Four recent passport-size photographs are also required for each dependent child included.
How much does it cost to add a dependent child?
The official page describes an additional charge for each dependent child who applies with the main applicant, but does not publish the figure there. Use the Department's Visa Pricing Estimator for the current amount, noting it excludes health exams, police certificates and biometrics.