Dependent Visa Australia: What Is It and Who Is It For?
The Dependent Visa Australia is a gateway to a brighter future for international students or professionals and their families. In this comprehensive guideline, ONEderland Consulting will delve into the details of the Dependent Visa Australia, including the types, requirements, costs, and the step-by-step process to apply for the visa, offering a ray of hope for a new life in Australia.
What is the Dependent Visa Australia?
The dependent Visa Australia is a program that warmly welcomes members of your family unit to join you in Australia. Whether you are a temporary or permanent visa holder, the Dependent Visa Australia is a great way to bring your family to live and enjoy the inclusive lifestyle of Australia.
To be eligible for a Dependent Visa in Australia, your family member must meet the specific criteria of a Member of the Family Unit. The definition is to limit the number of applicants who may be eligible for a permanent visa subclass and various provisional and temporary visa subclasses.
What Does a Member of a Family Unit Mean?
For the application for Dependent Visa Australia, the Government defines Member of the Family Unit (MoFU) as:
- spouse or de facto partner of the primary applicant or holder of an Australian visa;
- the main applicant’s or their partner’s child who is not engaged, married, or in a de facto relationship and is:
- under the age of 18, or
- between the ages of 18 and 23 and dependent on the main applicant or the main applicant’s partner or
- ages of 23 or older and dependent on the main applicant or the main applicant’s partner due to a partial or total physical or mental disability
- the above-mentioned child’s dependent child
What are the criteria for meeting the definition of “Dependent”?
There are different eligibility criteria in each Dependent Visa Australia, but there are general criteria that you have to know:
- Dependent refers to those who have relied entirely or primarily on you for a significant period to meet their basic requirements of food, clothes, and housing.
- For dependent children, they must be under 18 years old to be considered “dependent” for most Australian dependent visa applications.
- Suppose the dependent child is above 18 years old. In that case, they must continuously be an active student or provide proof that they are physically unable to support themselves financially.
- Suppose a dependent is 18 years of age or older. In that case, a dependent must have read the Life in Australia booklet and signed an Australian Values Statement confirming that you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws.
- Specifically, for Aged Dependent Relatives Visa (Subclass 114), you must be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia. You must depend on your relative in Australia for basic needs like food, shelter and clothing for at least three years before applying for the visa. To be eligible for this visa, you must have no partner.
Read more: Australian Child Visa Age Limit: Full Explanation 2024
Types of Dependent Visa Australia for Your Family Members
There are several types of visas included in the Dependent Visa Australia Program, including:
Dependent Visa Australia for Spouse/De Facto Partner
If you’re an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, you can apply for the offshore Partner Visa (subclass 309/100) or Onshore Partner Visa (subclass 820/801) to bring your spouse or de facto partner to Australia.
However, suppose you hold a temporary visa, such as a Student Visa, Temporary Graduate Visa, Temporary Skills Shortage, or Skilled Employer Regional Sponsored Visa. In that case, you can apply for the subsequent entrant visa to bring your spouse or de facto partner to Australia.
Learn more about the Subsequent Entrant Visa here.
Dependent Visa Australia for Children
You can consider the Dependent Child Visa (subclass 445), Child Visa (subclass 101 or 802) or Subsequent Entrant Visa to bring your dependent child to the country:
1. Dependent Child Visa (Subclass 445)
Suppose you are currently migrating to Australia under the Partner Visa program and wish to have your child on your permanent Partner Visa application. In that case, you can consider getting them a Dependent Child Visa (subclass 445).
Be noted that once your child is granted the 445 visa, you must include your child in your permanent Partner Visa application. Then, your child will be granted the PR visa together when your permanent Partner Visa is granted.
2. Child Visa (Subclass 101 and Subclass 802)
If you are an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen, you can consider the Child Visa Australia (subclass 101 or 802) to bring your child to Australia.
The Child Visa (subclass 101) is specified for children outside Australia. Meanwhile, if your child is already in Australia and holds a valid substantive visa, you may consider a subclass 802 application for them to stay lawfully and permanently with you.
3. Subsequent Entrant Visa
Similar to the subsequent entrant visa for spouses and de facto partners, if you hold a Student Visa, Temporary Graduate Visa, Temporary Skills Shortage Visa, or Skilled Employer Regional Sponsored Visa, you can apply for the Subsequent Entrant Visa to bring your child to the country. This visa allows your child to live, study, and work in Australia for the same duration as your visa.
Dependent Visa of Other Aged Dependent
There is one option to bring your aged dependent relative to live with you in Australia: Aged Dependent Relatives Visa (Subclass 114).
This permanent visa is for a single older person who relies on you as their relative for financial support. The visa will allow your relative to move to Australia permanently. With this visa, your relative can work and study in Australia, enrol in Australia’s public healthcare scheme and sponsor your other relatives to come to Australia. To apply for this visa, you need to meet certain age and dependency requirements, and your relative must meet the health and character requirements.
If you have a relative in the pension age who lives alone and is entirely dependent on you regarding food, clothes, and other financial support, consider this visa for them.
Dependent Visa Australia Cost in 2024
The cost for Dependent Visa Australia varies depending on the visa subclass. You can see the table below for the details on its cost in 2024:
| No | Type of Dependent Visa Australia | Cost in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Partner Visa (subclass 309/100) (subclass 820/801) | From AUD 9,095 |
| 2 | Dependent Child Visa (subclass 445) | From AUD 3,140 |
| 3 | Child Visa (subclass 101 and 802) | From AUD 3,140 |
| 4 | Subsequent Entrant Visa (Student Visa) | From AUD 1,600 |
| 5 | Subsequent Entrant Visa (Temporary Graduate Visa) | From AUD 1,945 |
| 6 | Subsequent Entrant Visa (Temporary Skills Shortage Visa) | From AUD 1,495 |
| 7 | Subsequent Entrant Visa (Skilled Employer Regional Sponsored Visa) | From AUD 4,770 |
| 8 | Aged Dependent Relatives Visa (subclass 114) | From AUD 5,125 |
The above Dependent Visa Australia cost is as of July 2024. The cost may change in July every year following the opening of the financial year in Australia.
How do you apply for a dependent visa in Australia?
Now you’ve understood the options, costs and requirements for Dependent Visa Australia, but how do you apply for the visa?
Next, we will guide you on how to apply for the Dependent Visa for Australia. Generally, there are five steps you must follow when applying for the Dependent Visa Australia: checking eligibility, collecting documents, submitting the visa application, waiting for the decision, and receiving the decision.
Step 1: Check the Eligibility for Dependent Visa Australia
You must ensure that your family unit member meets the specific Dependent Visa Australia criteria. You must also ensure you meet the requirements to sponsor them for the particular visa subclass.
For example, if you plan to apply for the Dependent Child Visa (subclass 445) for your child, then you must ensure that your child has met the requirements to be the applicant and you have met the criteria to be the sponsor.
If you need assistance, book an appointment with our Registered Migration Agent to check the specific Dependent Visa Australia eligibility criteria.
Step 2: Collect the Required Documents
Once you have met all the criteria and requirements, you must start preparing documents for the visa application.
Note that the required documents for each Dependent Visa Australia are different. However, in general, you must prepare identity documents of your family unit, evidence of family relationship, and proof that you’re eligible to sponsor them.
Step 3: Submit the Visa Application
Once you’ve gathered all the documents, you can apply for a Dependent Visa in Australia. Generally, you can apply online through the IMMI Account portal.
However, specifically for Dependent Child Visa (subclass 445) and Child Visa (subclass 101 and 802), you must apply for them paper-based by sending all documents by post or mail to Australia’s Child Visa processing centre.
Step 4: Wait for the Decision
The processing time varies, depending on each case and visa subclass.
If you apply for an onshore visa application, your family member will be automatically granted a Bridging Visa A, and it will come into effect once their substantive visa expires. Don’t forget to check the application regularly, and if the Department of Home Affairs requests further information or documents, ensure that you complete it within the deadlines.
Step 5: Receive the Visa Outcome from the Department of Home Affairs
The Department of Home Affairs will notify you in writing whether they grant or refuse your Dependent Visa application.
If the Dependent Visa is granted, your family member can join you legally, living in Australia for the duration specified in their visa. However, you can submit a new visa application or review the decision to the AAT if the visa is refused.
Learn more on what to do when your Australian visa application is refused here.
Choosing the best Dependent Visa Australia for your family member is very crucial. At ONEderland Consulting, we will ensure you get the best option that suits your situation and background.
We offer a personal consultation session with our Registered Migration Agent. Our consultation session is more than just a conversation. It’s a promise backed by a 100% refund guarantee if you’re unsatisfied with our service. We are proud to share that we have a 98% success rate and are experts in handling complex cases. So, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’ve got you covered every step of the way.
We’re here to help you!
We’re here to guide you through the entire Dependent Visa Australia application, from understanding your options and preparing your application. You’re not alone in this journey. Our visa specialists at ONE derland Consulting will help you decide the best options for bringing your family to Australia. We have a 98% success rate and are one of Australia’s most highly recommended migration agents. Read our 4.9* score customer reviews.
We are complex visa specialists. As registered Australian migration agents with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA), we are regulated in our professional practice and bound by the profession’s Code of Conduct issued by the MARA.
Our team speaks various languages, such as Mandarin/Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia, Arabic, Japanese, and Thai. Contact us through email at [email protected] or via phone at 1300 827 159. Alternatively, you may book your consultation online, and it is backed by our 100% Money Back Guarantee Program.
