Yes – spouses, de facto partners, and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants in a 482 visa application.
One notable benefit of the 482 visa for visa holders is the dependent child provision that carries through to the permanent residence stage. Where a child was recognised as a ‘dependent’ at the time the 482 visa was granted, that same dependency status can be carried forward to a subsequent 186 permanent residence visa application – even if, by that point, the child is over 23 years of age, employed full-time, or married/in a de facto relationship.
Family members who have been granted the visa are generally entitled to live, work, and study in Australia for the duration of the primary visa holder’s stay. Dependent children can attend Australian schools, and secondary applicants have full work rights – they are not restricted to any particular employer or industry.
The critical point is that family members who are not included in the original application must apply separately as subsequent entrants – they cannot be added to an existing application after it has been lodged. A subsequent entrant application is a separate visa application with its own fees and processing timeline. It is not simply an administrative update to the primary application.
For family members currently in Australia on their own visa, including them at the time of the primary applicant’s 482 application is the cleanest approach. For family members who plan to join later, a subsequent entrant application is required, and the timing of that application relative to the primary visa holder’s visa period needs to be considered.
Health examinations and police clearances are required for all secondary applicants, including dependent children of certain ages. These should be arranged early in the application process to avoid creating a bottleneck at the finalisation stage.
FAQs
What is the maximum age of a child that can be included in 482 visa as a dependent?
If a child is between 18 and 23, they must be financially dependent on the main visa applicant, not working, and be single (not in a de facto relationship or married) to be granted a secondary visa as a dependent.
What if the child turns over 23 after they have the 482 visa, can they still get 186 visa as a dependent?
Yes, because Regulation 1.12(5) of Migration Regulations 1994 allows a 482 secondary visa holder to be included in the 186 visa application as a dependent even if they no longer meet the usual ‘dependency’ requirement.