485 Subsequent Entrant Visa

Who Can Join a 485 Holder, Cost and How to Apply

Updated: 9 October 2026

A 485 subsequent entrant is a partner or dependent child who applies to join a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) holder after that person's visa has been granted.

They apply online in ImmiAccount, from inside or outside Australia.

Each subsequent entrant pays the full Visa Application Charge: AUD 5,750 when the family member holds a Post-Higher Education Work or Post-Vocational Education Work stream visa, according to the Home Affairs visa pricing table.

Key takeaways

Subsequent entrants apply after the main holder's 485 is granted. Before grant, only children can be added to a lodged application.
Subsequent entrants can apply and be granted the visa in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance.
The fee is the full charge per person, including children: AUD 5,750 (first 485 streams) or AUD 2,265 (Second Post-Higher Education Work stream).
Family members who apply together with the main applicant pay much less: AUD 2,875 per person 18 or over and AUD 1,450 per child under 18 (first 485 streams).
Family members must meet health and character requirements and hold adequate health insurance. No English test appears in the family-member requirements.
The government has announced that "similar restrictions" to the new Student visa family rules will apply to 485 visas. As at 9 October 2026, no law has been made and subsequent entrant applications remain open.

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Status update: announced changes to 485 family members

On 2 October 2026, the Student visa family rules changed. Most new Student visa applicants can no longer include family members, and students can no longer add subsequent entrants.

The same day, Assistant Minister Julian Hill's media release stated that similar restrictions will apply to Temporary Graduate visas.

The release also said the changes will not separate families already in Australia where family members hold Student or Temporary Graduate visas as secondary applicants.

What this means right now:

The 485 family restriction is an announcement only. No regulation or start date has been published.
The Home Affairs Post-Higher Education Work stream page still says family members can apply as subsequent entrants after grant.
How the change will apply to partners and children who are outside Australia is not yet known.

If you plan to bring family on a 485, check the current rules immediately before you lodge. We cover the wider September and October announcements in our migration overhaul update.

What is a 485 subsequent entrant visa?

A 485 subsequent entrant visa is a Temporary Graduate visa granted to a member of the main holder's family unit who applies after the main holder's visa is granted.

The family member does not apply for a new 485 on their own study. They apply on the basis of the main holder's existing 485.

There are two ways a family member can hold a 485 as a secondary applicant:

At lodgement. The family member is in Australia when the main applicant applies, and is included in the same application.
As a subsequent entrant. The family member applies separately after the main applicant's 485 is granted. This is the only option for a partner who was outside Australia when the main applicant lodged.

Both routes lead to the same visa. The difference is timing, location at lodgement and cost.

The main holder can be in any current 485 stream:

All three stream pages contain the same subsequent entrant wording. The fee and the possible visa conditions differ by stream (see below).

For an overview of the visa itself, see our Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) guide.

Who can apply as a 485 subsequent entrant?

A 485 subsequent entrant must be a member of the main holder's family unit.

In practice, Home Affairs' 485 document requirements cover these family members:

Partner (married). You provide a marriage certificate or other evidence the marriage is valid in Australia.
Partner (de facto). You provide proof of the de facto relationship, plus evidence the relationship has lasted at least 12 months, or that it is registered in a participating Australian state or territory.
Dependent child under 18. You provide a birth certificate or family book showing both parents, or adoption papers.
Child aged 18 to 22. The child must be dependent on the main holder or their partner. You provide a completed Form 47a and proof of financial dependency.
Child aged 23 or over. The child must be dependent because they cannot earn a living due to physical or cognitive limitations. A report from a qualified medical practitioner is required.

Home Affairs lists these documents in the "Gather your documents" step on the 485 stream pages.

The 35-or-under age limit on the 485 is a criterion for the main applicant. For children, age matters because it changes which dependency evidence you need.

Including family at lodgement or adding them later: which applies to you?

The right path depends on where the family member is and when the 485 application is at.

The main applicant has not applied yet

Family member is in Australia: include them in the main application. This is the lower-cost option.
Family member is outside Australia: they cannot be included. They can apply as a subsequent entrant after the main 485 is granted.

The main applicant has applied, but no decision yet

Child: you may be able to add the child before the decision using Form 1436, with the child's passport, birth certificate and custody evidence.
Child born after lodgement: the child is taken to have made the same application. Tell Home Affairs with Form 1022 and the birth certificate.
Partner or any other family member: cannot be added while the application is undecided. They wait until grant, then apply as a subsequent entrant.

The main holder's 485 has been granted

Any eligible family member applies as a subsequent entrant, from inside or outside Australia.
A child born overseas after grant also applies as a subsequent entrant and pays the full charge.

If a child is born in Australia, use the Home Affairs had a child tool to check what applies.

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How much does the 485 subsequent entrant visa cost?

Each 485 subsequent entrant pays the full base Visa Application Charge, the same amount as a main applicant.

Home Affairs states that subsequent entrants, including children born offshore, must pay the full charge.

The amount depends on the main holder's stream, per the current visa pricing table:

Post-Higher Education Work stream: AUD 5,750 per subsequent entrant
Post-Vocational Education Work stream: AUD 5,750 per subsequent entrant
Second Post-Higher Education Work stream: AUD 2,265 per subsequent entrant

Cost comparison: applying together vs joining later

Family members included at lodgement pay the additional applicant charges instead:

First 485 streams: AUD 2,875 per person 18 or over, AUD 1,450 per child under 18
Second Post-Higher Education Work stream: AUD 1,140 per person 18 or over, AUD 575 per child under 18

Example for a partner and one child under 18 (first 485 streams):

Included at lodgement: AUD 2,875 + AUD 1,450 = AUD 4,325
Joining later as subsequent entrants: AUD 5,750 + AUD 5,750 = AUD 11,500

This difference only applies where the family can lawfully be included at lodgement, which requires them to be in Australia when the main applicant applies.

Lower charge for Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens

A lower charge applies when the main applicant holds a valid passport from one of 12 Pacific Island countries or Timor-Leste.

Family members, including subsequent entrants, also get the lower charge. Home Affairs bases this on the passport of the main 485 holder, not the family member. The eligible countries are listed in the "Cost concession" section of each 485 stream page.

Other costs to budget for

Health examinations
Police certificates
Biometrics, if requested
Adequate health insurance for the whole stay

To estimate a full family budget, use our visa cost calculator. For background on the 2026 charge increases, see 485 visa fee increased to AUD 5,750.

What are the 485 subsequent entrant visa requirements?

A 485 subsequent entrant must prove the family relationship and meet the requirements Home Affairs applies to family members on the 485.

Summary of what the 485 eligibility criteria require of family members:

Be a member of the main holder's family unit
Meet the health requirement
Meet the character requirement if aged 16 or over
Hold and maintain adequate health insurance
Sign the Australian Values Statement if aged 18 or over
Have no outstanding debt to the Australian Government, or have arranged to repay it

Relationship requirements

The relationship must fit the family unit categories above.

De facto partners need evidence of at least 12 months together, or a relationship registered in a participating Australian state or territory.

Children aged 18 or over need evidence of dependency. Form 47a and financial records such as bank statements, money transfers and rent receipts support this.

Health and insurance requirements

Every family member who applies must meet the health requirement. Home Affairs may ask for health examinations.

The main holder and family members must have and maintain adequate health insurance for the whole stay. Some countries have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia, which Services Australia explains.

Character requirements

Family members aged 16 or over must meet the character requirement.

For applications lodged with the main applicant, Home Affairs asks for evidence that all applicants over 16 have applied for an Australian Federal Police check. Police certificates from other countries may also be needed. Check the character requirements page for what applies to you.

Home Affairs also considers immigration history, including any previous visa cancellation or refusal.

Requirements that apply to the main applicant only

These 485 criteria are written for the main applicant and do not appear in the family-member requirements:

Recent Australian qualification and the Temporary Graduate visa study requirement
English language test results or an eligible passport
The age limit (35 or under, or under 50 in limited cases)

The current Home Affairs pages do not list an English test result (such as IELTS or PTE) for a partner joining as a 485 subsequent entrant.

485 subsequent entrant document checklist

Prepare these documents before you start the ImmiAccount application. Home Affairs lists them on the 485 stream pages.

For a partner

Passport and other identity documents
Marriage certificate, or de facto relationship evidence (12 months or registration)
Character documents
Health insurance evidence

For a child under 18

Passport and birth certificate (or family book) naming both parents
Adoption papers, if applicable
Form 1229 consent from any person with a legal right to decide where the child lives who is not coming to Australia, or a statutory declaration, court order or proof that home-country law allows the child to migrate
Identity document of the person who signed the consent

For a child aged 18 or over

Passport, identity and character documents
Birth certificate or adoption papers
Form 47a
Proof of financial dependency
Medical practitioner's report if the child is 23 or older, or will turn 23 during processing

Formatting rules

Translate all non-English documents into English and upload both versions.
Translators in Australia must be NAATI-accredited. Translators outside Australia must add their name, contact details, qualifications and experience in English.
Scan or photograph documents in colour. Save multi-page documents as one file.
You do not need to certify documents.

Can a 485 subsequent entrant apply from outside Australia?

Yes. A 485 subsequent entrant can be in or outside Australia when they apply, but not in immigration clearance.

They can also be in or outside Australia when Home Affairs decides the application.

This is the main difference from family members included at lodgement. Those family members must be in Australia when the main applicant applies.

A subsequent entrant granted the visa outside Australia must arrive by the Initial Entry Date on the grant letter.

How to apply for a 485 subsequent entrant visa

The process runs entirely online through ImmiAccount.

Confirm the main holder's 485 is granted. Note the stream, because it sets the fee and possible conditions.
Check the current rules. The announced 485 family restriction is not law as at 9 October 2026, but check the stream page before lodging.
Confirm the family relationship qualifies. Check de facto duration or child dependency evidence.
Arrange health insurance. Each family member needs adequate cover for their whole stay, and evidence of it goes with the application.
Gather and translate documents. Use the checklist above.
Lodge in ImmiAccount and pay the full charge. Home Affairs does not process an application until the correct charge is paid.
Complete health examinations and biometrics if asked. Respond within the timeframe in any request. Home Affairs can decide once that timeframe passes.
Receive the outcome and travel. If granted offshore, arrive by the Initial Entry Date.

Need help with any step? Our registered migration agents can review the relationship evidence and timing before you pay. Book a consultation.

How long does a 485 subsequent entrant visa take?

Home Affairs does not publish a separate processing time for 485 subsequent entrants.

The global visa processing times guide shows times for recently decided 485 applications by stream. It is a guide only. You can also check current figures with our visa processing times tool.

Home Affairs says an application can take longer when:

it is not filled in correctly
Home Affairs needs more information
information takes time to verify

Lodging a complete application with health checks arranged early reduces avoidable delays.

What can a 485 subsequent entrant do in Australia?

A 485 subsequent entrant holds a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), granted on the basis of the main holder's visa.

The 485 lets holders live, study and work in Australia temporarily. Home Affairs also lists these points:

Travel. The 485 is a multiple-entry visa. Time spent outside Australia does not extend it.
Visa label. The visa is digitally linked to the passport. There is no label.
Extension. Home Affairs cannot extend a 485.
Expiry. Check the exact expiry date and conditions in VEVO or the grant letter.

Visa conditions by stream

Home Affairs lists the conditions that might be attached to each stream:

Post-Higher Education Work and Post-Vocational Education Work: condition 8501 (maintain adequate health insurance)
Second Post-Higher Education Work: condition 8610 (live, work and study only in a designated regional area)

Your VEVO record shows the conditions actually attached to your visa.

Studying and switching to a Student visa

A 485 subsequent entrant can study while holding the 485.

To move onto a Student visa, the family member must apply from outside Australia. The Student visa page lists subclass 485 holders, primary or secondary, among visa holders who cannot apply for a Student visa in Australia, with no exemptions.

Applying for a 485 as the main applicant later

A family member who held a 485 as a secondary applicant may be eligible to apply for their own 485 as the main applicant later. Home Affairs confirms this in the "Have this visa" criterion.

They must meet every main-applicant requirement, including a recent qualification from a CRICOS-registered course.

School fees for children

Each state and territory sets its own government school fees for children of temporary visa holders.

For example, the Tasmanian Government's Temporary Resident Program page states that dependant students on a 485 visa pay 50% of its published tuition fees. Check your state or territory education department before you choose where to live.

Common misconceptions about the 485 subsequent entrant visa

Myth: A subsequent entrant pays the lower family-member rate.

Reality: Subsequent entrants pay the full charge, AUD 5,750 for first 485 streams. The lower AUD 2,875 and AUD 1,450 rates only apply to family members included at lodgement.

Myth: The fee is the Subsequent Temporary Application Charge.

Reality: The Subsequent Temporary Application Charge is a separate charge that applies to some temporary visa applications made in Australia. Home Affairs states the Temporary Graduate visa is exempt from it.

Myth: A partner must be in Australia to get a 485.

Reality: That rule applies to family members included at lodgement. Subsequent entrants can apply from outside Australia.

Myth: You can add your partner after you lodge but before the decision.

Reality: Only children can be added before the decision. Other family members wait for the grant and then apply as subsequent entrants.

Myth: Students and 485 holders now follow the same family rules.

Reality: Student visa subsequent entrants ended on 2 October 2026. The 485 change is announced but not yet law.

Myth: The main holder must prove they can financially support the family.

Reality: Home Affairs' 485 stream pages do not list a financial capacity requirement for family members. Financial evidence is listed for one purpose only: proving that a child aged 18 or over is dependent.

485 subsequent entrant scenarios

Scenario 1: partner overseas when the graduate applied

A graduate lodged a Post-Higher Education Work stream 485 in Melbourne while her husband was living overseas.

He could not be included because he was outside Australia. After her visa is granted, he applies as a subsequent entrant from overseas and pays AUD 5,750.

Scenario 2: baby born overseas after the 485 grant

A trade graduate holds a Post-Vocational Education Work stream 485. His daughter is born overseas after his visa was granted.

She applies as a subsequent entrant. Home Affairs confirms that children born offshore pay the full charge.

Scenario 3: 20-year-old student child

A 485 holder's 20-year-old son is studying full time in his home country and relies on her financially.

He can apply as a dependent child. The application needs Form 47a and financial dependency evidence.

Scenario 4: regional graduate on a second 485

A regional graduate holds a Second Post-Higher Education Work stream visa. His wife joins him as a subsequent entrant and pays AUD 2,265.

Condition 8610 might be attached to visas in this stream, so they should check VEVO for any requirement to live, work and study in a designated regional area.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a 485 subsequent entrant?

A 485 subsequent entrant is a partner or dependent child who applies to join a Temporary Graduate visa holder after that person's 485 has been granted. They receive a 485 based on the main holder's visa, not their own study.

How much is the 485 subsequent entrant visa fee?

The fee is the full base charge for each person. It is AUD 5,750 for the Post-Higher Education Work and Post-Vocational Education Work streams, and AUD 2,265 for the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream. Children pay the same amount.

Can my partner apply for a 485 subsequent entrant visa from outside Australia?

Yes. Subsequent entrants can be in or outside Australia when they apply and when the decision is made, but not in immigration clearance. If granted offshore, they must arrive by the Initial Entry Date.

Does a 485 subsequent entrant need an English test?

No English test appears in the Home Affairs requirements for family members on the 485. The English requirement applies to the main applicant. Family members still need to meet health, character and health insurance requirements.

Can a 485 subsequent entrant work full time?

The 485 allows holders to live, study and work in Australia. For the two first 485 streams, the only condition Home Affairs lists as possibly attached is 8501 (health insurance). For the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream, condition 8610 can restrict living, work and study to a designated regional area.

Can I add my de facto partner to my 485?

Yes, if the relationship meets the de facto evidence rules: at least 12 months together, or a relationship registered in a participating Australian state or territory. Include them at lodgement if they are in Australia, or they apply as a subsequent entrant after your 485 is granted.

Is the 485 subsequent entrant visa being removed?

The government has announced that similar restrictions to the new Student visa family rules will apply to Temporary Graduate visas. As at 9 October 2026, no regulation or start date has been published, and Home Affairs still accepts 485 subsequent entrant applications.

Can a 485 subsequent entrant apply for a Student visa in Australia?

No. Holders of a 485, primary or secondary, cannot apply for a Student visa in Australia. They must apply from outside Australia.

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