How a 445 Visa Child Gets PR When the Parent Holds an 820 or 309 Visa
Updated: 13 November 2026
A subclass 445 Dependent Child visa does not give permanent residency by itself. The child gets PR by being added to the parent's permanent Partner visa application, which is the subclass 801 for a parent on an 820 and the subclass 100 for a parent on a 309.
The child must hold the 445, and the parent's permanent visa must not be decided yet. For the 801, the child must also be in Australia.
Key takeaways
The 445 is a temporary visa that holds the child's place until the parent's permanent decision
PR comes through the parent's permanent Partner visa: 801 (parent on an 820) or 100 (parent on a 309)
The child applies to be added with Form 1002, and there is no visa application charge for it
For the 801, the child must be in Australia when added. For the 100, the child can be in or outside Australia
Home Affairs says you cannot add family members after it grants the permanent Partner visa
The parent is assessed for the permanent visa 2 years after applying for the temporary and permanent visas
Can a 445 visa holder get PR?
Yes, but not through the 445 itself. The 445 lets the child stay in Australia temporarily while Home Affairs processes the parent's permanent Partner visa. The child must then apply to be added to that permanent application.
Home Affairs says the 445 lasts until it decides the parent's permanent Partner visa application, or the parent withdraws it. The child cannot extend the 445.
See RACC's full guide to the subclass 445 Dependent Child visa for eligibility, cost and how to lodge the 445 itself.
How does a 445 child get PR if the parent holds an 820?
The permanent visa is the subclass 801 Partner visa. Home Affairs sets out this order for a child who was not included in the original 820 application.
The parent holds an 820 Partner visa and has a pending 801 application.
The child applies for a 445 visa. Home Affairs says that, after the 820 is granted, the child must first apply for a 445 to be included in the 801 application.
Home Affairs grants the 445.
The child is in Australia. Home Affairs says the child must hold a 445 and be in Australia to be added to the 801.
The parent completes Form 1002 and attaches it to the 801 application in ImmiAccount.
The parent lets Home Affairs know through the Partner Processing Enquiry Form.
Home Affairs decides the 801. The child is assessed with the parent.
Do steps 5 and 6 before Home Affairs decides the 801. Home Affairs says you can add the child only before it makes a decision on the permanent application.
If the child was included in the original 820 application, the child does not need a 445. Home Affairs says you can include a dependent child when you apply for the 820.
How does it work if the parent holds a 309?
The permanent visa is the subclass 100 Partner visa. The steps match the 820 pathway, with one difference in where the child can be.
Home Affairs says the child must hold a 445 and can be in or outside Australia to be added to the 100. The child does not need to travel first. Read more about the 309 Partner (Provisional) visa.
820 pathway vs 309 pathway
These figures come from Home Affairs' visa pages, Form 1002 and its processing times guide, checked on 13 November 2026.
Parent on an 820 | Parent on a 309 | |
Temporary partner visa | 820 (apply in Australia) | 309 (apply outside Australia) |
Permanent visa the child joins | 801 | 100 |
Child's temporary visa | 445 | 445 |
Where the child must be when added | In Australia | In or outside Australia |
Form to add the child | Form 1002 | Form 1002 |
Fee for Form 1002 | No visa application charge | No visa application charge |
When the parent is assessed for the permanent visa | 2 years after applying for the 820 and 801 | 2 years after applying for the 309 and 100 |
Permanent visa processing (from the date of eligibility) | 50% in 6 months, 90% in 19 months | 50% in 9 months, 90% in 18 months |
What must the child meet for the permanent visa?
Home Affairs assesses the child against the permanent visa's requirements. Based on Home Affairs' 801 page and Form 1002, expect these checks:
Health: the child and any dependent children applying with them must meet the health requirement. Home Affairs says health checks may be repeated, even if the child already did them.
Character: character checks may also be repeated. Form 1002 states this.
Australian values statement: each person aged 18 or over signs it.
Parental responsibility: if the child is under 18, the parent provides acceptable evidence of parental responsibility. Report any change to custody or guardianship.
Debts: anyone who owes the Australian Government money must pay it back or arrange to pay it back, including family members who do not come to Australia.
Best interests: Home Affairs might refuse the visa if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18.
Residential address: Form 1002 needs a residential address. A post office box makes the form invalid.
The parent must also keep meeting the relationship requirement. Home Affairs says the parent must still be the spouse or de facto partner of the same person who sponsored them for the temporary visa.
What is Form 1002 and how do you lodge it?
Form 1002 is the Application by a subclass 445 dependent child for a permanent partner visa. It adds the 445 holder, and any dependants of that child, to the parent's permanent Partner visa application.
Home Affairs lists three ways to lodge it:
ImmiAccount: upload it to the parent's Partner visa application (the preferred method)
Online form: if you cannot upload in ImmiAccount, upload the completed form through the Partner Processing Enquiry Form
Post or courier: send it to the office processing the parent's permanent Partner visa application
The parent must already hold a 309 or 820, and the permanent 100 or 801 must not be granted yet. The form lists the child's dependants at Question 23.
Home Affairs warns on the form that failing to submit it may leave the child unlawful, or without other permanent visa options, depending on the circumstances.
How long does it take to get PR from a 445?
Home Affairs does not give one timeframe for the whole pathway. It publishes separate figures for each stage. These are from its Global Visa Processing Times guide, checked on 13 November 2026.
Stage | Home Affairs figure |
445 Dependent Child visa | 50% processed in 26 months, 90% in 33 months |
Parent eligible for assessment | 2 years after applying for the temporary and permanent visas |
801 Partner visa (permanent) | 50% processed in 6 months, 90% in 19 months, counted from the date of eligibility |
100 Partner visa (migrant) | 50% processed in 9 months, 90% in 18 months, counted from the date of eligibility |
Home Affairs says the permanent visa's processing time starts from the date of eligibility, which is 2 years after the parent applied. It also says its figures are a guide only.
The 445's 26-month median sits close to the 2-year eligibility point plus the 801's 6-month median. That overlap is why lodging the 445 early matters. Check live figures on RACC's visa processing times page and the partner visa processing time guide.
What happens if the permanent visa is decided before the child is added?
Home Affairs says you cannot add any family members after it grants the permanent Partner visa. It also says the 445 holder must be added before it makes a decision on the permanent application.
The 445 lasts only until Home Affairs decides the parent's permanent application. A child who is not added by then may be left without a valid pathway, as Form 1002 warns.
If your child is not yet on a 445, speak to a registered migration agent about the timing before you lodge.
What if the parent's relationship ends or the sponsor dies?
Home Affairs says the parent might still be eligible for the permanent visa if the relationship ends or the sponsor dies before the grant. It also says it may help applicants experiencing domestic and family violence.
These cases need individual advice. See RACC's partner visa requirements guide.
What does the permanent Partner visa give?
Home Affairs says the 801 lets the holder:
live, work and study in Australia
access Medicare
sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia
travel to and from Australia for 5 years from the grant
apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible
After the initial 5-year travel facility, a Resident Return visa is needed to re-enter as a permanent resident. For citizenship rules, see RACC's pathway to Australian citizenship guide.
What does the 445 to PR pathway cost?
Item | Cost |
445 visa, main applicant | AUD 4,040 |
445, each additional applicant aged 18 or over | AUD 2,020 |
445, each additional applicant under 18 | AUD 1,015 |
Form 1002 | No visa application charge |
Permanent Partner visa (801 or 100) | Paid when the parent lodged the temporary and permanent visas |
Health and police checks | Extra, paid separately |
The 445 figures come from Home Affairs' Visa Pricing Estimator, checked on 13 November 2026. A lower cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens from 1 July 2026. See the 445 cost section for details.
Use RACC's visa fee calculator and partner visa cost guide to plan the parent's costs.
Common mistakes to avoid
Waiting until the permanent visa is almost decided before applying for the 445
Forgetting that an 801 pathway needs the child in Australia when added
Receiving the 445 but not attaching Form 1002 to the permanent application
Not telling Home Affairs after attaching the form in ImmiAccount
Assuming family members can be added after the permanent visa is granted
Leaving out a residential address on Form 1002
Ignoring the repeat health and character checks
Frequently asked questions
Does a 445 visa lead to PR?
Not on its own. The child gets PR by being added to the parent's permanent Partner visa application, using Form 1002. That application is the 801 for a parent on an 820, or the 100 for a parent on a 309.
Can a 445 child be outside Australia when added to the permanent visa?
It depends on the permanent visa. Home Affairs says the child can be in or outside Australia for the 100, but must be in Australia for the 801.
Is there a fee to add the child with Form 1002?
No. Form 1002 states there is no visa application charge. The child still pays the 445 visa charge, and health and police checks cost extra.
How long after the 445 does the child wait for PR?
The 445 does not set a PR date. Home Affairs assesses the parent for the permanent visa 2 years after they applied for the temporary and permanent visas. Its guide then shows 50% of 801 applications processed in 6 months and 90% in 19 months from that point.
Can an 18-year-old on a 445 get PR through the parent's 801?
The 445 allows a child over 18 who is financially dependent on the parent. Each person aged 18 or over must sign the Australian values statement on Form 1002, and the child must still be assessed against the permanent visa requirements.
Can I avoid the 445 by including the child in the original application?
Yes. Home Affairs says you can include a dependent child in your application when you apply for the temporary 820. The 445 is for a child who was not included.
Talk to a registered migration agent
The 445 to PR pathway depends on timing. A missed step before the permanent visa is decided cannot be undone.
RACC's registered migration agents (MARN 1572961 and MARN 1172003) can check where your family sits, lodge the 445 and add your child to the permanent application.
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