Subsequent Entrant Visa Australia: Meaning and Which Visas Allow It
Updated: Oct 9
Updated: 9 October 2026
A subsequent entrant is a family member who applies to join a visa holder after that person's visa has been granted. The family member lodges their own application, separate from the main applicant's.
Only some Australian visas have a subsequent entrant option. Each visa sets its own rules, so check the visa's own page before you plan.
Key takeaways
A subsequent entrant applies after the main visa is granted. This is different from including family at lodgement or adding them before a decision.
As at 9 October 2026, Home Affairs lists a subsequent entrant option for the 482, 494, 491 and 485 visas.
The Student visa (subclass 500) subsequent entrant option ended on 2 October 2026.
The 189 and 190 visas do not use a subsequent entrant option. Family must be included before Home Affairs decides the application.
The government has announced similar family restrictions for the 485 visa. No law or start date has been published yet.
What does subsequent entrant mean?
Subsequent entrant means a family member who joins the main visa holder later, through a separate application made after the main visa is granted.
There are three ways a family member can come onto someone's visa. They work differently:
Included at lodgement. The family member is part of the main application from the start.
Added before the decision. Some visas let you add family members after you apply, but before Home Affairs decides.
Subsequent entrant. The family member applies after the main visa is granted. Only some visas allow this.
Whether a visa offers each option depends on the visa. Home Affairs explains this in the "Include family" section of each visa page.
Which visas allow subsequent entrants?
The list below covers common visas, checked against Home Affairs visa pages on 9 October 2026.
Visas with a subsequent entrant option
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482). Home Affairs lists a Subsequent entrant stream for family members of subclass 457 and 482 holders. Full details: 482 visa subsequent entrant.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494). Home Affairs lists a Subsequent entrant stream for members of the family unit of a 494 holder. Full details: 494 subsequent entrant stream.
Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491). Home Affairs lists a Subsequent entrant option for a member of the family unit of a person who holds a 491 as the primary visa holder.
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). Family members can apply as subsequent entrants after the 485 is granted, from inside or outside Australia. Full details: 485 subsequent entrant visa.
Visas where the subsequent entrant option has ended
Student visa (subclass 500). From 2 October 2026, the Student visa page states that family members cannot apply as a subsequent entrant in any circumstance. Most new Student visa applicants also cannot include family members unless an exemption applies. See our Student visa guide for the current rules.
Visas without a subsequent entrant option
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190). You can include family when you lodge, or add them after you lodge but before Home Affairs decides. Home Affairs does not list a subsequent entrant option on either page.
Partner visa (subclass 820). You can include a dependent child when you lodge, or add the child after lodgement but before Home Affairs decides on the temporary visa.
For any visa not listed here, read the "Include family" section on its Home Affairs page before you lodge.
Announced change for 485 family members
The 485 subsequent entrant option is still open, but the government has announced a change.
On 2 October 2026, Assistant Minister Julian Hill's media release said similar restrictions to the new Student visa family rules 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.
As at 9 October 2026:
No regulation or start date for the 485 change has been published.
The Home Affairs 485 pages still say family members can apply as subsequent entrants after grant.
We track the detail on our 485 subsequent entrant page.
Who counts as a family member for a subsequent entrant visa?
A subsequent entrant must be a member of the main visa holder's family unit.
For most visas, this covers:
a spouse or de facto partner
dependent children, with extra dependency evidence for children aged 18 or over
Each visa sets its own relationship evidence and age rules. For example, the 485 requires de facto partners to show at least 12 months together, or a relationship registered in a participating Australian state or territory.
Check the visa's own Home Affairs page for the exact definition that applies.
How do you apply as a subsequent entrant?
You apply through the subsequent entrant option for the specific visa, not through a general form.
For the 485, Home Affairs states that subsequent entrants apply online in ImmiAccount. Each other visa's page explains how to lodge.
Before you lodge:
Confirm the main visa holder's visa has been granted and is still in effect.
Read the subsequent entrant requirements on that visa's Home Affairs page.
Prepare relationship evidence, identity documents and any health and character documents the visa requires.
Check the charge in the Home Affairs visa pricing table. For the 485, subsequent entrants pay the full charge, not the lower family-member rate.
Some visas add extra steps. For example, an employer-sponsored visa may need the sponsor's involvement. The visa-specific pages linked above explain these steps.
Frequently asked questions
What is a subsequent entrant visa?
A subsequent entrant visa is a visa granted to a family member who applies to join the main visa holder after the main visa has been granted. Only some Australian visas offer this option.
Can I add family to a Student visa after it is granted?
No. From 2 October 2026, Home Affairs states that family members of Student visa holders cannot apply as subsequent entrants in any circumstance.
Can I add my partner to my 189 or 190 visa after grant?
Home Affairs does not list a subsequent entrant option for the 189 or 190. You can include family members when you lodge, or add them after lodging but before Home Affairs decides.
Is the 485 subsequent entrant option ending?
The government has announced similar restrictions for Temporary Graduate visas. As at 9 October 2026, no law or start date has been published, and Home Affairs still accepts 485 subsequent entrant applications.
Is a subsequent entrant the same as a dependent visa?
A subsequent entrant holds the same visa subclass as the main holder, as a family member. The difference from other secondary applicants is timing: a subsequent entrant applies after the main visa is granted.
Get advice before you lodge
Rules for adding family differ by visa, and some have changed in 2026.
RACC's registered migration agents (MARN 1572961, MARN 1172003) can check whether your family member can join you, and when to apply.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Check the Home Affairs pages linked above before you lodge.
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