482 Subsequent Entrant
Priya was granted her Skills in Demand visa in March. She flew to Melbourne alone, started work, and three months later married her partner back home. Six months after that, the couple had a baby on the way. Nobody had told her that none of this could simply be added to her existing visa. Her husband needed his own application, and so did the baby. That application has a name: the 482 subsequent entrant.
If you hold a 482 visa and your family has grown or changed since the day it was granted, this guide is for you. It covers who counts as a subsequent entrant, who does not, what the sponsor must do, what it costs, which documents matter, and the practical situations that catch people out. It focuses only on this one topic, so you will not find a general explanation of the 482 visa here. For that, see our Subclass 482 visa page.
Quick Orientation: What Is a 482 Subsequent Entrant?
A 482 subsequent entrant is a family member who applies for their own 482 visa after the primary visa holder has already been granted, or after the primary application has been lodged. The word “subsequent” simply means “later”. The family member did not travel on the original application, so they lodge a separate one that is linked to the primary holder’s visa.
Two points make this different from adding someone on day one:
- The subsequent entrant does not need a skills assessment, an occupation on a list, or an English test of their own. Their application rides on the primary holder’s visa and the sponsor’s nomination.
- The application is separate, so it carries its own fee, its own forms, its own health and character checks, and its own decision.
Home Affairs describes this visa as being for family members who apply separately to join a primary 457 or 482 holder in Australia. The official description sits on the Home Affairs subsequent entrant page for the Skills in Demand visa.
Subsequent Entrant Versus Being Included From the Start
Many people confuse these two routes, so it helps to separate them clearly.
Included from the start. When the primary applicant lodges the 482 application, they list their partner and children as members of the family unit. Everyone is assessed together and the family is granted at the same time. These family members pay their own visa application charge but do not need a separate application later.
Subsequent entrant. The family member is added after the primary application has already been lodged and, in most real cases, after it has been granted. They lodge their own application, usually through ImmiAccount, and attach evidence of the relationship, the sponsor’s consent and their own health and character documents.
The practical consequence is timing. A spouse who joins at the start moves with you. A subsequent entrant waits for their own decision, and the primary holder cannot assume the process will be quick just because the original visa was.
Who Can Apply as a 482 Subsequent Entrant
The category is limited to a member of the family unit of the primary 482 holder. In everyday terms, that means:
- A spouse. Legally married to the primary holder.
- A de facto partner. In a genuine, ongoing relationship that satisfies the rules on de facto relationships, which includes opposite sex and same sex couples.
- A dependent child under 18. Includes a biological child, an adopted child, and a stepchild, in each case subject to the custody and consent rules covered below.
- A dependent child aged 18 or over. Generally only if they remain financially dependent on the family unit. Home Affairs normally looks for evidence of dependency over a sustained period, and the definition tightens for older adult children. Check the current rules with an agent before you rely on this route for an adult child.
Who is not eligible: parents, siblings, grandparents, cousins and other extended relatives. A 482 visa does not allow you to bring them as family members. They would need to use a visitor visa or a different pathway entirely.
The relationship must be genuine. Home Affairs is not interested in whether you are legally married alone. It looks for a real, continuing relationship supported by evidence.
Five Real Situations and How Each One Works
The rules are easier to understand through the situations people actually face.
1. You married or started a relationship after your 482 was granted
This is the most common case. Your new spouse or de facto partner can apply as a subsequent entrant. The relationship must be genuine, and you will need to document it. A marriage certificate is the cleanest proof for a spouse. For a de facto partner, the evidence is wider: shared finances, shared address, joint commitments, photographs over time, travel together and statements from friends and family.
A relationship that began after your visa was granted is treated the same way as any other. There is no rule against a partner you met in Australia, or one you met overseas after your grant.
2. Your partner stayed overseas and now wants to join you
Say you went ahead to Australia while your partner stayed home to finish a contract, sell a house or care for a family member. They can still apply as a subsequent entrant from overseas. This is a very normal pattern and does not count against the application.
What matters is that the relationship has continued. Keep records of regular contact, visits and money sent, because the gap between arrivals can invite questions.
3. A baby is born or adopted after the grant
A child born to the primary holder or their partner after the visa grant is a member of the family unit. How the child ends up with a visa depends on the facts, including where the child is born and what visa the parents held on the birth date. In many cases the family lodges a subsequent entrant application for the child, supported by the birth certificate.
Do not leave this until the baby is already several months old. A child born in Australia to temporary visa holders is not automatically an Australian citizen, so you should deal with the child’s visa status soon after birth and ask your migration agent to confirm the correct form of application for your circumstances. Do not assume this happens on its own.
4. A child stayed in your home country and now moves to Australia
Perhaps your teenage child finished the school year overseas, or lived with grandparents while you settled. They can apply as a subsequent entrant provided they are a dependent child of the family unit.
If the other parent is not coming to Australia, Home Affairs expects proof that the move is allowed. Expect to provide a consent form or statutory declaration from the non travelling parent or the person with legal custody. A child cannot simply be relocated across the world on one parent’s say so, and a missing consent is one of the most frequent reasons for delays in this type of case.
5. You have a stepchild or a child from a previous relationship
A stepchild can qualify as a member of your family unit, but the other biological parent usually needs to agree in writing if they have custody or contact rights. Court orders, parenting arrangements and signed consent should be gathered before lodging.
Sponsor Consent: The Step Many Applicants Forget
A subsequent entrant application depends on the primary holder’s employer. The sponsor must agree in writing that the family member can be included. In practice this is a letter extending the nomination to cover the person joining.
This matters for three reasons:
- Home Affairs links the family member to the nomination, so the nomination itself must still be approved and current.
- If the sponsor is unhelpful or disappears, your family member’s application stalls.
- An employer who has just hired you may not know this step exists, so you may need to explain it.
If the sponsor has changed since your visa was granted, the sponsor consent must come from the sponsor with the most recent approved nomination for you. That detail is easy to miss after a job change.
Many sponsors are happy to provide this letter without fuss. Ask for it early, before you have made travel plans for your family.
Documents You Should Prepare
Every case is different, but a typical subsequent entrant file contains the following.
For every applicant
- A valid passport
- Evidence of any name change
- Adequate health insurance arranged for the stay in Australia
- The sponsor’s letter confirming inclusion on the nomination
For a partner
- A marriage certificate, or evidence of a de facto relationship
- Evidence that the relationship is genuine and continuing
For a child
- A birth certificate showing the parents
- A consent form, statutory declaration or court order where a parent or custodian is not travelling
For a dependent aged 18 or over
- Form 47a (Details of child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over)
- Proof of the relationship
- Proof of financial dependency on the family unit
For character
- Police certificates from countries where the applicant has lived for a set period, and military records where they apply
- Some accredited sponsors can help reduce the burden on overseas police certificates through a reference letter
For translations
- Documents not in English need accurate English translations, and translators in Australia are expected to hold accreditation with the national translation authority (NAATI)
Collect these before you open the form. Missing documents are the main reason a straightforward case becomes a slow one.
How Much Does a 482 Subsequent Entrant Visa Cost?
Fees are set by the Australian Government and change from time to time, so always check the current figure before you lodge. At the latest fee schedule we reviewed, the visa application charge is:
| Applicant | Charge (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Subsequent entrant aged 18 or over | $4,015 |
| Subsequent entrant under 18 | $1,005 |
A few details matter here:
- Each person pays their own charge. A family cannot pay one amount for everyone.
- Fees are generally not refunded if the application is refused.
- Medical examinations, police certificates, biometrics, translations and any courier or agent costs sit on top of the visa application charge.
- A lower charge may apply to family members of primary holders who hold a passport from certain Pacific Island countries or Timor Leste. Confirm eligibility with Home Affairs or an agent.
A worked example
Imagine Daniel holds a 482 visa. His wife and two young children want to join him after his grant.
- Wife (adult): $4,015
- Child one: $1,005
- Child two: $1,005
- Total visa application charges: $6,025
Add health checks, police certificates and document costs, and a realistic budget for a family of three joining later can sit well above the headline figure. Plan for the extras rather than just the government charge.
Health, Character and Insurance Requirements
Subsequent entrants are not exempt from the basic checks that apply to every visa applicant.
Health. Applicants are normally expected to complete health examinations with an approved panel physician, depending on their circumstances and the countries they have lived in. Some children and partners with particular health needs may face extra scrutiny. If a family member has a significant medical condition, discuss it with an agent before you lodge.
Character. Adults usually provide police certificates. Anyone with a criminal history, a past visa refusal or cancellation, or an immigration problem should get advice first.
Health insurance. Home Affairs expects adequate health insurance for the whole stay. This links to visa condition 8501, which requires maintaining adequate health insurance while in Australia. It is a condition on the visa, not just a suggestion, so keep the policy active.
Processing Time: What to Expect
Home Affairs does not publish a separate processing time for subsequent entrants. Timing instead follows the way 482 applications in general are prioritised, which is by lodgement date and sector. That means your family member’s application sits in the wider queue.
Several factors speed things up or slow them down:
- Whether the application is complete on the day it is lodged
- How quickly you respond to any request for further information
- Health and police clearances, which can take weeks to arrange
- The strength of the evidence of the relationship or the dependency
The honest planning advice is simple. Lodge early, lodge complete, and do not buy non refundable flights until you know where the application stands. You can check the current published timeframes on the Home Affairs processing times tool.
Work and Study Rights for a Subsequent Entrant
This is one of the best features of the 482 subsequent entrant visa.
- Work. A subsequent entrant can generally work for any employer, in any occupation, with no limit on hours. The work restriction that ties the primary holder to the sponsor does not apply to a family member.
- Study. A subsequent entrant can study in Australia. Government fee assistance is not available, and children may still need to follow school enrolment rules that vary by state.
- Travel. Multiple entries are permitted while the visa remains valid.
This makes a family member’s visa genuinely useful. A partner who is a nurse, electrician or accountant can start looking for work as soon as the visa is in effect, which can ease the household budget considerably.
Check the conditions printed on your own visa grant notice. Rules and conditions can change, and the notice is the document that counts.
How Long Does the Visa Last?
The family member’s visa is tied to the primary visa. In simple terms, it stays valid for as long as the primary holder’s visa remains valid, up to the family member’s own visa end date.
That link has real consequences:
- If the primary holder’s visa ends, the family members lose their basis for staying, unless they have another visa option.
- If the primary holder changes employer, a new nomination is needed, and the family members need to be covered. Talk to an agent before the change, not after.
- If the relationship ends, a subsequent entrant partner’s position can be affected. The visa was granted on the basis of the relationship, so do not ignore this.
Subsequent Entrants and the Path to Permanent Residence
Many 482 families want to move on to permanent residence. The key point here is that family members generally travel with the primary applicant on the pathway visa, such as the Subclass 186 visa. A partner and children who held 482 visas can usually be included in the 186 application as members of the family unit.
The reverse also matters. Children born after the primary’s 482 grant can often be included in later permanent residence applications, provided they remain part of the family unit and meet the requirements at the time of the decision.
If your family member is already in Australia and has other options, such as studying or graduating, they might also consider the Subclass 500 student visa or the Subclass 485 graduate visa as an independent plan. Those options change the picture, so compare them before you decide.
Common Mistakes That Cause Delays or Refusals
- Assuming a partner can simply be added to an existing visa. Once the primary has been granted, a new application is required.
- Forgetting sponsor consent. The letter must come from the right sponsor and should cover the person joining.
- Poor evidence of a de facto relationship. A couple living together for a short time without records is a weak case.
- Missing custody consent for a child. One signature may not be enough.
- Letting health insurance lapse. This breaches a visa condition.
- Ignoring a new baby. Leaving the child’s visa status unresolved creates avoidable risk.
- Relying on old information. Fees, rules and forms change, so check them before every lodgement.
- Not telling Home Affairs about changes. If your circumstances change, such as a birth, separation or change of address, report it as required.
Should You Use a Migration Agent?
A simple case, such as a spouse with a marriage certificate and a supportive sponsor, is something many people can lodge themselves. But the decision shifts when the case has any complication: a stepchild, an adult dependent, a recent job change, a prior refusal, a health issue, or a relationship with limited documents.
A registered migration agent can check the nomination, plan the timing, prepare the evidence and protect you from the mistakes listed above. We are a registered migration agency, MARN 2518961, and we help 482 families regularly.
Quick Answer
A 482 subsequent entrant is a spouse, de facto partner or dependent child who applies for their own 482 visa after the primary holder’s visa has been granted or lodged. They need the sponsor’s written consent, proof of the relationship or dependency, health and character checks, and their own visa application charge, which is $4,015 for an adult and $1,005 for a child under 18 at the latest schedule we reviewed. They can work and study in Australia and their visa remains linked to the primary holder’s visa.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does 482 subsequent entrant mean? It describes a family member who applies for a 482 visa after the primary holder has already lodged or been granted, rather than being included on the original application.
2. Can my wife join me after my 482 visa is granted? Yes. A spouse can apply as a subsequent entrant, provided the marriage is genuine and the sponsor gives written consent.
3. Can my de facto partner apply as a subsequent entrant? Yes, if the de facto relationship meets the legal definition and you can show it is genuine and continuing with proper evidence.
4. Can my parents or siblings come as subsequent entrants? No. The category covers only members of the family unit, which means a partner and dependent children. Parents and siblings need another visa pathway.
5. What about a baby born after my 482 grant? The baby is a member of the family unit. The exact process depends on the facts, but you should address the child’s visa status soon after birth and confirm the right application with a migration agent.
6. Does the sponsor need to agree? Yes. The sponsor with your most recent approved nomination normally needs to provide written consent to include the family member.
7. How much does it cost? At the latest schedule we reviewed, $4,015 for an applicant aged 18 or over and $1,005 for an applicant under 18, plus other costs such as medicals and police certificates. Check the current fee before you lodge.
8. Can a subsequent entrant work in Australia? Generally yes, for any employer and with no limit on hours. The sponsor restriction on the primary holder does not apply to the family member.
9. Can a subsequent entrant study? Yes, but without government fee assistance. School enrolment rules for children vary by state.
10. How long does a subsequent entrant application take? There is no separate published timeframe. It follows the general 482 queue and depends on the completeness of your file, your response times and the checks required.
11. What happens if I change employer? Your new sponsor needs to lodge a nomination, and your family members must be covered. Speak to an agent before you resign.
12. Can my family be included when I apply for permanent residence? Generally yes. Partners and dependent children can normally be included in a pathway application such as the Subclass 186, subject to meeting the requirements at the time.
13. Can I add a child who is over 18? Possibly, if they are financially dependent on the family unit and satisfy the rules for older dependants. The definition is stricter for older children, so get advice first.
14. Do subsequent entrants need to meet English requirements? Generally not in the way the primary applicant does. Confirm the specific requirement for your case.
Key Takeaways
- A 482 subsequent entrant lodges a separate application after the primary holder is granted or lodged.
- Only a partner and dependent children qualify. Parents and siblings do not.
- Sponsor consent is a core requirement and must come from the correct sponsor.
- Each family member pays their own visa application charge.
- Subsequent entrants can usually work and study in Australia.
- The visa stays linked to the primary holder, so job changes and relationship changes matter.
- Documents, custody consent and relationship evidence decide most outcomes.
- Always check current fees and rules on the official Home Affairs pages before lodging.
Conclusion
Joining a family member on a 482 visa is rarely complicated in principle, but it is unforgiving in the details. The sponsor letter, the relationship evidence, the custody consent for children and the timing of a new baby can each turn a smooth application into a slow one. Prepare early, document everything and keep the primary holder’s own visa and employment in good order, because your family’s visa depends on it.
If your family has changed since your 482 was granted, we can check your position, prepare the application and tell you honestly what to expect.
Next Step
Book a consultation with Migration Republic (MARN 2518961), or contact us with your visa details and your family’s situation.
