Updated Guide | Skills in Demand Family Visa
A practical guide for partners and dependent children applying later to join a subclass 482 or eligible subclass 457 visa holder in Australia.
A 482 subsequent entrant visa allows an eligible family member to apply separately after the primary worker’s visa application has been decided. It is commonly used when a spouse or child was not included originally, could not travel at the same time, or became part of the family after the primary Skills in Demand visa was lodged or granted.
Current government fee from 1 July 2026: AUD 4,015 for the main subsequent-entrant applicant and for each additional applicant aged 18 or over; AUD 1,005 for each additional applicant under 18. Other costs can apply.
The family application is linked to the primary holder’s employer-sponsored visa, but the family member does not need a nominated occupation or skills assessment merely because they apply as a dependant. The employer’s written agreement, the primary nomination and strong family evidence are central. For the main worker pathway, see VEM’s Skills in Demand visa subclass 482 guide.
What is a 482 visa subsequent entrant?
The Skills in Demand visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa for new primary applications in December 2024, while subclass 482 remains the visa number. Home Affairs describes the subsequent-entrant option as being for family members of subclass 457 and subclass 482 visa holders who want to join the primary holder in Australia.
Separate application
The family member lodges a new online application linked to the primary holder after the earlier application has been finalised.
Same temporary pathway
The dependant receives a subclass 482 visa connected to the primary worker’s approved employment and visa period.
Individual grant
Every family member must follow the dates and conditions printed on their own grant notice and shown in VEVO.
A subsequent entrant is different from adding a family member to a still-pending application. If the primary application has not been decided, update it through ImmiAccount and follow Home Affairs instructions rather than assuming a separate subsequent-entrant form is required.
Who can apply as a 482 subsequent entrant?
The applicant must be a member of the primary holder’s family unit and must meet the definition at the relevant time. The usual applicants are:
Spouse
A legally married partner in a genuine and continuing relationship. A marriage certificate should be supported by evidence of shared life.
De facto partner
A partner who satisfies the applicable de facto definition and duration rule, unless a recognised exception applies.
Dependent child
Usually a child under 18, or an eligible older child who remains dependent under the migration definition. Age, study, marital status and financial dependence can matter.
Dependent child with disability
An older child may qualify where a physical or cognitive limitation means they cannot earn a living and remain dependent, subject to the legal criteria.
Parents and siblings are not dependants for this application
The member-of-family-unit definition for this pathway does not ordinarily include a parent, brother or sister. They need to consider a visa in their own right.
A 482 family application remains connected to the approved business sponsor and the primary worker’s nomination. Home Affairs requires evidence that the sponsor agrees in writing to include the applicant as a family member in the nomination. In practice, obtain a signed letter on business letterhead identifying the sponsor, primary worker and proposed family applicants.
1. Confirm the primary visa remains in effect
Check the subclass, stream, sponsor, nominated position and expiry date. A family application cannot create a longer employment approval for the primary worker.
2. Ask the sponsor for written agreement
The letter should clearly support the named partner or children joining the primary holder. Attach the relevant sponsorship and nomination information available to the family.
3. Confirm whether any employer-side action is needed
A family member does not need a separate nominated occupation. Do not automatically pay a new nomination fee or SAF levy; the sponsor or migration professional should confirm the correct employer-side step for the existing approval.
482 subsequent entrant visa requirements
- Primary visa link: identify the primary 457 or 482 holder, their visa grant, sponsor and nomination.
- Family-unit membership: prove a genuine spouse or de facto relationship, or the child’s qualifying relationship and dependency.
- Sponsor agreement: provide written consent for the applicant to be included as a family member in the nomination context.
- Health insurance: arrange adequate cover for the intended stay unless an accepted reciprocal arrangement applies.
- Health and character: complete examinations, biometrics and police certificates if requested or required.
- Immigration history: disclose previous refusals, cancellations and visa breaches accurately.
- Australian Government debts: repay or arrange repayment of applicable debts.
- Valid lodgement: check location, current visa, bridging-visa consequences and any condition preventing an onshore application.
A partner applying later should explain when the relationship started and why they were not included initially. If the relationship already existed but was omitted from the primary forms, reconcile the record carefully rather than leaving the inconsistency unexplained.
482 subsequent entrant document checklist
Identity
Passport, birth certificate, national identity documents, photographs and name-change evidence.
Primary 482 evidence
Primary holder’s passport, visa grant, VEVO record, nomination approval and employment details.
Sponsor support
Written employer agreement on business letterhead and supporting sponsor or nomination references.
Partner relationship
Marriage record plus joint finances, household, social recognition and commitment; or equivalent de facto evidence.
Children
Birth, custody, consent and dependency documents, including Form 1229 where applicable.
Health and character
Insurance certificate, medical or HAP details, police certificates, biometrics and service records where relevant.
Upload clear colour scans and English translations with the translator details required by Home Affairs. Organise relationship material by category and date. A short chronology can help explain periods of separation, different addresses, limited joint finances or a recent marriage.
How to apply for a subsequent entrant 482 visa
Step 1. Review the primary case
Confirm the visa stream, sponsor, nomination, remaining validity and what was declared about family members.
Step 2. Obtain sponsor consent
Ask the employer for a signed letter agreeing to the named applicants being included as family members.
Step 3. Confirm eligibility and location
Assess the relationship, child dependency, current visa conditions and whether the applicant can lodge from their location.
Step 4. Arrange insurance and evidence
Buy suitable 482 health cover and prepare identity, relationship, sponsor, health and character documents.
Step 5. Lodge in ImmiAccount
Choose the Skills in Demand subsequent-entrant application, enter the primary holder’s details accurately, upload evidence and pay the displayed charge.
Step 6. Complete post-lodgement requests
Monitor ImmiAccount for health, biometrics, police or further-information requests and update material changes promptly.
Step 7. Check the grant before travel
Read the first-entry date, visa expiry and conditions. Check VEVO and do not book irreversible travel until the visa is granted.
482 subsequent entrant visa fee in 2026
For applications received from 1 July 2026, Home Affairs lists the following government Visa Application Charges for the 482 subsequent-entrant pathway:
Main applicant
AUD 4,015
Usually the partner or child lodging the separate subsequent-entrant application.
Each additional applicant 18+
AUD 4,015
Applied to each additional adult included in the same application.
Each additional applicant under 18
AUD 1,005
Applied to each dependent child under 18 included with the main applicant.
Example government charges
- One partner applying alone: AUD 4,015.
- One partner plus one child under 18: AUD 5,020.
- One partner plus two children under 18: AUD 6,025.
Also budget for health insurance, medical examinations, police clearances, biometrics, translations, certifications, professional advice and payment surcharges. A subsequent temporary application charge may apply to some onshore applicants depending on their visa history. Passport-based concessions can apply in limited circumstances, so use the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator immediately before lodgement.
Do not add the primary worker’s employer costs again
The sponsorship application charge, nomination charge and SAF levy relate to employer-side processes. They are not automatically new government charges for each family member. Confirm the sponsor’s required action before budgeting.
482 subsequent entrant processing time
Home Affairs does not publish a guaranteed personal decision date for every subsequent-entrant case. Migration websites commonly report outcomes around 30–47 days or four to eight weeks, while other cases take several months. These observations are not official promises.
Sponsor evidence
Missing written agreement or unclear nomination links can trigger further enquiries.
Relationship assessment
Recent, long-distance or inconsistent relationships may require closer review.
External checks
Health, police, biometrics, document verification and caseload affect timing.
Submit a decision-ready application and respond promptly, but do not resign, end another visa or buy non-refundable travel based on a blog’s estimate. See VEM’s Australian visa processing-times guide.
Work, study, travel and visa conditions
A granted 482 family member can generally live, work and study in Australia for the visa period and travel while the visa remains valid. Secondary applicants are generally not tied to the primary worker’s nominated occupation or employer, but every holder must check their own grant letter and VEVO before starting work.
Key practical limits
Temporary visa onlyMaintain health coverCheck individual VEVONo automatic public study funding
PR Pathway after a 482 subsequent entrant visa
A 482 subsequent entrant visa is not permanent residence and does not create an independent automatic PR entitlement. However, a family member may be included as a secondary applicant in a later permanent visa application if the primary worker qualifies and the family member continues to meet the relevant relationship, health, character and other criteria.
Subclass 186 TRT
The common employer-sponsored pathway is the Employer Nomination Scheme Temporary Residence Transition stream when the primary worker, employer and position meet current rules.
Other skilled pathways
The primary holder or partner may separately qualify for a points-tested, state-nominated, regional or other employer-sponsored visa.
Independent partner options
If the dependant has their own skilled occupation, employer or eligible partner relationship, a separate pathway may be more suitable.
For the subclass 186 TRT pathway, the primary worker generally needs an eligible employer nomination and must satisfy the work-experience and other requirements in force when applying. The family member’s time on a 482 does not replace the primary worker’s eligibility. Compare VEM’s Employer Nomination Scheme visa 186 guide and Australian PR pathway overview.
Common mistakes to avoid
- No sponsor letter: lodging without clear written employer agreement.
- Wrong applicant charge: treating an adult partner as an under-18 dependant or using an outdated fee.
- Weak relationship chronology: relying on a marriage certificate without evidence of a shared life.
- Ignoring the original declaration: failing to explain why an existing family member was omitted earlier.
- Unsuitable insurance: buying a product without confirming adequate 482 cover.
- Assuming instant work rights: working before grant or without checking individual conditions.
- Treating 482 as guaranteed PR: making long-term plans without separately assessing the primary worker’s permanent pathway.
Planning to reunite your family?
Bring the primary visa grant, nomination details, sponsor letter and relationship chronology for a case-specific review.
Contact VEM Visa
482 subsequent entrant visa FAQs
Who can apply for a 482 subsequent entrant visa?
An eligible spouse, de facto partner or dependent child of a primary subclass 482 or eligible 457 holder may apply. They must meet the family-unit, sponsor, health, character and other applicable criteria.
Does the employer need to approve the family application?
Yes. Home Affairs requires evidence that the sponsor agrees in writing to the applicant being included as a family member in the nomination context. Obtain a clear letter before lodging.
Can a 482 subsequent entrant work for any employer?
Secondary 482 holders generally have unrestricted work rights and are not tied to the primary holder’s nominated occupation. The individual grant notice and VEVO record remain decisive.
How long does a 482 subsequent entrant take?
There is no guaranteed timeframe. Industry reports often mention 30–47 days or four to eight weeks, but sponsor evidence, relationship assessment, health, character, verification and caseload can make a case shorter or much longer.
Does a subsequent entrant need health insurance?
Adequate health insurance is generally required for the intended stay unless an accepted reciprocal health arrangement applies. Confirm the product covers the named family members and intended dates.
Is a 482 subsequent entrant visa a PR pathway?
It is a temporary visa, not PR. A family member may later be included in a subclass 186 or another permanent application if the primary applicant qualifies and the family member meets the criteria at that time.
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