Australia Work Dependent Visa (482/485)

The Australia Work Dependent Visa allows the spouse, de facto partner, and dependent children under 23 of a Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) or Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) visa holder to join them in Australia as secondary applicants. Secondary applicants can live, work in any sector, and study at any registered institution in Australia for the full duration of the primary applicant's visa grant. There is no separate work permit required — full work rights are granted automatically upon visa approval. The visa validity is identical to the primary applicant's visa grant period.

Eligible secondary applicants include: (1) a legally married spouse in a valid marriage recognised under Australian law; (2) a de facto partner in a genuine, exclusive relationship of at least 12 months prior to the date of application, with documented evidence of cohabitation; (3) dependent children under 23 years of age — biological, adopted, or step-children; and (4) children aged 23 and above who are unable to work due to a recognised disability. Parents, siblings, and non-dependent adult children of the primary visa holder are not eligible as secondary applicants under the 482 or 485 visa routes.

Any primary applicant who holds or is applying for a Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa — in the Short-term, Medium-term, or Labour Agreement stream — may include secondary applicants. Similarly, any holder or applicant for a Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) visa — in the Graduate Work stream or Post-Study Work stream — may include secondary applicants. The primary applicant must have a valid employer sponsorship (for 482) or a qualifying Australian qualification (for 485). Importantly, there are no course-level restrictions on which primary applicants can bring dependants (unlike the UK Student Dependent Visa, which restricts undergraduate students).

The Visa Application Charge (VAC) for an adult secondary applicant (18 years and above) under Subclass 482 is AUD 3,115. For a child under 18 as a secondary applicant on the 482 visa, the charge is AUD 780. For a Subclass 485 adult secondary applicant, the VAC is AUD 1,730 (AUD 435 for a child under 18). The Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy — which ranges from AUD 1,200 to AUD 1,800 per year — is paid entirely by the sponsoring employer and is not borne by the applicant or the secondary applicant. Additional costs include health examinations (AUD 300–500 per person), private health insurance for the full visa duration, and NAATI-certified translation fees for non-English documents.

Processing times from India vary depending on the visa subclass and caseload. For Subclass 482 secondary applicants, the median processing time is approximately 3–5 months from the date of lodgement. For Subclass 485 secondary applicants, the median processing time is approximately 3–7 months. Unlike the UK's Priority Visa service, Australia's Department of Home Affairs does not offer a standard paid priority service for 482 or 485 secondary applicant applications. The most effective way to minimise processing time is to ensure all documents — including health examinations, police clearances, and NAATI-certified translations — are complete and correctly certified at the time of lodgement, reducing the likelihood of a Request for Further Information (RFI).

Yes — fully and without restriction. Secondary applicants on both Subclass 482 and Subclass 485 visas are granted full, unrestricted work rights in Australia from the date of visa grant. They can work full-time, part-time, casually, or as self-employed (sole trader) for any Australian employer, in any industry or sector, at any salary level. No employer sponsorship, Labour Market Testing (LMT), Certificate of Sponsorship, or separate work permit is required for the secondary applicant. There is no requirement to work in the same occupation or for the same employer as the primary visa holder. Secondary applicants can begin working immediately upon arrival in Australia — there is no mandatory waiting period.

There is no specific savings threshold for secondary applicants under the Subclass 482 or 485 visa (unlike the UK Student Dependent visa, which requires demonstrated monthly maintenance funds). However, the Department of Home Affairs expects the primary applicant to have the genuine financial capacity to support themselves and their family in Australia. The primary applicant's 482 salary must meet or exceed the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) — currently AUD 73,150 per year as of 2025. Bank statements for the prior 3–6 months and the primary applicant's employment contract are typically included to demonstrate settlement capacity.

Yes. De facto partners are fully eligible as secondary applicants on both the 482 and 485 visa routes. The de facto relationship must be genuine, exclusive, and have existed for at least 12 months prior to the date of application. Evidence of the de facto relationship must include proof of cohabitation at the same residential address, such as a joint lease or rental agreement, joint bank statements at the same address, joint utility bills, joint insurance policies, and a statutory declaration from the couple and supporting declarations from third parties (such as friends, colleagues, or family members) who know the couple and can attest to the relationship. Insufficient cohabitation evidence is the most common cause of delays or refusals in de facto secondary applicant cases.

Key documents for a spouse or de facto partner include: a valid passport (6+ months' validity); completed online Department of Home Affairs application via ImmiAccount; marriage certificate (apostilled with NAATI-certified English translation) or de facto cohabitation evidence (joint lease, joint bank statements, utility bills for 12+ months); police clearance certificates from all countries of residence for 12+ months since age 16 (character requirement); health examination results (HAP ID required); adequate health insurance confirmation; relationship statutory declaration; and a copy of the primary applicant's 482 or 485 visa grant letter. For children: valid passport, apostilled birth certificate with NAATI-certified translation, custody documents if applicable, and consent from the non-travelling parent. All non-English documents must be translated by a NAATI-certified translator.

A HAP ID (Health Assessment Pack Identification number) is a unique identifier issued by the Australian Department of Home Affairs' health portal (Immivisa Health Appointment Portal) that links each visa applicant to their required health examination. Every applicant — including secondary applicants — must register on the HAP portal and receive a HAP ID before booking a health examination with an approved panel physician in India. The health examination results are uploaded directly to the Department of Home Affairs from the panel physician's clinic. Panel physicians approved by the Department of Home Affairs are available in major Indian cities including Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. Health examinations must be completed within a specified validity period — typically 12 months from the date of examination.

Yes — through a clear, time-bound pathway, particularly for 482 medium-term stream holders. After the primary applicant has worked for their sponsoring employer full-time in the nominated occupation for at least 2 years, they become eligible to apply for Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme — Temporary Residence Transition stream) permanent residency. All secondary applicants are included in the same Subclass 186 PR application and are granted PR simultaneously with the primary applicant. For 482 Short-term stream holders, the direct PR pathways are more limited — families targeting Australian PR should ensure the primary applicant is on the Medium-term or Labour Agreement stream where possible. Y-Axis provides strategic immigration planning to maximise PR outcome for Indian families.

Yes. Secondary applicants on both Subclass 482 and 485 visas can enrol in full-time or part-time courses at any Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) registered education provider — including universities, TAFEs, private colleges, and English language schools — without changing their visa status. Children under 18 can attend Australian government (state) primary and secondary schools, which are generally free for visa holders in most states and territories. Secondary applicants aged 18 and above who wish to enrol in a course requiring a Student visa (Subclass 500) in its own right should confirm their visa conditions with a Y-Axis immigration adviser before enrolment. Dependants are generally not eligible for Commonwealth government student financial assistance (HECS-HELP) until they become permanent residents or citizens.

If the primary 482 visa holder changes employers, they must obtain a new Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) and nomination from the new employer and apply for a new 482 visa. Once the primary applicant's new 482 visa is granted by the Department of Home Affairs, the secondary applicants must simultaneously apply for new secondary applicant 482 visas. The secondary applicants' existing 482 visas are linked to the original nomination — once the primary applicant's visa changes, secondary applicants should apply for updated visas promptly to avoid any gap in their lawful status. Y-Axis assists families with employer change transitions and secondary visa updates.

A subsequent entrant application is made when a secondary applicant (spouse, partner, or child) wishes to join the primary applicant in Australia after the primary has already been granted the 482 or 485 visa and entered Australia. The secondary applicant applies for the same visa subclass (482 or 485) as a secondary applicant, referencing the primary applicant's existing visa via their ImmiAccount. Subsequent entrant applications follow the same document requirements and processing times as initial secondary applicant applications. This is a common scenario for Indian families where the primary applicant travels to Australia first to settle into their role before the family joins.

No. The English language requirement for the Subclass 482 visa applies only to the primary applicant — secondary applicants are not required to take an IELTS, PTE Academic, OET, or TOEFL test. Dependants do not need to demonstrate any minimum English language proficiency to obtain secondary applicant status on either the 482 or 485 visa. This is a significant advantage for Indian spouses and children who may not have taken a formal English language examination. It simplifies the application and reduces both the preparation time and the cost of the secondary applicant's visa application.

Adequate health insurance is a visa condition for most 482 and 485 secondary applicants. Indian nationals have limited access to Australia's public Medicare system under the India-Australia Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) — coverage is more restricted than, for example, UK nationals (who have a broader RHCA). It is strongly recommended that all Indian secondary applicants obtain comprehensive private health insurance or an Overseas Health Cover (OHSC) policy covering the full period of their visa. Health cover should be arranged before departing India and presented at the time of visa lodgement or arrival. Y-Axis can provide guidance on appropriate health insurance options for Australian work visa dependent families.

If the relationship between the primary 482 or 485 visa holder and the secondary applicant genuinely breaks down — through separation or divorce — the secondary applicant's visa may be affected. The Department of Home Affairs may curtail the secondary applicant's visa upon notification. Dependants in this situation should seek urgent immigration legal advice. Australia has specific provisions for victims of domestic violence — applicants who are in abusive relationships may be eligible to apply for permanent residency independently, without the cooperation of the primary visa holder, under the Partner visa Domestic Violence provisions. Y-Axis strongly advises affected applicants to contact an immigration adviser immediately.

Yes. A secondary applicant who is already in Australia on a 482 or 485 dependent visa can apply to switch to their own visa from within Australia in several ways. If they secure a qualifying job offer and employer sponsorship, they can apply for their own Subclass 482 as a primary applicant. If the primary applicant transitions to PR via Subclass 186 ENS, the secondary applicant is included in the PR grant. Alternatively, secondary applicants who qualify under the skilled migration points system can apply for Subclass 190 (State Nominated) or Subclass 491 (Skilled Regional) visas. Always apply to switch before the current visa expires to maintain lawful status in Australia.

Australian Visa Application Centres (AVACs) in India are operated by VFS Global and are located in the following cities: Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru (Bangalore), Kolkata, Chandigarh, Pune, and Ahmedabad. Applicants who receive a biometrics request from the Department of Home Affairs must attend their nearest AVAC to provide fingerprints and a photograph. Not all 482 or 485 secondary applicants are required to provide biometrics — the requirement depends on the applicant's nationality, age, and travel history. AVAC appointment availability in major Indian cities has improved significantly in 2025 compared to the 2022–23 backlog period.

The Skills in Demand (SID) visa is the new employer-sponsored work visa being progressively introduced by the Australian government to replace the existing Subclass 482 (TSS) visa from late 2025. The SID visa will operate under three streams: the Specialist Skills stream, the Core Skills stream, and the Essential Skills stream. Secondary applicant rights — including full unrestricted work rights for spouses and de facto partners — are expected to be maintained or strengthened under the new SID framework. Applicants who are currently on a 482 visa will be able to continue on that visa until it expires. New employer-sponsored applications from late 2025 onwards may be lodged under the SID framework. Y-Axis monitors all regulatory changes and provides up-to-date guidance to ensure applicants are lodging under the correct visa class.