From 13 November 2026, new rules affect which family members can be included in a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) application. The rules also affect where each person must be when applying.
Under the new rules, applicants can only include family members if they meet the relevant eligibility requirements.
Check the new rules before applying to make sure your family members are eligible.
The eligibility requirements for primary applicants applying for a Temporary Graduate visa have not changed.
If you applied before
13 November 2026, we will assess your application under the rules that were in place on the date you applied.
What has changed?
You can only include family members if:
- they were included on your previous Student visa or Temporary Graduate visa, or
- you meet one of the eligibility criteria below, or
- they are a newborn child who meets the requirements below.
Your family members cannot apply later as subsequent entrants, separate from your application. This applies even if you meet the eligibility criteria to include them in your application.
If your family members were included on your previous visa
You can include family members in your Temporary Graduate visa application if they were included on your previous Student visa or your first Temporary Graduate visa.
If you are applying for your first Temporary Graduate visa
Your family members must meet at least one of these requirements:
- They currently hold a Student visa as your dependant
- They held a Student visa on 2 October 2026 as your dependant
- They held a Student visa as your dependant within the last six months.
If you are applying for your second Temporary Graduate visa
Your family members must meet at least one of these requirements:
- They currently hold a Temporary Graduate visa as your dependant
- They held a Temporary Graduate visa as your dependant within the last six months.
Other requirements
- You can only include the same family members who were included on your previous visa
- You must be in Australia when you apply. Your family members can be in or outside Australia
- You and your family members must apply at the same time, even if you are in Australia and they are outside Australia. You cannot add them later.
You cannot include family members who were not on your previous visa unless you meet the eligibility criteria below.
If you meet certain eligibility criteria
You can include existing or new family members in your Temporary Graduate visa application if:
- You are a Pacific or ASEAN national
- You completed a PhD degree while holding a Student visa, or
- You completed a course fully funded by a foreign government while holding a Student visa.
If you meet any of these criteria:
- You can include any family members. They do not need to have been your dependent on your previous student or temporary graduate visa.
- Your family members can be in or outside Australia when you apply. You must be in Australia.
- You and your family members must apply at the same time, even if you are in Australia and they are outside Australia. You cannot add them later.
If you have a newborn child
If your child was born outside Australia
If your child was born outside Australia after you were granted your most recent Student visa or Temporary Graduate visa, you can include them in your first or second Temporary Graduate visa application.
Under the new rules:
- Your child can be in or outside Australia when you apply. You must be in Australia.
- You and your child must apply at the same time, even if you are in Australia and they are outside Australia.
- You cannot add your newborn child born outside Australia to your Temporary Graduate visa after it is granted.
If your child was born in Australia
If you hold a Temporary Graduate visa and your child is born in Australia, they will automatically hold a Temporary Graduate visa as a dependent.
You do not need to submit a separate visa application for your child. However, you must notify the department of your child's birth. For more information, including how to notify the department, visit
You had a baby.
Before you apply
Check the new rules and prepare your documents before submitting your Temporary Graduate visa application.
Check who you can include
Make sure your family members meet the eligibility requirements. Not all applicants can include family members, and different rules apply depending on your circumstances.
Check where you and your family members need to be
You must be in Australia when you apply for a Temporary Graduate visa. Your family members can be in or outside Australia.
Family members must apply at the same time
All eligible family members must apply at the same time as the primary applicant.
You cannot add family members to your application later or apply for them to join you as subsequent entrants.
This applies to all applicants, including those who meet the eligibility criteria to include family.
Prepare your documents
Make sure you have the documents needed to support your application, including evidence of your relationship to any family members you want to include, for more information visit the
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) webpage.
Important information about applying through ImmiAccount
ImmiAccount may allow you to include family members in your application even if they do not meet the new eligibility requirements.
Being able to add a family member to an application in ImmiAccount does not mean they are eligible to apply for a visa. If they do not meet the eligibility requirements, their visa application will be invalid.
Lodging an invalid application may affect your family member’s visa status. If their visa has already expired, they may not be eligible to apply for another visa. A decision that their application is invalid cannot be merits reviewed.
More information
For more information about eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit the
Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) webpage.
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