Australia's Graduate Visa (485): New Family Rules From 13 November 2026
Published 15/11/2026
In short: From 13 November 2026, Australia limits who can be included in a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), the visa most students use to work after their degree. In most cases, a partner or child can be included only if they were already on the student's visa, and everyone must apply together.
What happened
Australia's Department of Home Affairs changed the family rules for the 485 visa on 13 November 2026. The rules for the graduate (the main applicant) have not changed. What has changed is who can come along, and when.
This follows the Student visa change of 2 October 2026, when Australia stopped most students from including a partner or children (our explainer on that change). Together, the two changes mean that for most Indian students, the family plan has to be settled at the very start.
Here are the questions families are asking.
Who can still include a partner or child?
Who can still include family
- Family who were on your Student or first 485 visa
- Pacific or ASEAN nationals
- PhD graduates, or a course fully funded by a foreign government
- Adding a new partner or child not on the earlier visa
- Family applying later, on their own
- Adding a child born abroad after the 485 is granted
There are three routes:
- Family already on your visa. For a first 485, the partner or child must have been your dependant on your Student visa, and either hold that visa now, have held it on 2 October 2026, or have held it within the last six months. For a second 485, they must hold, or have held within six months, a 485 as your dependant.
- Special groups. Pacific and ASEAN nationals, students who completed a PhD on a Student visa, and students whose course was fully funded by a foreign government can include new or existing family. Indian citizens are not Pacific or ASEAN nationals, so for most Indian students only the PhD or government-funded routes apply here.
- A newborn. A child born outside Australia after your last Student or 485 visa was granted can be included in your 485 application. A child born in Australia to a 485 holder gets the visa automatically, but you must tell the department.
Can family join later?
No. Family members can no longer apply later as "subsequent entrants". They must be in the same application, lodged at the same time. The graduate must be in Australia when applying; the family can be in or outside Australia. A child born outside Australia cannot be added after the 485 is granted.
What if we already applied?
Applications lodged before 13 November 2026 are assessed under the old rules.
For students
- Going for a master's or bachelor's in 2027? Assume your partner or child cannot join you as your dependant, either during the course or on the 485, unless an exemption such as the PhD route applies.
- Already in Australia with family on your Student visa? Keep their visa current. To be included in your first 485, they must hold that Student visa now, have held it on 2 October 2026, or have held it within the last six months.
- Do not rely on what the online form lets you add. Home Affairs warns that ImmiAccount may let you add a family member who is not eligible. That application would be invalid.
For parents
Australia 485 family rules
- Family not on your Student visa cannot join your 485
- Apply for the 485 inside Australia, with family in the same application
- Plan the course and work years assuming the student goes alone
- An invalid family application can hurt that person's visa status
- Marriage plans matter. If your son or daughter is likely to marry during or just after the course, the spouse may not be able to join them as a dependant on these visas. Talk about this before paying the deposit.
- An invalid application has a cost. Home Affairs says an invalid application can affect the family member's visa status, and the decision cannot be appealed through merits review. Read the official page yourselves rather than relying on an agent's summary.
- Compare countries on the whole plan. Work rights after study and family rules differ by country. Weigh them together with fees and course quality.
Key dates
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| 2 Oct 2026 | Student visa family and onshore rules changed |
| 13 Nov 2026 | New 485 family rules start; earlier applications use old rules |
Sources
- Department of Home Affairs, Changes to Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) family member rules. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
- Department of Home Affairs, Temporary Graduate visa: bringing family, factsheet (PDF). Checked 15 Nov 2026.
If Australia is one of several options on your list, more on easyapply.in when useful.
Dates can change. Confirm on the official website before you pay or apply.