Form 918: Application for a Subclass 445 Visa by a Dependent Child

What the subclass 445 visa is for

The subclass 445 (Dependent Child) visa is a temporary visa that lets a dependent child stay in Australia while the Department decides the permanent Partner visa application (subclass 100 or 801) of the child's parent. It exists to bridge the period between the parent holding a temporary partner-related visa and the permanent stage being decided, for children in that family unit who need their own status sorted out.

It's most relevant where a child wasn't included in the original temporary Partner visa application, or where the family's situation changed afterwards in a way that means the child now needs a status of their own that wasn't previously arranged.

The criteria the Department publishes

Home Affairs' published criteria for this visa require the child to be the dependent child of a person who holds one of a defined set of visas connected to the partner visa pathway (including the subclass 445 itself, or a temporary or provisional Partner-related visa), to be sponsored by that parent's sponsor, to satisfy the Migration Regulations 1994 definition of dependent child, to meet health and character requirements, and — for a child under 18 — to satisfy parental responsibility requirements.

These are the Department's own published requirements, set out here as a factual description of the criteria that apply — not an assessment of whether any particular child's circumstances meet them, which depends on the individual family's facts.

Form 918 vs including a child from the start

The cleanest path, where possible, is including a dependent child on the parent's Partner visa application from the beginning, or adding a newborn via Form 1436 while the application is still on foot (see our Form 1436 guide). Form 918 and the subclass 445 pathway exist for the situations where that clean path wasn't available or wasn't taken — a child who genuinely wasn't part of the original application and now needs their own temporary arrangement while the parent's permanent application is decided.

Understanding which pathway actually applies to your family's situation matters, because they're procedurally different processes with different forms and different sponsor requirements.

The sponsor's role in Form 918

Form 918 isn't completed by the applicant (or their parent, on the child's behalf) alone — the sponsor also completes a designated part of the form confirming their sponsorship of the child's application. This mirrors the sponsorship structure of the underlying partner visa pathway, where the same sponsor who supported the parent's application generally extends that sponsorship to the dependent child.

Because both the applicant side and the sponsor side of the form need to be completed correctly, it's worth both parties reviewing the requirements together before lodging, rather than one side completing their section without input from the other.

How to lodge Form 918

Form 918 is downloaded from the Department of Home Affairs form-listing page — always check for the current version. The visa application charge for a subclass 445 application is separate from the form itself and is set by the Department's current fee schedule; check the visa's own fee information before applying rather than relying on a figure that may be out of date.

Completed forms and supporting evidence — including evidence of the parent-child relationship, the child's identity documents, and health and character documentation — are lodged as directed for this visa subclass, alongside the sponsor's completed section.

Common mistakes

The most common issue is families not realising a separate application and form are needed for a child who wasn't included on the original partner visa application, and only discovering this gap partway through the parent's permanent visa process. A second is confusing this pathway with Form 1436 (adding an applicant after lodgement to an existing application), which is a different mechanism for a different situation — 1436 adds a person to an application still on foot; Form 918 is its own standalone visa application for the child.

Other recurring issues: incomplete sponsor sections, and missing evidence of the dependent child relationship required under the Migration Regulations definition.

When a MARA agent is worth involving

Because subclass 445 sits at the intersection of the child's own criteria and the parent's still-pending permanent partner visa, getting the sequencing and documentation right matters. A MARA-registered agent can clarify which pathway — Form 918 for a standalone subclass 445 application, or Form 1436 to add the child to an application already on foot — actually fits your family's situation, and help make sure the sponsor and applicant sections are both complete.

Migratio lets you describe your situation once and compare consultation fees from MARA-registered agents who handle your visa type (comparing is free; consults are typically $150–$300 and you pay only if you book).

What is Form 918 used for?

Form 918 is the application for a subclass 445 (temporary) visa, which allows a dependent child to stay in Australia while the Department decides the permanent Partner visa application (subclass 100 or 801) of the child's parent.

Who is Form 918 for?

It's for a dependent child of a parent holding a temporary or provisional Partner-related visa, where the child wasn't already included on that parent's application.

What's the difference between Form 918 and Form 1436?

Form 1436 adds a person to a visa application that's already lodged and still awaiting a decision. Form 918 is a standalone application for a subclass 445 visa for a dependent child in their own right, used where that child needs their own arrangement rather than being added to an existing application.

Does the sponsor need to do anything for Form 918?

Yes. The sponsor completes a designated part of Form 918 confirming their sponsorship of the child's application, alongside the applicant's own section.

How much does a subclass 445 visa application cost?

The visa application charge is set by the Department's current fee schedule and can change. Check the current fee information on the Home Affairs website before applying rather than relying on a figure from elsewhere.