Temporary Graduate Visa 485 Changes from 13 November 2026

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A Temporary Graduate visa application can no longer be treated as a simple chance to add family members at the end of the process. From 13 November 2026, new rules change who can be included as a family member in a Temporary Graduate visa, subclass 485, application and where each person must be when applying.

The change is especially relevant for graduates who have a partner or child who was not previously attached to their Student visa or Temporary Graduate visa. The main message is clear: check eligibility before lodging, because family members generally cannot be added later as separate subsequent entrants.

This article is general information only and is not immigration advice.

What changed from 13 November 2026

From 13 November 2026, applicants can only include family members in a Temporary Graduate visa application if those family members meet the relevant eligibility rules.

The eligibility rules for the primary applicant have not changed. The change is about family members included in the application, such as a partner or dependent child.

Under the new rules, family members can generally be included only if one of the following applies:

They were included on the applicant’s previous Student visa or Temporary Graduate visa.
They meet one of the specific eligibility criteria for a first or second Temporary Graduate visa application.
They are a newborn child who meets the newborn child requirements.

The rules also affect where each person must be at the time of application. That means applicants should check the location requirements for the primary applicant and each family member before submitting the application.

If an application was lodged before 13 November 2026, it will be assessed under the rules that applied on the date of lodgement.

Family members cannot apply later as subsequent entrants

One of the biggest practical changes is that family members cannot apply later as subsequent entrants, separate from the main Temporary Graduate visa application.

This applies even if the primary applicant would have met the eligibility criteria to include them in the original application.

That makes timing much more important. If a family member is eligible and should be included, the application needs to be planned with that person included from the start. Waiting until after the visa is granted may remove that pathway.

For many applicants, this will affect decisions such as:

Whether a partner should remain as a dependant on a Student visa.
Whether a child should be included in the same application.
Whether travel plans could affect where a person is allowed to be when lodging.
Whether documents can be gathered in time for the main application.

If family members were included on your previous visa

The rules are more straightforward where the family member was already part of the applicant’s earlier visa history.

A family member can be included in a Temporary Graduate visa application if they were included on:

The applicant’s previous Student visa, or
The applicant’s first Temporary Graduate visa.

This is likely to help applicants whose family unit has remained the same across their study and graduate visa journey.

For example, if a partner was included as a dependant on the applicant’s Student visa, that partner may be able to be included in the first Temporary Graduate visa application, provided all other requirements are met.

The same applies where the applicant is moving from a first Temporary Graduate visa to a second Temporary Graduate visa and the family member was included on the first visa.

Rules for a first Temporary Graduate visa application

For a first Temporary Graduate visa application, family members must meet at least one of the stated requirements.

They may be eligible to be included if:

They currently hold a Student visa as the applicant’s dependant.
They held a Student visa on 2 October 2026 as the applicant’s dependant.
They held a Student visa as the applicant’s dependant within the last six months.

This means the applicant’s recent visa history matters. It is not enough for a person to be a genuine family member in a general sense. The person must fit within the visa-related criteria.

Here is a simple way to read the change:

Situation	What to check before applying
Partner is currently a Student visa dependant	Confirm they still hold that status and meet the location rules
Child was a Student visa dependant on 2 October 2026	Keep evidence of that visa status
Family member was a dependant within the last six months	Check dates carefully before lodgement
Family member was never included as a dependant	Seek advice before assuming they can be added

Dates will matter, so applicants should review visa grant notices, visa status records, and any previous dependant details before lodging.

Rules for a second Temporary Graduate visa application

For a second Temporary Graduate visa application, family members must meet the relevant criteria linked to the earlier Temporary Graduate visa.

Based on the announced rules, family members may be eligible if they:

Currently hold a Temporary Graduate visa as the applicant’s dependant.
Held a Temporary Graduate visa as the applicant’s dependant within the relevant recent period.

Because the provided update refers to the second point but is incomplete, applicants should confirm the exact wording of the final rule before lodging. Do not rely on memory or assumptions, especially where a family member’s previous dependant status has ended.

The key point remains the same: the family member’s connection to the applicant’s earlier visa must be clear and supported by evidence.

Newborn children may be treated separately

The new rules also refer to newborn children who meet newborn child requirements.

This is a distinct category because a newborn may not have been included on the applicant’s previous Student visa or Temporary Graduate visa. Parents should check what evidence is required, such as proof of birth, identity documents, and the child’s relationship to the applicant.

Timing can be sensitive in newborn cases. If a child is born close to the application date, the family should check the process carefully before lodging or travelling.

Where each person is when applying now matters

The new rules affect not only who can be included, but also where each person must be when the application is made.

This can affect families where one person is in Australia and another is overseas. It may also affect people planning travel near the lodgement date.

Before applying, check:

Whether the primary applicant must be in or outside Australia.
Whether each family member must be in or outside Australia.
Whether travel before lodgement could affect eligibility.
Whether all family members can be included in the same application from their current location.

A small travel timing mistake can create a much larger visa problem.

Practical steps before lodging

Before submitting a subclass 485 application, applicants should take a careful, document-based approach.

A useful pre-lodgement checklist includes:

Review the family members included on the previous Student visa or Temporary Graduate visa.
Check whether each family member currently holds the required dependant visa status.
Check whether they held the required status on the relevant date, including 2 October 2026 where it applies.
Confirm whether the six-month rule applies to the family member’s situation.
Confirm where each person must be at the time of application.
Gather evidence before lodging, not after.
Get advice if a family member was not previously included as a dependant.

The safest approach is to treat family inclusion as a core part of the visa strategy, not an afterthought.

The takeaway for 485 applicants

The new family member rules make the Temporary Graduate visa process more time-sensitive and evidence-based. From 13 November 2026, applicants need to confirm that each family member is eligible before the application is lodged.

The main points are simple: previous dependant status matters, later subsequent entrant applications are not available, newborns have separate requirements, and location at the time of application can affect the outcome.

Applicants who lodged before 13 November 2026 will be assessed under the rules in place when they applied. Everyone applying on or after that date should check the new requirements carefully before submitting the application.

Source: Department of Home Affairs