Written by Immigrad · Registered Migration Agent · MARN 1805710 · Last updated October 2026
Yes. Partners and dependent children of a Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa holder can apply for their own Skills in Demand visa as family members. According to Home Affairs, that visa lets them live, work and study in Australia. Each family member lodges a separate application.
A Skills in Demand (SID) visa is sponsored by an employer for the primary worker. The Department of Home Affairs treats them as subsequent entrants, meaning family members who apply to join the primary visa holder. The Department explains this on its subsequent entrant page.
The family member visa is a distinct application with its own cost and its own assessment. It is not added automatically to the worker’s visa, so planning when each person applies is part of preparing a sponsorship.
Who counts as a family member of a 482 holder?
The Department of Home Affairs states that the applicant must be a partner or dependent of a subclass 482 or 457 visa holder. Whether a particular person meets the definition of partner or dependent depends on their circumstances, so personal advice from a registered migration agent is recommended before lodging.
Does each family member need their own visa application?
Yes. The Department describes the family member visa as one where relatives apply separately for their own Skills in Demand visa in order to join the primary visa holder in Australia. A partner and each child therefore each have an application.
How long can a family member stay in Australia?
Home Affairs states that a family member can stay for as long as their visa is valid. The visa also allows travel to and from Australia as many times as the holder wants while it remains valid.
What does the family member visa cost?
The Department lists the visa as costing from AUD4,015, with limited concessions, on a page last updated 12 October 2026. The final amount depends on who is applying, so the Department recommends its Visa Pricing Estimator.
Does a sponsoring employer have obligations to the worker’s family?
Home Affairs states that sponsors must meet their sponsor obligations to the visa holder and their dependants. Our guide to sponsor obligations explains the duties in more detail.
Related guides: sponsor obligations for employers, the cost of sponsoring a worker, changing employer on a 482 visa and the roadmap from a 482 to permanent residence.
This is general information only and not migration advice. Complex cases, including family circumstances that are not straightforward, need personal advice from a registered migration agent.
Book a consultation with Immigrad to discuss visas for your family on a 482.