When applying for an Australian visa, it is generally possible to include members of your family unit. When your application is granted, all included family members would receive visas.
From 19 November, changes will be made to which relatives can be included in your visa application.
Spouse and Children Only
Currently, it is possible to include dependent relatives in visa applications, even if they are not spouses and children. For instance, it is common for 457 applicants to include a dependent parent in their applications.
From 19 November, this will no longer possible with only spouses (including defacto spouses) and children being considered members of the family unit.
Maximum Age for Children
Children under 18 are considered members of the family unit by default.
Children over 18 can currently be included in visa applications, providing they are financially dependent on their parent. Generally, it is sufficient to provide evidence that they are still studying and have not started working full time.
From 19 November, children can only be included if they are under 23 years old and this is likely to affect many potential applicants with adult children.
To include a child over 23, you would need to show that the child is incapacitated for work. This would generally result in issues in meeting the health criteria for the visa.
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