Relocating to a job in a new country is often a decision affecting not just a new employee, but their entire family.
Our team is made up of conscientious and experienced migration experts from a range of diverse backgrounds, many of whom have personal as well as professional experience of the application process for family visas. We understand the stress and anxiety that can be caused by having to relocate with loved ones, which is why we take a customer-centred and personalised approach to family, parent and spouse visa applications.
Many work visas allow the holder to bring their partner, children or other dependents to Australia with them. We can ensure that not only does your new employee secure the right visa for them, but that wherever possible they can also be joined by their partner, children and other dependents.
We can also assist with Family Visas where the sponsor is already resident in Australia, including:
Partner Visas
Visas which allow someone to live and work in Australia providing that their partner or spouse is already in the country. Partner visa options include:
Parent Visas
Australian citizens and certain eligible residents may be able to sponsor their parent or step-parent’s application for one of the following visas:
Child Visas
Australian residents may be eligible to sponsor their child or step-child for one of the following permanent residence visas:
Families of sponsored workers
Information current as at October 2026. Rules, fees and lists change often, so check your circumstances with us before you act.
For many overseas candidates, the deciding factor is whether their partner and children can come too. Under the Skills in Demand (482), Employer Nomination Scheme (186) and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (494) visas, the worker can include their partner and dependent children in the same application. Family members included in the visa are called secondary applicants.
| 482 Skills in Demand | 186 Employer Nomination | 494 Regional | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partner can work | Yes, with no limit on hours | Yes (permanent residence) | Yes, in a designated regional area |
| Children can study | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Medicare | Not usually; private health insurance is required | Yes, from grant | Generally yes |
| Visa charge, each adult family member | $4,015 | $3,070 | $3,070 |
| Visa charge, each child under 18 | $1,005 | $1,535 | $1,535 |
Charges are from 1 July 2026. For the 186 and 494, a second instalment applies to adult family members who do not have functional English.
Planning for family members
- It is usually simplest to include the partner and children in the original visa application.
- Each person needs identity documents, health examinations and, for adults, police certificates.
- A de facto partner needs evidence of the relationship, which takes time to gather, so start early.
What employers can do to help
- Mention family visa options in your job offer and relocation package. Candidates often decide based on what their family can do in Australia.
- Decide early who will pay the family’s visa charges. You may choose to pay them, but you are not required to.
- Allow time for health examinations and police certificates for every family member.
- For 482 workers, remind them of the private health insurance requirement for the whole family.
- Plan the move to permanent residence, which gives the whole family access to Medicare and more certainty.
Our sponsorship costs page has a worked example with a partner and child.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 482 worker’s partner work for another employer?
Yes. Partners included in a 482 visa can generally work for any employer and study, with no limit on hours.
Can the worker bring their parents?
Parents are not usually included as secondary applicants. They may visit on a visitor visa, or apply for a parent visa once the worker is eligible to sponsor them.
Do we have to pay for the family’s visas?
No. The employer must pay sponsorship, nomination and SAF costs, but visa charges for the worker and family can be paid by either party.
Can an Australian partner sponsor our worker instead?
If the worker has an Australian citizen or permanent resident partner, a partner visa may be an option. It is not tied to an employer.
What schooling is available for children on a 482?
Children can attend school. Some states charge fees for dependants of temporary visa holders in government schools, so check the rules where the family will live.
Related pages
Keep reading on our employer site:
Ian Armani
Director & Registered Migration Agent No. 1574163
New Zealand Migration Adviser: 201501895
Ian is a highly passionate and dedicated immigration professional. Has been responsible for the development and implementation of programs to train, recruit and place staff for multi-site organisations and has traveled overseas on recruitment campaigns with clients to assess visa suitability of candidates from a number of countries. Ian’s expertise is providing immigration advice for individuals and companies. Ian is a Registered Migration Agent and has been a member of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) since 2015. He deals with both Australian and New Zealand Immigration matters.
His specialties include but not limited to:
Voya Kablar
BPA (FH), GradCertMigLaw (VU), Masters of Applied Migration Law (VU)-current, Registered Migration Agent,
Voya is a Director and a Principal Registered Migration Agent with VisaEnvoy.
He has over 10 years of working experience in Department of Immigration and Border Protection funded migration settlement programs and Migration Agent industry.
Voya has extensive experience of representing numerous corporate and individual clients at the Migration Review Tribunal and Administrative Appeals Tribunal of Australia. He is considered an expert in fields of General Skilled Migration, Temporary Work (Long and Short Stay), Business visas, Partner, Parent and Child visa streams. Over the years Voya has assisted large corporations, Professional Tennis Players and Entertainers (singers and actors) to come to Australia.
Simon Long
GradCertMigLaw (VU), Master of Laws (Applied Migration Law) –VU)
Registered Migration Agent,
Simon is a Director and a Principal Registered Migration Agent with VisaEnvoy.
Simon supports with his team both small and large businesses, across a range of industries, managing the migration of their staff and employees. He acts for Business owners and investors who seek immigration benefits under various business migration schemes and provides immigration solutions for a variety of visa classes.
He has a strong understanding of the Migration Act and the Migration Regulations which allows him to effectively resolve complex migration matters including character cancellations, bogus documents, health waivers, onshore un-lawful criteria and visa refusals.
He handles Administrative Appeals Tribunal cases and is also responsible for representing our clients for Ministerial Intervention matters.
Victor Organero
Juris Doctor (Monash University), Graduate Certificte in Migration Law and Practice (VU), Bachelor of International Studies (VU)
Admitted before the Supreme Court of Victoria (2023)
Victor is a Registered Migration Agent with previous experience in an immigration law firm in Melbourne. Victor has extensive experience in Employer Sponsored visas (including 482, 186, 494). He has extensive knowledge of Immigration law and regulations, he advises businesses as well as individuals across a broad range of visa categories. He is professional, extremely organised, motivated, and dedicated to his clients’ needs.
Victor is also experienced with other visas including Skilled, Partner and Distinguished Talent /Global Talent visas. It’s the challenge – or the multifaceted approach required to navigate the Australian migration system that keeps him focused. Book a time with Victor here. Victor speaks Spanish as a second language – ¡hola!
Angela Parmeter
Graduate Certificate in Migration law & Practice (ANU)
Angela has a demonstrated history of working in the human resources industry, is Skilled in Immigration Law, Management, Software Documentation, Team Leadership, and Visas. Angela has assisted many global companies to manage all of their business/work visa and employee immigration needs. Angela can guide you through the entire process – supporting companies and individuals each step of the way. From short-term work authorization and temporary residency to long-term work authorization, permanent residency, and citizenship, including both company employees and accompanying family members. Angela will advise on immigration compliance strategies to ensure that your organization and employees remain compliant with all Australian immigration and visa requirements. Book a time with Angela here.
Jamie Lim
Jamie is an Australian Regulated Migration Advisor (RMA 1799460). Jamie has extensive immigration services experience across multiple visa subclasses and specialises in employer sponsored visas. He has a wide range of experience in corporate migration, including employer-sponsored visas and immigration compliance, and has managed small to large multinational corporate clients. Jamie also has specific experience with medical professionals, skills assessments, state sponsorships as well as partner visas. Book a time with Jamie here.
Jamie holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from Monash University. Jamie speaks Mandarin Chinese as a second language.
His specialities include but not limited to:
Stefano Cerqua
Master of Law- Federico II University of Naples, Italy – GC in Australian Migration Law and Practice
Stefano is a Registered Migration Agent fluent in both English and Italian. After completing a Master of Law in Italy, Stefano migrated to Australia in 2012 where he specialised in Migration Law. Through the years, Stefano has gained significant experience in the industry, assisting clients in lodging visa applications, as well as skills assessments for both trade and professional occupations and citizenship applications. Stefano is particularly focused in the areas of Employer Sponsored visas, Skilled visas, Family visas (Partner – Child – Parent) and Citizenship. Over the years Stefano has successfully guided clients from their first steps in Australia to gaining PR and Citizen status, offering a comprehensive overview of visa pathways available, according to the client’s individual needs. You can book a time with Stefano here.
Phu Vu Minh
Bachelor of Law – Migration agent registration number: 2217888
Master of Human Resources Management – Curtin University, Perth
Phu is a Registered Migration Agent and Education Consultant (QEAC: O761) at VisaEnvoy. She was practising as a lawyer in Vietnam prior to migrating to Australia. She is currently assisting potential overseas students to obtain educational placements. Phu deals with Universities, TAFE and vocational colleges, and English Language schools as well as a range of private schools for primary and secondary students.
With her knowledge in human resource management and experience working in multinational companies, Phu helps international students to develop study plans in Australia to acquire knowledge and skills that meet their needs and objectives. Phu is also fluent in Vietnamese.
To speak with Phu about your study options please book a time here.
Allan Miranda
Solicitor- admitted in the Supreme Court of Victoria (2009)
Allan Miranda is a Senior Migration Lawyer at VisaEnvoy. He was practising lawyer and Certified Public Accountant in the Philippines prior to his migration in Australia. Upon arrival here, he studied Bridging Program Law at the University of Melbourne.
He later took a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at Leo Cussen Institute and was admitted to the legal practice in the Supreme Court of Victoria in August 2009.
He has been involved in migration since 2008. He is specialised in Business visas, 188, 888 and 132 visas as well as all types of skilled, the Global Talent visa and employer sponsored visas. Book a time with Allan here.
Jenna Liu
Graduate Diploma in Migration Law – Victoria University – Current
Master of Professional Accounting – University of Tasmania
Jenna is a Qualified Education Agent Counsellor (QEAC No: V151) and has been working in the Australian migration and education consulting industry for three years. Jenna is helping our migration agents and lawyers with preparing visa applications, including student, skilled, employer sponsored, family and business visas.
She is particularly focused in the areas of student visa and Australian education enrolment for international students, which include Higher Education and VET/TAFE course.
Jenna speaks Mandarin Chinese as a second language. To speak with Jenna about your study options please book a time here.
Laura Zorzi
Graduate Certificate in Migration law & Practice
Laura is a highly talented migration agent fluent in Italian and English. Her past experience involved assisting with high volume and often time-critical migration matters for a well known migration firm, and in the training and educational sector, assisting in the organisation of internships for high school students funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research.
She has worked within the migration industry for over five years, with experience in industries such as hospitality and construction, in a wide range of visa subclasses. She has particular experience in handling family sponsorship and employer nominated visa applications. Laura assists clients to determine the most suitable visa pathway and works with them through to visa completion, ensuring the process is seamless, parties remain informed, and all risks and expectations are clearly communicated. You can book a time with Laura here.
Laura is currently based in Rome, Italy.
