485 Visa Family Rules Have Changed: What Sri Lankan Students Must Know Before Applying

Last updated: 13 November 2026 | Published by GIEC Global

If you plan to apply for the Australian Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) with a partner or children, the rules changed on 13 November 2026. Under the new 485 visa family member rules, a partner or child can be included only in six listed situations, and they must apply together with you in one application.

This is a big shift for Sri Lankan students. Adding family after your 485 is granted (the "subsequent entrant" route) is no longer possible under the new regulations, and a Sri Lankan passport does not qualify for the main passport exemption.

This guide explains what changed, who is affected, what it may cost in LKR, and what to do next. It is based on the Migration Amendment (Temporary Graduate Visa Reform) Regulations 2026 and Australian Government information.

What Has Changed in the 485 Visa Family Rules

The regulations were made on 12 November 2026 and apply to 485 applications made on or after 13 November 2026. Here are the four changes that matter most.

Family must apply together with you

Your partner or child must apply at the same time as you, in one combined application. They can apply from inside or outside Australia, but not while in immigration clearance.

No adding family after your 485 is granted

The subsequent entrant route is removed under the new regulations. This matters if you start a relationship later, or if a child is born after your 485 is granted. A separate application after grant is no longer possible on the text of the regulations.

Only six situations allow family to be included

Your partner or child must fit at least one of six listed situations. We explain all six in plain English below.

You must be in Australia when you apply

The main applicant must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance. A family member who is already in Australia also needs a substantive visa, or a Bridging A or Bridging B visa, or must meet one narrow review-decision case.

What Is NOT Changing

• Earlier applications. The new rules apply to applications made on or after 13 November 2026. If you lodged before that date, speak to a registered agent about your case.
• Visa fees. The regulations do not change the visa application charge.
• Families already in Australia. The government said it would not separate families already in Australia on Student or Temporary Graduate visas as secondary applicants. Family members who hold, or recently held, those visas as your secondary applicant are covered by one of the six situations.
• Children born in Australia. A child born in Australia to a Temporary Graduate visa holder is treated differently under section 78 of the Migration Act and is taken to hold the same kind of visa as the parent.

Who Is Affected? Common Situations for Sri Lankan Students

The Six Situations in Plain English

A partner or child can be included only if at least one of these applies:

1. Your passport. You hold a passport from a Pacific-regional country or from a specified ASEAN country. As of 1 November 2026 the list is Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Sri Lanka is not on this list.
2. Your doctorate. Your most recent Student visa was for a doctoral degree that you have completed.
3. Fully funded study. Your most recent Student visa courses were each fully funded by a foreign government. If you hold a government scholarship, check our study abroad scholarships guide and confirm with an agent whether it counts.
4. A new child. The family member is your child, born after your most recent Student visa or 485 visa was granted.
5. Already a Student visa family member. The family member holds a Student visa as a secondary applicant linked to you, or held one on 2 October 2026 or in the 6 months before the application.
6. Already a 485 family member. The family member holds a 485 visa as your secondary applicant, or held one in the 6 months before the application.

If none of these applies, the regulations do not let the family member apply as a secondary applicant.

Timeline: How We Got Here

485 Visa Cost for Families in LKR and AUD

These are government application charges from 1 July 2026. The November 2026 regulations do not change them.

LKR amounts use an indicative rate of about LKR 230 per AUD. The rate changes daily, so check a live rate before you plan. Health insurance, medicals, an English test and agent fees are extra.

What To Do Now: A Step-by-Step Plan

1. List your family members and write down each person's current visa and visa history.
2. Match each person to the six situations. Keep copies of visa grant letters and dates.
3. Confirm your location plan. You must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, on the day you apply.
4. Prepare the English test early. Many applicants use PTE preparation or IELTS coaching. Check the current requirement on Home Affairs.
5. Plan to lodge everyone together in one combined application.
6. Speak to a counsellor before you lodge. A mistake in who you include can change what you are able to apply for. You can also contact the GIEC team directly.

Student Visa vs 485 Family Rules, and How Other Countries Compare

Family rules also differ in other study destinations, and they change often. If keeping your family together matters, compare options before you choose. Read our guides to studying in the UK, studying in Canada and studying in Germany. For the full Australian pathway, see our study in Australia service page.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using old advice. Many articles written before 13 November 2026 say family can still be added later. That is no longer correct for new applications.
• Planning to add a partner after grant. Family must apply together with you.
• Assuming the passport exemption applies. It covers Pacific and specified ASEAN passports. Sri Lanka is not listed.
• Ignoring your family's visa status in Australia. A family member in Australia needs a valid visa when they apply.
• Budgeting only for the main applicant. Each family member pays their own charge.

Frequently Asked Questions