If you are coming to Australia on a student visa (Subclass 500), your spouse, de facto partner, and dependent children can accompany you as family members on dependent visas. This guide covers eligibility, evidence, visa charges, and the work and study rights of dependants.
Who can be a dependant on a student visa?
Partners (spouse or de facto)
Your partner can come as a dependant if:
- You are married or in a registered marriage (civil partnership) recognised in Australia.
- You are in a de facto relationship (living together in a genuine and continuing relationship for 12+ months).
- Your partner is 18 or older.
- Your partner meets health and character requirements.
- Your partner is not already in Australia on another visa (unless they are a permanent resident or citizen).
De facto evidence: If you are in a de facto relationship, you must provide evidence of cohabitation (e.g., shared tenancy agreement, joint bank account, statutory declaration from witnesses, family law certificates).
Dependent children
Your children can come as dependants if:
- They are under 18 years old (or under 23 if they are dependent on you for financial support and unmarried).
- They meet health and character requirements.
- You are their legal guardian (parent or appointed guardian).
- They are financially dependent on you.
Age note: Children who are 18–23 may qualify as dependants if they can prove financial dependence. This requires evidence that the child has no other means of support and relies entirely on the primary student.
Continuing dependants (adult children over 23)
In rare circumstances, adult children aged 23+ may be granted a visa as continuing dependants if they were under 18 when the primary applicant’s original visa was granted and they have remained dependent since then. This is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Application process for dependants
Option 1: Dependants lodge with the primary applicant
You and your dependants lodge together in the same application. This is the most common approach:
- Primary applicant lodges first with their own details, financial capacity, and health/character documents.
- Dependants are listed as secondary applicants.
- Each dependant provides their own health and character documents (health examination, police clearance).
- Visa charges are applied for each dependant (A$1,170 per adult 18+; A$390 per child under 18).
- All applications are processed together, and visas are granted or refused together.
Timing: All dependants must have their visas approved together with the primary applicant. This usually results in faster processing than if dependants applied separately.
Option 2: Dependants apply separately after primary applicant arrives
If you arrive in Australia first and your dependants are not ready to come with you, they can:
- Lodge a separate dependent visa application after you arrive in Australia.
- You will need to demonstrate your financial capacity to support them (your student visa does not automatically extend to support dependants).
- Your dependants can then join you later.
Cost: Each dependant lodging separately will incur a separate VAC (A$1,170 or A$390).
Timing: Separate applications usually take longer to process than dependants lodging with the primary applicant.
Evidence required for dependants
Partner/spouse evidence
To establish your relationship and that your partner is a genuine dependant:
-
Marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate (if married).
-
De facto relationship evidence (if not married):
- Statutory declaration from you and your partner confirming relationship duration and cohabitation.
- Statutory declarations from two independent witnesses (friends, family) confirming your relationship.
- Joint tenancy agreement or lease showing shared address.
- Joint bank account statements or utility bills in both names.
- Photographs together over time.
- Communication records (emails, messages showing ongoing relationship).
- Evidence of joint financial commitments (loan agreement, shared investments).
-
Health and character documents (same as for primary applicant):
- Health examination report (chest X-ray, HIV test).
- Police clearance certificate.
-
Identification:
- Valid passport.
- Birth certificate or national ID.
Child dependant evidence
-
Birth certificate (showing you as parent/guardian).
-
Proof of guardianship (if you are not a biological parent; guardianship order from court).
-
Financial dependence evidence:
- School enrolment documents.
- Evidence that the child has no other means of support.
- Your financial documents showing capacity to support the child.
-
Health and character documents:
- Health examination report.
- Police clearance certificate (if required; usually waived for children under 16).
-
Identification:
- Passport or birth certificate.
Financial capacity for dependants
Home Affairs assesses whether you have sufficient funds to support your dependants in addition to yourself.
Financial thresholds (2026 — verify on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)
| Dependant type | Additional cost per year (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Spouse/partner | ~A$24,550 |
| Child (first) | ~A$7,060 |
| Child (second) | ~A$7,060 |
| Child (third+) | ~A$7,060 each |
Example: If you are applying as primary student (A$29,710) with a spouse (A$24,550) and two children (A$7,060 each):
- Total living costs: A$29,710 + A$24,550 + A$7,060 + A$7,060 = A$68,380 per year.
- Plus your course fees.
Your bank statements and financial documents must demonstrate capacity to cover this total.
Visa charges for dependants
| Applicant type | Charge (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Primary applicant (you) | A$1,600 |
| Spouse/partner (18+) | A$1,170 |
| Child (under 18) | A$390 |
| Adult child (18–23, continuing dependant) | A$1,170 |
Example total charge: You + spouse + 2 children = A$1,600 + A$1,170 + A$390 + A$390 = A$3,550.
Work and study rights of dependants
Spouse/partner work rights
Your spouse or de facto partner can:
- Work full-time (subject to normal Australian employment law).
- Work part-time.
- Self-employment is allowed.
Condition 8105 limitation: If your spouse is also studying and is on a student visa, they are subject to the 48-hour per fortnight work limit during teaching periods.
Sponsorship requirement: Your spouse does not require employer sponsorship to work. They can work for any employer in any role (subject to local employment laws).
Partner study rights
Your spouse can:
- Study at any Australian education provider.
- Enrol in a course (does not need a separate student visa; they study on their dependent visa).
- Full-time or part-time study is allowed.
Child work and study rights
Dependent children can:
- Not work (children are not permitted to work in Australia on dependent visas, except in limited circumstances such as part-time work during school holidays for children aged 17–18; check current policy).
- Attend school (compulsory for school-aged children; see below).
- Study (primary and secondary education).
School requirement: Children of school age (typically under 18) must attend an Australian school approved by Home Affairs. Homeschooling is not permitted on a dependent child visa without special approval.
School fees: School fees are the responsibility of the parent and are not covered by Home Affairs or included in financial assessment thresholds. International school fees in Australia range from A$10,000–$30,000+ per year (depending on the school).
OSHC for dependants
All dependants must be covered by Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC):
- Primary applicant: Mandatory.
- Spouse/partner: Mandatory.
- Dependent children: Mandatory.
OSHC can be obtained as:
- Individual policy for each dependant (more expensive).
- Family policy covering primary applicant + all dependants (usually cheaper than individual policies).
Annual OSHC cost for a family of 4 (primary + spouse + 2 children): approximately A$3,500–$5,500.
See au-oshc-overseas-student-health-cover.md for detailed information.
Schooling for dependent children
Selecting a school
If you are bringing school-aged children, you must:
- Identify an approved school (public or private school recognised by Home Affairs and by the relevant state education authority).
- Enrol your child in the school.
- Obtain a school enrolment letter confirming your child’s enrolment (required for visa application).
Public schools (government-funded) are significantly cheaper than private schools:
- Public primary school: Usually free or minimal fees (A$100–500/year).
- Public secondary school: Usually free or minimal fees (A$100–500/year).
- Private primary school: A$5,000–$20,000/year.
- Private secondary school: A$10,000–$30,000+/year.
School attendance conditions
Once your dependent child is granted a visa, condition 8517 applies:
- School-aged children must attend an approved Australian school for the duration of the visa.
- If you withdraw your child from school, you must immediately notify Home Affairs and your education provider.
- Breach of condition 8517 (non-attendance at school) can result in visa cancellation.
Partners arriving after you
If your partner is not coming with you initially but plans to join later:
- You must sponsor them (as primary applicant on their dependant application).
- Financial capacity is reassessed at the time of their application.
- Your course progress and CoE must still be valid.
- Processing time for a separate dependant visa is usually 4–8 weeks.
Dependent becoming a permanent resident
If you transition to permanent residence (e.g., through skilled migration after graduating), your dependants may also be eligible for permanent residence as family members. However, this requires a separate sponsorship and visa application.
FAQ
Q: Can my dependants work if I am on a student visa? A: Yes. Your spouse/partner can work full-time. Dependent children cannot work (except in limited circumstances such as part-time work during school holidays for older teenagers).
Q: What if my partner is also a student? Do they need a separate student visa? A: No. Your partner can study on their dependent visa (the same visa that allows them to be your partner). They do not need a separate student visa.
Q: Can my de facto partner qualify without 12 months of relationship evidence? A: Usually the 12-month relationship requirement is strict. However, in rare cases (e.g., you are married in your home country but not legally recognised in Australia), you may provide alternative evidence. Consult a migration agent.
Q: What if my child is 18 years old? A: If your child is 18 but still financially dependent on you, they may qualify as a continuing dependant. They will be charged at the adult rate (A$1,170) and must prove financial dependence.
Q: Can my extended family (parents, siblings) come with me? A: No. Only your spouse/partner and dependent children can come as family members on a student visa. Parents and siblings cannot come as dependants.
Q: What if my child is adopted? A: Adopted children can qualify as dependants. You must provide legal adoption documents (court orders, adoption certificate) proving you are the legal guardian.
Q: Do dependants need English-language tests? A: Spouses/partners may need to meet English-language requirements if they are also studying. Children do not need to meet English-language requirements to come as dependants; they will attend school and learn English there.
Q: If my dependant’s visa is refused, is mine also refused? A: No. Your visa and your dependant’s visa are assessed separately. Your visa can be granted while a dependant’s visa is refused (and vice versa). However, most cases are processed together.
Sources
- Dependent visas: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/dependent-visa
- Student visa (Subclass 500): immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-visa-500
- Financial capacity for dependants: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/financial-capacity
- OSHC providers: allianzcare.com.au, bupa.com.au, medibank.com.au
Last reviewed: April 2026. Visa rules and charges change frequently — always verify on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging.