Student Dependent Visa Australia: Bringing a Partner or Children on a Student Visa

Who Can Be Included as a Member of the Family Unit

The student visa 500 uses the concept of a 'member of the family unit' to define which family members can be included. For most applicants, this means:

- A spouse (legally married husband or wife)
- A de facto partner (in a genuine relationship for at least 12 months prior to lodging, or with a registered relationship in an Australian state or territory — registration can substitute for the 12-month cohabitation requirement)
- Dependent children, generally under 18 years of age and financially reliant on the primary applicant

Other relatives — parents, siblings, adult children — do not qualify as members of the family unit for the purpose of a student visa secondary application. They would need to apply for their own appropriate visa.

All secondary applicants must meet their own health and character requirements, and the primary student must continue to hold a valid student visa for the duration of the dependants' stay.

Applying Together vs the Subsequent Entrant Route

There are two ways for family members to obtain student visa 500 status: as part of the primary application or as subsequent entrants after the primary visa is granted.

**Including family in the original application**
The Department of Home Affairs expects applicants to declare all members of their family unit when they first lodge, even if those family members do not intend to travel to Australia immediately. Declaring them costs nothing extra at the lodgement stage — only those who actually travel pay additional visa application charges. Not declaring a family member at the time of the original lodgement can make them ineligible for subsequent entrant status later.

**Subsequent entrant applications**
If family members were correctly declared in the original application but did not travel at the same time, they can apply as subsequent entrants later through ImmiAccount. They lodge their own application, referencing the primary student's visa. The student's visa must still be valid, and the family member must still meet the standard criteria.

**When a relationship or family situation changes after grant**
If a de facto relationship began, or a child was born, after the student visa was granted, the primary applicant may need to apply for a new student visa that includes the new family member. Each case is different, and the department assesses these individually — a MARA-registered migration agent can advise on the best approach for your specific circumstances.

Processing times for subsequent entrant applications vary; planning with several months' lead time is advisable.

Financial Capacity Evidence for Dependants

Demonstrating financial capacity is a core part of any student visa application, and including family members increases the amounts required. The Department of Home Affairs publishes minimum living cost thresholds. As of 2026, the indicative figures are:

- Primary student: approximately AUD 29,710 per year
- Partner or spouse: approximately AUD 10,394 per year
- Each dependent child: approximately AUD 4,449 per year

These figures apply to the first 12 months. If the course runs longer, officers expect evidence of capacity to cover the full duration. Acceptable forms of evidence include personal bank statements (typically showing funds held over several months, not a single large deposit), term deposits, formal financial guarantees from a parent or sponsor, evidence of a government or institutional scholarship, or a combination of these.

Adding a partner and two children to an application, for example, means the threshold increases by roughly AUD 19,000 on top of the primary student's requirement. Applicants should account for tuition fees, return airfares for all family members, and school fees (discussed below) when preparing their financial evidence, as case officers look at the overall picture of whether the family can genuinely support itself.

Work Rights for Dependent Partners — What Condition 8104 Means

Secondary applicants on a student visa 500 typically hold visa condition 8104, which limits their work rights. The key rules under this condition are:

**Partners of bachelor-level and below students**
If the primary student is enrolled in a bachelor degree, diploma, certificate, or any course below master's level, the partner may work no more than 48 hours per fortnight (any consecutive 14-day period). The 48-hour limit applies even during university semester breaks — unlike the primary student, dependants do not automatically receive unrestricted work hours during breaks at this study level.

**Partners of master's and doctoral students**
If the primary student is enrolled in a master's degree (whether by coursework or by research) or a doctoral degree, the partner may work unlimited hours. This exemption is one of the more significant practical benefits for families of postgraduate research students.

**When work may commence**
In both cases, the secondary applicant cannot begin work until the primary student has commenced their course. Evidence that the course has started — such as a Confirmation of Enrolment or a letter from the institution — is generally what employers will check.

**Dependent children**
Dependent children also hold condition 8104 but the work restriction is of limited practical relevance given they are typically minors.

Breaching condition 8104 by working more hours than permitted is a visa condition violation that can have serious consequences, including visa cancellation. Employers should verify the visa conditions of secondary applicants before rostering them above the permitted threshold.

Schooling for Dependent Children

Children who are of compulsory school age (which varies slightly by state but broadly covers ages 5 or 6 through to 17) must be enrolled in a recognised school in Australia. Both government (public) and non-government (private) schools are options.

**School fees at government schools**
Unlike resident families, dependent children of international students are generally not entitled to attend government schools at no charge. In most states and territories, government schools charge international student tuition fees. These amounts vary by state — indicative ranges in recent years have been roughly AUD 4,000 to AUD 6,500 per child per year at primary level, with secondary school fees in some states higher still.

**Exemptions for research and doctoral students**
Many states have a fee exemption policy for dependent children where the primary student is enrolled in a doctoral (PhD) programme or a master's by research degree. New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia, among others, have published exemption criteria for these study levels, though conditions differ (for example, some states require the student not to be receiving a scholarship that covers school fees for dependants). Exemptions for students in coursework master's or bachelor programmes are generally not available.

**Private school enrolment**
Families who choose private schooling will pay standard private school fees, which are unrelated to immigration status.

Before enrolling, it is worth contacting the relevant state or territory education authority to confirm the current fee arrangements applicable to your visa type and level of study, as policies can change.

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the Whole Family

Overseas Student Health Cover is compulsory for all student visa holders and must extend to every family member accompanying the primary student in Australia. This is a visa condition (8501), not optional.

OSHC must be maintained for the entire period the family members are in Australia on the student visa. If a family member's stay is shorter than the primary student's course, OSHC still needs to cover their period of residence.

Policy types available from approved OSHC providers typically include:
- **Single**: primary student only
- **Couple**: primary student plus one partner
- **Single-parent family**: primary student plus dependent children
- **Family**: primary student, partner, and dependent children

The insurers currently approved and selling OSHC are Allianz Care Australia, ahm, Bupa, Medibank and nib. (CBHS International Health was historically approved but stopped selling new OSHC and OVHC policies from 31 October 2025, so it is not an option for a new purchase). Premiums differ between providers, so comparing policies is worthwhile, particularly for longer courses where the total outlay can be substantial.

If family members are added as subsequent entrants after the initial policy is purchased, the existing policy should be updated to add them — contact the insurer before the family member arrives in Australia to arrange this.

Evidence of Relationship Required

Secondary applicants must provide evidence that satisfies the definition of a genuine member of the family unit. The type and volume of evidence depends on the relationship:

**For spouses (married)**
- Official marriage certificate (translated into English if not already)
- Evidence of ongoing contact (communication records, photos)
- Evidence of joint financial arrangements where applicable

**For de facto partners**
De facto relationships require more documentation because there is no single certificate to confirm the status. The 12-month cohabitation requirement means applicants need to show the relationship has existed for at least that period prior to lodgement. Evidence typically includes a combination of:
- Shared lease agreements or property records
- Joint bank account statements
- Statutory declarations from the couple and from people who know them
- Photographs together over time
- Correspondence and communication history
- Evidence of shared finances or commitments

Registering a de facto relationship through an Australian state or territory Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages removes the 12-month requirement — but registration must be in place before lodgement. It does not backdating the relationship; it simply satisfies the formal evidence requirement.

**For dependent children**
- Birth certificate showing the parent-child relationship
- Adoption papers if applicable
- Evidence of dependency (for children aged 18 or older who may qualify as dependent in limited circumstances)

Practical Steps When Planning to Bring Family

The following is a general sequence, though individual circumstances vary:

1. **Declare family members when you lodge your student visa application** — even if they are not coming immediately. Failing to declare them can foreclose the subsequent entrant pathway.

2. **Calculate the full financial requirement** — include living costs for each family member, OSHC premiums for appropriate family cover, return airfares, and school fees if children are of school age.

3. **Arrange OSHC for family cover** — either purchase a family or couple policy from the start, or be prepared to update your policy promptly when family members arrive.

4. **Check school fee arrangements in your destination state** — contact the state education authority before arrival to understand enrolment requirements and applicable fees.

5. **Understand the work condition on your partner's visa** — confirm the level of study you are enrolled in, because this directly determines whether your partner can work 48 hours per fortnight or without restriction.

6. **Keep evidence of course commencement** — your partner cannot begin work until you have started your course. A Confirmation of Enrolment or commencement letter from your institution is typically sufficient proof for an employer.

If your circumstances are complicated — for example, a relationship that began after your visa was granted, a child born in Australia during your studies, or difficulty demonstrating the required financial capacity — speaking with a MARA-registered migration agent is a practical step before you lodge anything.