Australia Student Dependent Visa (Subclass 500): Partner Visa Requirements

Are you planning to study in Australia and want to bring your family along? This possible for Australian student visa holders to get their dependents in Australia. Check out the article to understand how can you bring your family members or dependents while being on a student visa in Australia.

Australia remains one of the few major study destinations that still lets international students bring their spouse and children along, even as countries like the UK have tightened dependent rules for taught master's students.

Whether you're including your family in your original Subclass 500 application or planning to bring them later as subsequent entrants, the process has picked up a few new requirements in 2026 - higher financial thresholds, a Genuine Student (GS) assessment instead of the old GTE test, and updated OSHC conditions.

This guide walks you through who qualifies as a dependent, what documents you'll need, how much money you must show, what work rights your partner gets, and how schooling works for dependent children, all updated to reflect the current Department of Home Affairs rules.

Who Qualifies as a Dependent for Subclass 500 Visa Holders?

Home Affairs uses the term "member of the family unit," and for a Subclass 500 application this covers only two categories:

• Partner: Legally married spouse or de facto partner (de facto typically needs 12+ months of cohabitation evidence or relationship registration).
• Dependent children: Biological, adopted, or step-children under 18. A child who turns 18 before the visa is decided cannot be included as a dependent on this subclass

Who Can You Bring as a Dependent on Your Australia Student Visa?

The Subclass 500 visa allows you to include close family members as secondary applicants. This isn't a separate visa category - your dependents are attached to your student visa and share its validity period.

You can bring:

• Spouse or partner:  your legally married or de facto partner, including same-sex partners.
• Dependent children:  your own children, or your partner's children, who are under 18 years of age when a decision is made on the visa.
• Parents, siblings, and other extended family members are not eligible as dependents on a student visa.

If your child turns 18 before your visa is decided, they generally won't qualify unless they're still in continuous secondary-level study, otherwise, they'll need to apply for their own visa (often a student visa, since they're eligible to enrol independently at that age).

One point students often miss: even if your family isn't travelling with you right away, you should still declare them on your original application. If you don't, they won't be eligible to join you later as subsequent entrants without a fresh explanation of changed circumstances.

Documents required for Dependent Visa in Australia

Those who have started their studies and are applying for the dependent visa need to submit the following documents:

• Nomination of Student Dependents from university letterhead
• Confirmation of Enrollment
• Letter from your faculty stating:
  • Name of your course
  • Course duration and expected completion date
  • If you are fulfilling all the course requirements
• Financial proof that you can support your family members and yourself
• Proof of family ties like marriage or birth certificate
• Proof of school enrolment of school-aged children
• Proof of health insurance for dependents

Applicants who get their Subclass (500) visa, will have to request their universities in Australia to allow dependents to come to Australia. This process applies only to student visa holders, and they will have to file the nomination request. Upon confirmation, the applicant's dependents will be directed on how to proceed with the formalities. In case the university denies it, the dependents will not get a visa to come to Australia.

Financial Requirements: How Much Money Do You Need?

Living-cost benchmarks are reviewed annually, and 2026 brought a noticeable increase. As the primary applicant, you now need to show evidence of AUD 29,710 for your own living costs to sustain in Australia, up from AUD 24,505 previously. Bringing family adds to that figure.

For Post Study Work Dependents in Australia

The Post Study Work Visa holder needs to show proof of employment and appropriate funds along with documents like the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) or relationship proof.

Dependent Family Members on Student Visa in Australia

A student visa allows you to bring close family members as dependents on your student visa.

You can bring:

• Your spouse or partner who you have been living with for 12 months
• Your children under 18 or who are still in education (studying A-levels)

Also, note that the work rights of the dependent partner will depend on the course you are studying:

• If you are studying a bachelor's degree program, the dependent partner is allowed to work up to 40 hours per fortnight.
• If you are pursuing a master's degree program or a doctorate, then the partner enjoys full and unlimited work rights.

The family members can also apply as subsequent entrants at a later stage, which would be separate from the student visa application. Applications can be filed through ImmiAccount.

Bringing spouse to Australia on Study Visa

You can bring your spouse to Australia with you while applying for the Australian Study Visa. As a primary applicant, you need to fulfil the visa criteria. Your spouse will also get the visa if the primary applicant fulfils the visa criteria. An additional cost will be incurred while applying for a spouse visa for student visa holders. 

Applicants should note that they can get counselling to obtain admission in any of the countries abroad.

If you need admission-related assistance, you can get in touch with our counsellors at - https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/apply.