The student visa dependents rules in Australia changed in 2026, and the change affects thousands of families. For years, international students could bring a partner and children with them, or have family join later in the course. Many families planned their study abroad around exactly that.
On 2 October 2026, that changed. Most new Student visa (subclass 500) applicants can no longer include a partner or dependent children, and nobody can add family after a visa is granted.
If you have already paid a deposit, accepted an offer, or told your family they could join you next semester, this news can feel overwhelming. Getting it wrong could mean a refused application, lost fees, or months apart from the people you love.
The good news: some students are still exempt, families already on a visa are protected, and other options exist. This guide explains, in plain language, who the new rules affect, who can still bring family, and what to do next.
What changed for student visa family members on 2 October 2026?
From 2 October 2026, most Student visa applicants cannot include a partner or dependent children in their application. Family also cannot be added after a Student visa is granted, and the Department of Home Affairs states there are no exemptions to that second rule.
The new rules apply to the Student visa (subclass 500) and the Student Guardian visa (subclass 590). According to the Department of Home Affairs, they change two things: who can apply for a visa while inside Australia, and whether family members can be included.
Home Affairs says the changes may affect you if you are:
- applying for a Student visa while in Australia
- a Student visa holder applying for another Student visa
- planning to include family members in your application
- hoping family can join you later in your course
A “dependent” (also called a secondary applicant or family member) means your partner (married or de facto) and your dependent children. A “subsequent entrant” is a family member who applies to join a student after the student’s visa has already been granted.
| Situation | Before 2 October 2026 | From 2 October 2026 |
| Including partner and children in a new application | Generally allowed | Only if you meet an exemption |
| Family joining later (subsequent entrant) | Allowed | Not allowed, no exemptions |
| Applying for a further Student visa with family | Generally allowed | Limited, only in specific situations |
| Applying for a Student visa from inside Australia | Allowed for most temporary visa holders | Not allowed for most temporary visa holders |
| Applications already lodged | Old rules | Still assessed under old rules |
The government flagged the change on 17 September 2026, and the regulations took effect less than three weeks later. That short notice is why many families were caught mid-plan.
Who can still bring a partner or children on a student visa?
Four groups of students can still include family when they apply: PhD students, students sponsored by DFAT or Defence, foreign government scholarship recipients, and eligible students from Pacific countries and ASEAN member countries. Home Affairs lists these exemptions on its family members page.
| Exemption group | Who it covers | Good to know |
| PhD students | Students enrolled in a doctoral degree | A coursework Master’s or Master by Research does not count |
| DFAT or Defence sponsored | Students sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or the Department of Defence | Usually Australia Awards and similar programs |
| Foreign government scholarship | Students on a scholarship from their home government | Reportedly must fully fund the studies |
| Pacific and ASEAN students | Eligible students holding a passport from a Pacific country or an ASEAN member country | Based on the student’s passport, not where they live |
One rule applies to every exemption. You and your family must all be in the same location when you lodge: either everyone in Australia, or everyone outside Australia.
Which countries count under the Pacific and ASEAN exemption?
The Pacific and ASEAN exemption depends on the passport the main student holds. This matters a great deal for SOL Edu students from Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines, who may still be able to study in Australia with their families.
The ASEAN member countries are:
| Region | Countries |
| ASEAN | Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam |
| Pacific | Pacific island countries such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu |
The word “eligible” matters. Being from one of these countries does not guarantee the exemption, because other criteria in the regulations also apply. Check your situation before you lodge.
Does a foreign government scholarship qualify?
Yes, a foreign government scholarship can qualify. This is relevant for many students from the Middle East and Latin America whose governments fund overseas study. Keep your scholarship letter ready, because you will need to prove the sponsorship when you apply.
Can my family join me later after my visa is granted?
No. Since 2 October 2026, no Student visa holder can add a partner or child after the visa is granted, and Home Affairs states there are no exemptions to this rule. This applies even to PhD students and students from exempt countries.
This is the change that catches families out most often. In the past, a common plan was for the student to arrive first, find housing and settle in, then bring the family a few months later. That pathway, the “subsequent entrant” application, no longer exists.
Example: Linh is a Vietnamese student starting a Master’s in Brisbane. She planned to bring her husband in March. Because Linh holds a Vietnamese passport, she may qualify for the ASEAN exemption, but only if she includes her husband when she first applies. If she applies alone, she cannot add him later.
The lesson is simple: if you are exempt and want your family with you at any point, include them in your original application.
What if my family is already on my student visa?
If your family was granted a visa with you, or your application with family was lodged before 2 October 2026, you are protected. Home Affairs confirms that applications lodged before that date are assessed under the rules in place when they were lodged, including applications that already included family members. (See Study Australia.)
Your current visa keeps its conditions. Your partner keeps their existing rights, and your children can stay in school.
What happens when I apply for a further student visa?
You may be able to keep your family on a further Student visa in some situations. According to the Department of Home Affairs, you may be able to include family already on your current visa if you:
- Are applying in Australia and are eligible to do so, for example because you finished your main course and are progressing to further study
- Need up to 12 more months to complete the main course covered by your current visa
- Need to apply again because your education provider defaulted (closed or stopped delivering your course)
In every case, you and your family must be in the same location when you lodge. If your situation does not fit one of these, speak to a registered migration agent before your visa expires.
Can my partner switch to their own student visa in Australia?
Usually not from inside Australia. Since 2 October 2026, most temporary visa holders can no longer apply for a Student visa while in Australia, and this includes people who hold a Student visa as a dependant and now want to become the main student. In most cases, your partner would need to leave Australia and apply from overseas.
The onshore restriction also covers Working Holiday Maker and Skills in Demand visa holders, according to Study Australia. Some current Student visa holders can still apply onshore, for example when they progress to a higher-level course, but each exception has detailed criteria.
If your partner is thinking about studying, plan the timing carefully. Applying from overseas can mean travel costs, time apart, and waiting for a decision outside Australia. Home Affairs publishes a decision tree on applying in Australia that is a useful first check.
What can student visa dependents do in Australia?
Dependents who are already on a Student visa, or who come under an exemption, can work, study short courses, and send their children to school. Their rights depend mostly on the main student’s course level.
| Area | What dependents can do | Key condition |
| Work (partner) | Up to 48 hours per fortnight | Unlimited hours if the main student has started a Master’s or doctorate degree |
| When work can start | Only after the main student’s course has begun | Check conditions on VEVO |
| Study (partner) | Short courses of up to 3 months | Longer study needs their own Student visa |
| School (children) | School-age children must attend school | Most states charge international fees for dependents |
Work limits are set by visa condition 8104. Universities such as UNSW explain that family members of students who have started a Master’s or doctorate degree can work unrestricted hours, while family of all other students are capped at 48 hours a fortnight.
For families in Brisbane, school fees for dependent children are set by the Queensland Government and vary by school year.
You can check any visa holder’s exact conditions on VEVO, the Home Affairs Visa Entitlement Verification Online service.
What are the alternatives if I'm not exempt?
If you are not exempt, your family can still come to Australia, but each person needs a visa in their own right. The most common options are a separate Student visa for your partner, visitor visas for short trips, or choosing a course that brings you under an exemption.
| Option | Who it suits | Work rights | Where to apply | Main limitation |
| Partner applies for their own Student visa | Partners who also want to study | Yes, as a student (48 hours per fortnight in session) | Usually outside Australia | Partner pays full tuition and meets all requirements alone |
| Visitor visa (subclass 600) | Short family visits during holidays | No | Outside Australia | Stays are temporary and must be genuine visits |
| Enrol in a PhD | Students with strong research goals | Family can work unlimited hours | Inside or outside Australia | PhD entry is competitive and long |
| Government-funded scholarship | Students eligible for home-government or DFAT funding | Depends on the course | Outside Australia | Limited places |
Option 1: Your partner studies too
This is often the most practical choice for couples. Your partner chooses their own course, such as an English (ELICOS), vocational (VET) or university program, and applies for their own Student visa. Because each of you is a main student, each of you gets your own work rights. The trade-off is the cost of two sets of tuition fees, health cover and living-cost evidence.
Option 2: Visits during study breaks
Some families decide the student will study alone, with family visiting during semester breaks on visitor visas. This suits shorter courses, such as a one-year Graduate Diploma. Visitor visa holders cannot work and generally cannot switch to a Student visa from inside Australia.
Option 3: Rethink your course or funding
If you were already considering research, a PhD brings your family back into scope. It also gives your partner unlimited work rights. If your home government offers study scholarships, it is worth applying, because a qualifying scholarship is also an exemption.
How should families plan their study in Australia now?
Plan before you pay. Check your exemption status, decide who will travel, and lodge everyone together if you qualify. Home Affairs itself advises applicants to understand the new rules before making visa, study, travel or relocation plans.
Use this checklist before you commit:
- Check your exemption. Are you a PhD student, government-sponsored, a scholarship holder, or a passport holder from a Pacific or ASEAN country?
- Decide now who is coming. If you are exempt, include your family in your first application, because you cannot add them later.
- Keep everyone in the same place. You and your family must all be inside, or all outside, Australia when you lodge.
- Check your current visa dates. If your family is already with you, know whether you can apply for a further visa onshore before your current one expires.
- Budget for separate visas. If your partner needs their own Student visa, include their tuition, health cover and living costs in your plans.
- Get advice before paying deposits. A registered migration agent can confirm your options before you accept an offer.
Use the official Home Affairs decision tree on including family as a first check, then confirm with a professional.
Frequently asked questions about student visa dependents in Australia
Can I bring my wife or husband on a Master’s student visa in Australia?
For most Master’s students, no. Since 2 October 2026, a coursework Master’s or Master by Research is not an exemption. You can include your partner only if you also fall into another exempt group, such as holding a Pacific or ASEAN passport, a qualifying foreign government scholarship, or DFAT or Defence sponsorship. Otherwise, your partner would need their own visa, such as a separate Student visa.
Are Vietnamese and Thai students exempt from the student visa family restrictions?
They may be. Eligible students holding a passport from an ASEAN member country, including Vietnam and Thailand, can still include family members when they apply. “Eligible” means other criteria also apply, so check your situation before lodging. Remember that family must be included in your first application, because nobody can add family after a Student visa is granted.
Can my children go to school in Australia if I’m on a student visa?
Yes, if your children are already on your Student visa or you qualify for an exemption. School-age dependants must attend school while in Australia. In most states, including Queensland, international fees apply to children of student visa holders, so include school fees in your budget.
Does the new rule apply if I lodged my application before 2 October 2026?
No. Home Affairs confirms that Student visa applications lodged before 2 October 2026 are assessed under the rules in place when they were lodged, including applications that already included family members. A visa already granted with family included also continues on its existing terms.
Can my partner visit me on a visitor visa while I study?
Yes, your partner can apply for a visitor visa (subclass 600) for a genuine short visit, such as during semester breaks. A visitor visa does not allow work, and since 2 October 2026 visitor visa holders generally cannot apply for a Student visa from inside Australia. Visits must be temporary.
Not sure if your family can come with you? Talk to SOL Edu
The 2026 student visa dependants rules are strict, and one wrong step, such as applying alone when you were exempt, cannot be undone. Since 2002, SOL Edu has helped international students from Asia, Latin America, India and the Middle East plan their study in Australia from our office in Brisbane.
Our education counsellors and registered migration agents can check whether you qualify for an exemption, help you choose a course and timeline that suits your family, and prepare your application so everyone who is eligible is included from the start.
Book a free consultation with SOL Edu today →
This article is general information only and is not legal or migration advice. Visa rules can change at short notice, so always check the Department of Home Affairs website or speak with a registered migration agent about your situation.