One-line direct answer
Married or de-facto partners and dependent children can join a Subclass 500 student on a linked visa; the primary applicant must prove an additional AUD 10,394 per spouse and AUD 4,461 per child per year, and the spouse of a research or master’s student may work unlimited hours.
Who can be your dependent
Home Affairs allows the following as dependants on your student visa:
Spouse or de-facto partner: Must be legally married or in a de-facto relationship for at least 12 months. Same-sex partners are recognised. You must provide evidence of the relationship (marriage certificate, or a statutory declaration from both partners plus joint financial documents, shared lease, photos, and declarations from two witnesses for de-facto relationships).
Children: Biological, step, or adopted children who are under 18 (or under 23 if financially dependent and unmarried). You must be the primary caregiver or have legal custody. Guardianship documents or custody orders are required if the child is not biologically yours.
Dependent parents: Very rare. Only permissible if the parent is wholly or substantially dependent on you and there is no other family member who can support them. This requires exceptional circumstances and is seldom granted.
You cannot include siblings, cousins, or extended family members as dependants on a student visa.
Financial requirements for dependants
If you include dependants, Home Affairs adds to your Notional Assessment Amount (NAA) — the annual financial threshold.
The standard NAA for a student is approximately AUD 20,000–25,000 per year plus the course fees. If you have a spouse, add AUD 10,394. If you have children, add AUD 4,461 per child.
Example: You’re applying for a 2-year master’s degree at AUD 18,000/year. Your base NAA is AUD 36,000 (fees) + AUD 40,000–50,000 (living for 2 years) = AUD 76,000–86,000. If you have a spouse, add AUD 10,394 × 2 years = AUD 20,788. Your total required financial evidence is now AUD 96,000–107,000.
Evidence: Submit 3–6 months of bank statements for the primary applicant and any sponsor (usually a parent), a Statutory Declaration if funds are held by a relative, and an employment letter confirming income. Convert all amounts to AUD and state the total clearly in your financial statement.
Visa subclass and work rights for spouse
Your spouse will be granted a Subclass 500 visa, but with restricted work rights. Here’s the key distinction:
For master’s students, research students, or PhD candidates: Your spouse can work unlimited hours (full-time or part-time) in Australia. This is a major benefit for families. However, to obtain this right, you (the primary applicant) must be enrolled in a master’s by research, professional master’s, or research PhD. A coursework master’s typically does not grant unlimited work rights to the spouse.
For bachelor’s, associate degree, or diploma students: Your spouse is entitled to work only during your scheduled course breaks (same as students), or not at all, depending on Home Affairs’ assessment of your application. Check your partner’s visa grant letter under “Condition 8105” for work entitlements.
This is a critical distinction: if your spouse’s income is central to your financial plan, verify before applying that you’re enrolled in a research-heavy master’s or PhD. If you’re in a coursework program, your spouse’s work rights are limited, and you’ll need to demonstrate full financial support for both of you.
Health and character requirements for spouse and children
All dependants must pass:
Health assessment: A standard health examination (chest X-ray, blood tests) via an approved panel doctor. This is included in the visa processing fee. If any dependant has a health condition that is likely to cost the Australian health system more than AUD 45,000 over 10 years, or poses a public-health risk, they may be refused.
Character assessment: All dependants aged 16 and over must provide police clearance certificates from any country they’ve lived in for 12+ months in the past 10 years. Criminal convictions (except minor traffic offences) can result in refusal.
Budget time for these assessments; they typically take 4–8 weeks to obtain.
De-facto relationship: evidence requirements
If you’re in a de-facto (unmarried) relationship, Home Affairs requires evidence of commitment. You’ll need:
- A statutory declaration from both you and your partner confirming the nature and length of the relationship (minimum 12 months).
- Joint financial documents (joint bank account, joint mortgage or lease, joint utility bills).
- Evidence of shared living arrangement (tenancy agreement or mortgage papers showing both names, or statutory declaration).
- Declarations from two independent witnesses (not family members) who can attest to the relationship.
This process is more onerous than a marriage certificate, so if you’re planning to move with a partner, it’s simpler to marry first.
Custody and guardianship for children
If your dependent child is biologically yours or your spouse’s, you’ll need the child’s birth certificate. If the child is not biologically yours, you’ll need:
- Adoption papers or guardianship court order, or
- A statutory declaration from the biological parent/parents authorising you as the primary carer and consenting to the child’s move to Australia.
If the child’s other parent does not consent, Home Affairs may refuse the visa application or seek court evidence of your legal right to take the child out of Malaysia.
Sponsor requirements and responsibility
The primary applicant (the student) is financially responsible for all dependants. Home Affairs will require evidence that you have the funds to support them throughout their stay in Australia. If a spouse or child becomes a public charge (relies on government welfare), Home Affairs may cancel the primary visa and the dependant visas.
If a dependant is later sponsored by an employer (e.g. the spouse applies for a 186 employer-sponsored visa), they can switch to an independent visa. But during the student visa period, the student is the sponsor.
Malaysian pathway
Married STPM or A-Level students can include a spouse on their Subclass 500. Ensure you have the marriage certificate, evidence of joint living (if available), and sufficient financial proof for both. If your spouse is not working in Malaysia, you must prove funds for living expenses of AUD 10,394/year per spouse in addition to your own NAA. This is a significant hurdle; many couples defer one partner’s move until after graduation and PR application.
Diploma holders with children entering a postgraduate degree should plan ahead. Each child adds AUD 4,461/year to your financial requirement. For a 2-year master’s, that’s an additional AUD 8,922 per child. If you have two children, you’ll need AUD 17,844 extra in financial evidence. This is achievable but requires careful planning.
Bachelor’s students (via foundation + degree) with a spouse or child face the longest commitment and highest financial burden. A 4-year pathway (foundation + 3-year degree) with a spouse requires proof of approximately AUD 100,000–120,000 in today’s money (accounting for course fees, living, and spousal support). Many families bring the spouse later, after the student has found work on a 485 or secured a graduate-stream PR visa.
Research master’s or PhD students have a significant advantage: a spouse can work full-time. If your spouse has a professional qualification recognised in Australia (nurse, accountant, engineer), they can seek work in their field while you study, offsetting living costs. This makes a research pathway more financially viable for families.
Common questions
Can my spouse’s income be counted towards my financial proof? Potentially, yes, but only if your spouse is also working in Australia. If your spouse will be jobless upon arrival, their earning potential cannot be counted. If they secure employment within the first few weeks (unlikely unless they have Australian work experience or credentials), their payslips can be used to reduce your financial obligation going forward.
If my spouse is on my Subclass 500, do they need their own health and character assessment? Yes. Dependants must pass the same health assessment and character checks as the primary applicant. Do not skip these.
What if my child is older than 18 but still financially dependent? If your child is 18–23, not married, and wholly dependent on you financially (no income, no assets), you may include them if you can provide evidence of financial dependence (e.g. bank statements showing you cover all living expenses, school fees, medical costs).
Can my spouse apply for a work visa later if they find an employer to sponsor them? Yes. If your spouse secures an employer willing to sponsor them for a 186, 482, or other work visa, they can apply while in Australia. The employer must nominate them and meet certain criteria. However, this is not guaranteed and should not be relied on as part of your financial plan.
If my spouse’s visa is cancelled due to health, am I still a student on my 500? Yes. Dependant visa cancellation does not automatically cancel the primary student visa. However, if you lose financial support (e.g. your spouse leaves and you no longer have their potential income), you must notify Home Affairs of the change in circumstances.
What if I marry or have a child after my Subclass 500 is granted? You must notify Home Affairs of the change in family status. Depending on the timing and your financial situation, you may be able to add them to your existing visa via a “visa condition variation” or you may need to apply for a new visa. Do not simply bring them to Australia without updating your visa; this is a breach of visa conditions.
Sources
- Home Affairs — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au (Subclass 500 family composition and sponsorship requirements)
- Home Affairs — Health requirements for spouse and dependent children
- Home Affairs — Character requirements for visa applicants and dependants
- Australian Government — Relationship evidence guidelines (de-facto partnerships)
- Fair Work Ombudsman — fairwork.gov.au (spouse work rights and conditions)
Visa rules change regularly. Confirm current financial thresholds, work-rights conditions, and family eligibility criteria at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging.