Can My Family Come on My Australian Visa?
One of the most common questions in Australian immigration is whether family members can be included in your visa application. The answer depends on the visa type, your family composition, and whether your dependants meet health and character requirements. This guide covers every scenario — from including a spouse on a skilled visa to adding children to a student visa application.
Quick Facts: Including Family Members
| Visa Type | Partner Included? | Children Included? | Additional Cost per Person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student (500) | Yes | Yes | AUD $710 (partner), AUD $175 (child) |
| Skilled (189/190) | Yes | Yes | AUD $4,640 (partner), AUD $2,320 (child) |
| WHV (417/462) | No | No | N/A |
| Employer (482) | Yes | Yes | AUD $2,645 (partner), AUD $660 (child) |
| Tourist (600) | Separate application | Separate application | AUD $430 each |
| Partner (309/820) | N/A (applicant is the partner) | Yes | AUD $2,320 (child) |
Who Counts as a Dependant?
Partner/Spouse
Your partner can be included if they are your:
- Married spouse: Legally married under Australian or foreign law
- De facto partner: In a genuine de facto relationship of at least 12 months (same-sex relationships recognised)
- Prospective marriage partner: In specific visa types (subclass 300)
You must provide evidence of a genuine and continuing relationship. This includes cohabitation evidence, joint finances, social recognition, and commitment declarations.
Dependent Children
Your children can be included if they are:
- Under 18 years of age, OR
- Over 18 but under 23 and financially dependent on you, OR
- Over 23 and incapable of working due to physical or cognitive limitations
Children must be your biological children, step-children, or legally adopted children. All children must meet health and character requirements.
Who Cannot Be Included
- Parents (separate visa required — see sponsoring parents)
- Siblings
- Extended family members
- Friends
- De facto partners of less than 12 months (unless there's a child of the relationship or compelling circumstances)
Including Family on Student Visas (Subclass 500)
Your Partner
Your partner (spouse or de facto) can be included in your student visa application. They'll receive a dependent student visa with:
- Work rights: Unlimited hours during your course period
- Health cover: OSHC must cover your partner
- Stay duration: Same as your student visa
Your Children
Children under 18 can be included. School-age children in Australia must attend school, and you must demonstrate capacity to fund their education (public school fees apply for international students in most states).
Financial Impact
Including family significantly increases financial requirements:
- Living costs: Add approximately AUD $10,394 per year for a partner and AUD $4,449 per year per child
- OSHC: Family OSHC costs significantly more than singles
- Tuition: Your children's school fees if applicable
Genuine Student Impact
Including family members can affect your Genuine Student assessment. The Department may question whether your primary purpose is study or family migration. Ensure your application clearly demonstrates genuine study intentions.
Including Family on Skilled Visas (189/190/491)
Partner
Your partner can be included as a secondary applicant. Benefits:
- Same visa grant (permanent for 189/190, provisional for 491)
- Full work rights
- Medicare eligibility (from visa grant for 189/190)
- If your partner has a skills assessment and competent English, you can claim additional points
Children
Dependent children are included as secondary applicants with the same visa grant and conditions.
Points for Partner Skills
If your partner meets certain criteria, you can claim extra points:
- Partner has a positive skills assessment: points
- Partner has Competent English: points
- Partner is under 45: must meet age requirement
- Partner has an occupation on the relevant list: points
If your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you can claim points for that instead.
Including Family on Employer-Sponsored Visas (482/186)
Subclass 482 (TSS)
Partners and children can be included:
- Partner receives full work rights (unrestricted)
- Children can attend school (may need to pay international student fees)
- All must meet health and character requirements
Subclass 186 (ENS)
Partners and children are included as permanent residents from grant date.
Working Holiday Visas: No Family Inclusion
The Working Holiday visa (417) and Work and Holiday visa (462) do not allow you to include dependants. Each person must apply separately for their own visa. Dependent children cannot be taken to Australia on a WHV.
Tourist Visas: Separate Applications
Tourist visa (subclass 600) applications are individual. Family members each need their own application and pay their own fees. However, you can submit a "group application" through ImmiAccount which bundles family applications together for convenience (each application is assessed individually).
Adding Family Members After Visa Grant
Subsequent Entrant Applications
If you didn't include a family member in your original application, you may be able to add them later through a "subsequent entrant" application for some visa types:
- Skilled visas (189/190/491): Subsequent entrant applications possible within 5 years of original grant (conditions apply)
- Student visas: Partner can apply separately for a dependent visa at a later date
- Employer-sponsored: Subsequent entrant may be possible
Newborn Children
If you have a baby while in Australia, see our guide to adding a newborn to your visa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my partner need a skills assessment?
Only if you want to claim partner points for skilled migration. Otherwise, your partner is included as a dependant and doesn't need their own skills assessment.
Can my de facto partner be included if we've been together less than 12 months?
Generally no — you need 12 months of de facto relationship. Exceptions may apply if there's a child of the relationship or if you can demonstrate compelling circumstances for not meeting the 12-month requirement.
Do my family members need separate health exams?
Yes. Every person included in the visa application needs their own health examination and police clearance (for those aged 16+).
Can I include my family on a Bridging Visa?
If your family members were included in the substantive visa application and are in Australia, they should have their own bridging visa. If they weren't in the original application, they generally cannot be added to a bridging visa.
What if my partner doesn't meet the English requirement for skilled migration?
Your partner doesn't need English to be included in your visa as a dependant. English is only required if you want to claim partner points. If your partner doesn't meet the English requirement, you simply don't claim those points.
How much extra does it cost to include family?
Costs vary by visa type and number of family members. For a skilled visa (189), expect approximately AUD $4,640 for a partner and AUD $2,320 per child, in addition to the primary applicant fee. These fees add up significantly for larger families.
