Planning to pursue higher studies in Australia with your family? The first requirement is to know everything about the dependent visa. With the help of the Australian student dependent visa (subclass 500), international students who study in Australia are permitted to take their spouse, partner, and children with them while they pursue their studies in Australia. However, it has become increasingly important to stay updated with the Australian student dependent visa's new rules to experience a smooth visa application process. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about the dependent visa Australia subclass 500.
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The Student Dependent Visa (Subclass 500) permits the family members of international students to live in Australia for the duration of the student's course. Dependents can be a spouse, minor children, and, if the student has any stepchildren under their guardianship. If you have a dependent, then they can apply at the same time as you apply for the Australian study visa. It is also possible to apply later, once the primary visa holder has begun the course in Australia.
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In May 2024, keeping in mind the increasing cost of living in Australia, the government increased the financial capacity, also applicable to both current and new visa applicants.
Category | Before May 2024 | After May 10, 2024 |
Primary Student | AUD 24,505 | AUD 29,710 |
Spouse/Partner | AUD 8,574 | AUD 10,394 |
Each Dependent Child | AUD 3,670 | AUD 4,449 |
Annual School Costs (per child) | AUD 9,661 | AUD 13,502 |
Annual Income (no family) | AUD 72,465 | AUD 87,856 |
Annual Income (with family) | AUD 84,543 | AUD 102,500 |
Note: The accepted proofs of income include bank statements, loan letters, and sponsor affidavits.
The following are the mandatory documents required for the Australian dependent visa (Subclass 500).
Valid passports of all the dependents
In case of the spouse, a marriage certificate is needed
In case of dependent children, the birth certificate is required
Financial proofs as per the latest changes
Form 919 (nomination of student dependents)
Form 157 A (Student visa application)
Health examinations (Form 26 and Form 160)
These are the steps that you need to follow to apply for a dependent visa in Australia in 2025:
Step 1: Create an ImmiAccount by visiting immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and start the visa application.
Step 2: Upload all the required documents by attaching the certified scanned documents.
Step 3: Book the slots for health checkups with certificate doctors
Step 4: Pay the visa application fee and submit it.
Step 5: Monitor your progress through ImmiAccount by tracking the application status.
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The visa processing time for dependents is based on the time when they are applying. If the dependent is applying for the visa during the off-peak season, that is, during the months of January-April or from August to November, then the estimated visa processing time during that time is 6-8 weeks. If you apply during the peak season, which is from May to July and October to December, then the visa processing time during that time is 10-12 weeks.
These are the work and study rights for dependents in Australia.
Spouse/partner rights: The spouse or partner can work up to 48 hours per two weeks. If the student is pursuing a master's or PhD, then the dependent is allowed to work for unlimited hours.
Children’s rights: If the dependent is a child who is between 5 and 17 years of age, they must go to a school in Australia. And the public schools can charge international tuition fees from them.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Dependent visas permit spouses and unmarried children under 18 to live with the primary visa holders in Australia. The dependents can also work part-time in Australia.
The new rule for student visas in Australia starting 1 January 2025 is the Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
Yes, dependents are allowed in Australia on a student visa. With this visa, dependents can go there with the primary visa holder and live there.
The dependent visa processing time in Australia in 2025 ranges from a few weeks to a couple of months. About 75% of the dependent visas are processed in about a month. Some of the visas are processed within 48 days.
The validity of a dependent visa in Australia depends on the type of visa that the main visa holder has. Generally, it is the same as the duration of the main visa holder’s duration.
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