Visas for your family
You may wish to invite family to visit you or live with you during your time in Australia.
Inviting friends or family to visit
If your friends or family want to visit you while you're in Australia, it's likely they will need to obtain a visitor visa (subclass 600).
As part of their visa application, your friends or family may be asked for additional documentation by the Department of Home Affairs. This can include:
- a letter of support from you (view a sample letter)
- a certified copy of your passport and student visa grant letter
- details about your graduation ceremony (such as the invitation you received for your graduation) or
- details of your enrolment (for a regular visit).
Sample letter for visiting family
[Address of the Australian visa office in your home country]
Subject: [full name and date of birth of the visitor]
Date: [date]
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am currently enrolled in a course leading to [degree name] at the University of Melbourne and expect to complete my course on [date]. I wish to invite [name of visitor] to visit me in Australia for [number of weeks or month] {and attend my graduation ceremony on [ceremony date]}.
I have attached a verified copy of my passport, my Australian student visa, and a copy of the University of Melbourne Schedule of Degree Conferring Ceremonies {available from our graduation page}.
Yours sincerely,
[your name as it appears on passport]
[your residential address in Australia]
Bringing your family to live
Dependents and subsequent entrants
The Department of Home Affairs allows most students to bring their immediate family members to Australia. Immediate family members are called dependents, and may include your spouse (or de facto partner) and children under the age of 18.
Remember to declare all members of your family unit on your initial student visa application.
If your dependents will be moving to Australia at the same time as you
You can include them in your own student visa (subclass 500) application.
If your dependents were listed on your original student visa application, but will join you after you’ve commenced your studies, or if someone becomes your dependent after your visa has been granted (eg becomes your spouse)
They can join you as subsequent entrants. They will need to apply for a student visa (subclass 500) (Subsequent Entrant).
To apply for this visa, you must:
- Obtain a Nomination of Dependent letter from the University to confirm that you’re still studying
- Collect the other documents required
- Lodge the new visa online (via ImmiAccount).
Obtain a Nomination of Dependent letter
Australia Awards scholars who wish to have their dependents join them after arrival do not need to obtain a Nomination of Dependent letter but will need to arrange for a No Objection Letter to support this application instead. For more information, see Australia Awards family and travel.
If someone becomes your dependent after your visa has been granted (e.g. becomes your spouse)
You can refer to the Department of Home Affairs for up to date information about bringing a family member to Australia.
If you give birth while in Australia
You should notify the Department of Home Affairs of your newborn child. By law, they will receive the same visa as you, but only if you have taken steps to inform the Department of Home Affairs.
Guardians
If you are under 18 years of age and require a family member to stay with you in Australia, they will need to apply for a Student Guardian visa (subclass 590). For more information, see Bringing a partner or family (Department of Home Affairs).
Need help with your visas for your family?
Submit an online enquiry to Stop 1 and we'll get back to you within 10 business days.