Bringing your spouse and children on a student visa — subclass 500 dependants and work rights

Study alone, or bring the whole family? For married Vietnamese students — especially those heading into Master’s or PhD programs — this decision is as big as choosing the school. And there is one very common technical mistake that can lock your options shut later: failing to declare your family members in the visa application from the start.

Quick answers to the main questions: a spouse (including de facto — living together as a couple) and children under 18 can accompany you on a subclass 500 as dependants; the financial evidence requirement rises by AUD 10,394 for a spouse and AUD 4,449 per child; and your spouse’s work rights depend on your course level — full work rights if you study a Masters/PhD, 48 hours per fortnight otherwise.

This article covers the conditions, the costs, work rights, children’s schooling, and the strategic choice: travel together or go first and bring the family later.

Who counts as a dependant?

• A married spouse, or a de facto partner — living together as a couple. Note for de facto couples: you need evidence of a genuine relationship — cohabitation, shared finances, being known as a couple — essentially a miniature partner visa file. A rushed paper marriage or a “on paper only” arrangement is a serious risk for both people.
• Children under 18.

Parents and siblings are not 500 dependants — they need their own visas (usually visitor).

Declare them UPFRONT — even if they are not travelling yet

This is the most important technical point in the article: in your 500 application you must declare all family members (spouse, children) from the start — even if they are not coming with you this time.

Why it matters:

• A family member declared in the original application can later lodge a relatively smooth subsequent entrant application (joining you while you study).
• A family member who was not declared and later applies to join you faces a very awkward question: why were they never mentioned? Such applications attract heavy scrutiny and can stall entirely.
• Failing to declare family also touches the honesty of your application — something never worth trading away.

Declaring someone does not obligate them to travel — it simply keeps the door open.

The financial equation with family included

The additional funds you must demonstrate (rates from May 2024, indexed):

That is on top of your own AUD 29,710, the first 12 months of tuition, and family OSHC (health cover for the whole family — substantially more than single cover; get a quote before deciding). For the full cost picture see our 2026 student visa cost guide, and for how to document the funds see our financial evidence guide.

Dependants’ work rights

This is often the factor that makes or breaks the family budget:

The gap is large enough to factor into your choice of course level: a two-adult household where one works full-time is a completely different financial structure from two adults both capped at 48 hours a fortnight (see the detailed rules in our 48-hour work cap article).

Children at school in Australia — what about public school fees?

Children of international students attending Australian public schools generally pay international student fees at school level, with rates varying by state — a cost many families forget to budget. Some states waive or discount fees for children of research students — fee levels and exemption categories change by state and by year, so check directly with the education department of the state where you will study before locking in a budget.

GS also assesses the “family logic”

When the whole family relocates, the Genuine Student (GS) assessment does not look at you in isolation — the case officer sees the whole-family picture: everyone moving to Australia, both spouses leaving their jobs in Vietnam, children changing schools — so what are the incentives to return? What is the family’s plan after the course?

This does not make bringing family an automatic negative — it means the explanation has to do extra work: a clear study rationale, solid financial planning, and a consistent post-study narrative (under GS you may honestly discuss longer-term plans in Australia — as long as study is genuinely your primary current purpose).

Travel together, or go first and bring them later?

Two strategies, each with its price:

Everyone travels together from day one:

• The family stays together; you settle once.
• Costs land upfront: higher financial evidence, family OSHC, children’s school fees.
• The GS case must explain the whole-family logic from the start.

Go alone first, family follows (subsequent entrant):

• A leaner initial application and lower early costs; you have time to sort housing and part-time work.
• Family lodges subsequent entrant applications later — provided they were declared in the original application.
• The price: a period of separation, and the joining application must still demonstrate funds and the relationship at the time it is lodged.

There is no universally correct answer — only the answer that fits your finances, your children’s ages and your spouse’s career plans.

Summary

Bringing your family on an Australian student visa is a three-layer problem: eligibility (declare dependants upfront — even if they are not travelling yet), finances (add 10,394 + 4,449 per child + family OSHC + school fees), and strategy (together or subsequent entrant; which course level unlocks full work rights for your spouse). Solve all three layers before lodging — fixing it afterwards always costs more. To build a plan for your family’s specific situation, book a free assessment with VisaAffairs.

References

• Student visa (subclass 500) — Department of Home Affairs — conditions for family members and subsequent entrants.
• Fees and charges for visas — Department of Home Affairs — visa charges for accompanying family.
• Department of Home Affairs — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au — current financial requirements and guidance.

This article is general information current at publication. Australian migration rules change regularly — check the date and contact VisaAffairs before relying on it for your own case. Book a consultation for advice on your specific circumstances.