Spouse and Family on a Student Visa: AU vs NZ (2026)

The short answer for both countries

Yes, both Australia and New Zealand let eligible student visa holders bring a spouse or partner, and in many cases children. But the rules differ in ways that decide real outcomes, especially whether your partner can work full-time and how much money you must show. Several popular guides oversimplify this, so here is the accurate, two-country version for Indian families.

Two things are true for both countries. First, your partner's work rights depend on your level of study, not just on holding a dependent visa. Second, you generally need to show extra funds for each family member, and it is usually better to include them from the start.

Australia: partner work rights depend on your course

This is the detail most blogs get wrong. In Australia, the work rights of your partner depend on what you are studying.

• If you are studying a bachelor degree or a lower-level course, your partner can work up to 48 hours per fortnight (the standard student work limit).
• If you are studying a master's degree (by coursework or research) or a doctorate, your partner can work with no hour limit.

It is your level of study, not simply the fact that your partner holds a dependent visa, that decides whether your partner can work full-time. A partner of a master's student (coursework or research) gets unlimited work rights, while a partner of a bachelor-level student is capped at 48 hours a fortnight. Your own work rights as the student are slightly different: you are capped at 48 hours a fortnight unless you are doing a research master's or a doctorate, in which case you have no limit. Always check the exact condition on the visa grant letter or through VEVO.

Children can usually join as subsequent entrants or be included in the application. School-age children may face tuition costs depending on the state and your visa, so check before you assume free schooling.

New Zealand: partner work rights depend on your study level

New Zealand also ties your partner's options to your study, but the mechanism is different.

• If you are studying at a higher level (commonly level 9 or 10 on the New Zealand qualifications framework, such as a master's or doctorate), your partner may be eligible for a Partner of a Student Work Visa with open work rights.
• If you are studying a course on the Green List at level 7 or 8, your partner may also qualify for partner work rights.
• For lower-level study, your partner may be able to visit but not necessarily work.

Children of students can apply for a Dependent Child Student Visa, and in some cases dependent children can study as domestic students. Confirm the current eligibility and any domestic-fee treatment on the Immigration New Zealand pages.

Bringing children

Both countries allow dependent children to join, but the cost and schooling treatment differ.

• Australia: children can be included or follow as subsequent entrants. Schooling costs vary by state and visa type, so this is not automatically free.
• New Zealand: the Dependent Child Student Visa lets children accompany you, and depending on your circumstances they may attend school as domestic students. Confirm the current rules, because they change.

Funds you must show per family member

Both countries require you to show additional funds for a partner and for each child, on top of your own living and tuition costs. The exact amounts are set by each immigration authority and are updated periodically, so do not rely on an old figure.

Both countries publish official 12-month figures. Here is what each requires, on top of your own tuition and travel:

The Australian figures apply since 10 May 2024 (Department of Home Affairs); the New Zealand figures are the Immigration New Zealand living-cost minimums. For your own living-cost thresholds, see our cost guides for Australia and New Zealand.

The must-include-from-the-start rule

If you know you want to bring your family, it is usually better to declare them in your original student visa application, even if they travel later. Adding a family member who was not declared at the outset can be harder and slower, and in some cases it raises questions about your original application. Declaring them early keeps your options open.

Genuine-relationship evidence

Both countries assess whether your relationship is genuine and ongoing. Be ready with evidence such as your marriage certificate, joint documents, photographs over time, and communication history. This is a normal part of the process, not a sign of suspicion, and a well-documented application moves faster.

A two-country comparison

Use this as a starting map, then confirm every figure against the official sources below.

Plan your family's move properly

The work-rights detail can change your household budget significantly, so it is worth getting right before you choose a course or country. Book a consultation and we will map your family's options for both Australia and New Zealand against your study level, honestly and with current figures.

Sources

• Study Australia, bringing your family: https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/plan-your-move/bringing-your-family
• Department of Home Affairs, Student visa (subclass 500): https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500
• Department of Home Affairs, visa conditions list: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/already-have-a-visa/check-visa-details-and-conditions/conditions-list
• Immigration New Zealand, Partner of a Student Work Visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/partner-of-a-student-work-visa/
• Immigration New Zealand, bringing family on a student visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/process-to-apply/once-you-have-a-visa/bringing-family-to-new-zealand/bringing-family-on-a-student-visa/
• Immigration New Zealand, Dependent Child Student Visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/dependent-child-student-visa/

Last updated: 21 June 2026.