Student Dependent Visa

You can potentially add your partner as a secondary applicant to your student visa, depending on your specific situation. Here’s an overview of the process and circumstances under which it may be possible:

When Can You Add Your Partner?

1. Before Applying for Your Student Visa:

   • You can include your partner as a secondary applicant when you submit your student visa application.

2. After Your Student Visa Application is Submitted:

   • If your student visa has already been lodged or granted, you can still add your partner as a secondary applicant to your visa.

Why Might You Want to Add Your Partner?

• Avoid Separate Tuition Fees: If your partner is also interested in studying, they can join your visa as a secondary applicant, so you both remain on the same visa instead of applying for separate visas and paying additional tuition fees.

• Stay Together: If you are in a relationship and don’t wish to leave Australia, adding your partner as a secondary applicant lets them stay with you while you are studying.

• If Your Partner Still Has Time Left on Their Course: If you’ve completed your course, but your partner still has time left in theirs, adding them as a secondary applicant ensures they can continue their studies in Australia while sharing your visa.

Case Study Example:

• A French woman met an Argentinian man in Australia. She was on a Working Holiday Visa that was about to expire, and he had a Student Visa with 18 months left on his course.

• The French woman wasn’t interested in studying and had no other visa options. They hadn’t listed each other as De Facto partners on their previous visa applications.

• With the correct supporting documents, the French woman applied to join her partner’s student visa as a secondary applicant. Her visa was granted within about three weeks, giving her the ability to stay in Australia with limited work rights (40 hours per fortnight).

Her visa ended on the same day as her partner’s visa, allowing them to stay together.

Important Considerations:

• Proving Your Relationship: To apply, you’ll need to show that your relationship is genuine and ongoing. This could involve providing evidence like joint finances, shared living arrangements, or other documentation of your relationship.

• Work Rights: As a secondary applicant, you are typically granted limited work rights, usually 40 hours per fortnight while the primary applicant (your partner) is enrolled full-time in their course.

• Visa Expiry: Your secondary applicant visa will generally expire when the primary applicant’s visa does, so it’s important to coordinate accordingly.

In conclusion, adding your partner to your student visa is possible, but it requires meeting the criteria and providing the necessary evidence to support your relationship. If you’re considering this route, it’s advisable to consult with a migration expert to ensure everything goes smoothly.