Last Updated: 6 October 2026
Short answer: Yes, but only in specific circumstances. Since 2 October 2026, new Home Affairs rules have significantly narrowed when a partner can join you on a Student visa (subclass 500), and partners can no longer be added after the visa is granted at all.
Read on to see whether you qualify, and what your options are if you don't.
Key Takeaways
- Since 2 October 2026, new Home Affairs rules significantly narrow when a partner can be included on a Student visa (subclass 500).
- Your partner must be your spouse or de facto partner to qualify as a member of the family unit, and you generally need to show the relationship has existed for at least 12 months.
- Meeting the relationship definition alone doesn't guarantee eligibility. Home Affairs also looks at when and how the application is made.
- Partner inclusion at the time of application is now limited to specific exemptions: PhD students, DFAT or Defence sponsorship, foreign government scholarship holders, and eligible Pacific or ASEAN country students.
- Current Student visa holders can no longer add a partner afterwards as a subsequent entrant, under any circumstances, with no exemptions.
- If your application was lodged before 2 October 2026, it generally continues to be assessed under the rules in place at the time.
- If none of the exemptions apply, a separate visa pathway, such as a Partner visa, is generally the way forward for your partner.
Who Counts as Your Partner, and Why That's Only the First Test
To be assessed as a member of the family unit, your partner must be your spouse (husband or wife) or your De Facto Partner. But meeting this relationship definition is only the first requirement.
Home Affairs also looks at when and how the application is made, and in most cases now requires you to fall within a specific exemption category.
De Facto Partner Requirements
To meet the De Facto Partner requirement, you generally need to show that:
- You and your partner are committed to a shared life together, to the exclusion of all others
- Your relationship is genuine and continuing
- You live together, rather than living separately on a permanent basis
Home Affairs typically weighs the financial aspect of the relationship, the nature of the household, the social side of the relationship, and the couple's commitment to each other. You generally need to show the relationship has existed for at least 12 months before applying, though exceptions can apply in limited circumstances, such as a registered relationship.
When Can a Partner Actually be Included?
Since 2 October 2026, Home Affairs announced important changes that affect this. Here’s what has changed:
- Most Student visa applicants can no longer include a partner (or dependent children) in their application.
- Current Student visa holders can no longer add a partner afterwards as a subsequent entrant, under any circumstances. There are no exemptions to this rule.
Partner inclusion at the time of application is still possible only if you are:
- Studying a PhD
- Sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) or Defence
- Receiving a foreign government scholarship
- An eligible student from a Pacific country or ASEAN member country
If you fall into one of these categories, you and your partner need to be in the same location when the application is lodged. If your Student visa application was lodged before 2 October 2026, with or without your partner included, it generally continues to be assessed under the rules in place at the time.
Not sure whether you qualify for one of these exemptions, or whether your existing application is grandfathered under the old rules?
Our registered migration agents can review your situation and map out your options before you apply.
Not Sure Where You Stand?
The October 2026 changes caught a lot of students and their partners mid-plan. Whether you're checking an exemption, working out if you're grandfathered under the old rules, or looking at a Partner visa instead, a quick conversation with a registered migration agent can save you months of uncertainty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if we apply together and Home Affairs doesn't accept that we meet the de facto requirement?
If you and your partner do not meet the de facto requirement, your visa application is likely to be refused, meaning both the main student and the secondary applicant would be refused.
Can I add my partner to my student visa after it has been granted?
No. Since 2 October 2026, current Student visa holders can no longer add a partner as a subsequent entrant, with no exemptions. If your partner wants to join you in Australia, they would generally need to apply for a separate visa in their own right.
A Partner visa is usually the next step if this applies to you. Our partner visa guide covers eligibility and the process.
What if my partner and I started a de facto relationship after my student visa was granted?
This no longer leads to a subsequent entrant visa either. Home Affairs does not permit a partner to be added to an existing Student visa under any circumstances, including where the relationship began after the visa was granted.
A separate visa pathway, such as a Partner visa, is generally the way forward, and it's worth checking current requirements directly with Home Affairs or a registered migration agent given how recently this changed.
If my partner and I haven't lived together, can they be included on my student visa?
This generally wouldn't meet the de facto relationship requirement, as living together is a core part of the assessment.
If my partner is included on my student visa, how many hours can they work?
Family members included on a Student visa can generally work up to 48 hours per fortnight while the primary student's course is in session, and can't start work until the primary student has started their course. If the primary student is completing a Masters by research or a Doctoral degree, family members can generally work unlimited hours once the course has started.
