Skip to content

Visas, Immigration and Refugees

Visa Conditions for Family Members

Your family members' visas are subject to a number of visa conditions that they must comply with.

The following table describes the conditions that may be attached to your family members. These conditions may be mandatory or discretionary.

No. Mandatory/ Discretionary Description
8101

Mandatory only where Student visa granted before 26 April 2008

Discretionary where Student visa granted on or after 26 April 2008		 You cannot work in Australia.
Note: You may apply for a new Student visa with permission to work when the primary student visa holder has arrived in Australia and commenced their course.
See: Working While Studying
8104 Mandatory where visa granted on or after 26 April 2008 You cannot work more than 20 hours a week*
Note: You must not start work until the primary student visa holder has commenced their course.
Exceptions: Family members of the following students can work unlimited hours once the primary student visa holder has commenced their course:
  • Students studying a masters by coursework degree (subclass 573)
  • Students studying a masters by research degree or doctorate (subclass 574)
  • Students sponsored by AusAID or Defence and studying a masters by coursework degree, masters by research degree or doctorate (subclass 576).
*A week begins on a Monday and ends on the following Sunday.
8201 Mandatory You cannot study for more than 3 months while in Australia.
Note: This condition applies to student dependent visa holders 18 or older at the time their visa was granted.
8204 Discretionary You must not undertake or change a course, or a thesis or research topic, for a:
  • graduate certificate
  • graduate diploma
  • masters degree
  • doctorate
    or
  • bridging course required as a prerequisite to a course of study or research for a masters degree or a doctorate.
unless the department has granted approval.
8303 Discretionary You must not become involved in any activities that are disruptive to, or in violence threatening harm to, the Australian community or a group within the Australian community.
8501 Mandatory You must maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance during your stay in Australia.
Note: Under policy, this means that you must maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
8516 Mandatory You must continue to satisfy the requirements for grant of your student visa.
This means, for example, that you continue to be a member of the family unit of the primary applicant, and that you must continue to have sufficient financial capacity to support your study and stay in Australia.
See: Applying for a Student Visa
8518 Mandatory Adequate schooling arrangements for you must be maintained while you are in Australia.
Note: This condition applies to student dependant visa holders who have turned 5, but have not turned 18, while they are in Australia.
8522 Discretionary You must not leave Australia later than the primary visa holder.
8534 Discretionary You are not entitled to be granted a further substantive visa, other than:
  • a Student visa with permission to work
    Note: if you apply for and are granted permission to work, this will change only the work conditions on your student visa, all other conditions will remain the same including 8534.
  • a Graduate-Skilled (subclass 497) visa
  • a further Student Guardian visa
    or
  • a visa to engage Australia's obligations under the 1951 United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees.
Note: The effect of this visa condition is that, except in extremely limited circumstances, it will not be possible for you to remain in Australia beyond the date authorised by your visa.
8535 Discretionary You are not entitled to be granted a further substantive visa, other than:
  • a Student visa with permission to work
    Note: if you apply for and are granted permission to work, this will change only the work conditions on your student visa, all other conditions will remain the same including 8535
  • a Student visa that is supported by the sponsoring government agency
    or
  • a visa to engage Australia's obligations under the 1951 United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees.
Note: The effect of this visa condition is that, except in extremely limited circumstances, it will not be possible for you to remain in Australia beyond the date authorised by your visa.