Family Member Definitions
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Spouse
A spouse is a person who is married you or is in a de facto relationship with you.
Dependent child
A dependent child is either your or your spouse’s natural, adopted, or step-child who:
- is not married, engaged to be married or in a de facto relationship
- is under the age of 18
or - is 18 or older, is a full-time student, or is incapacitated for work.
Other dependent relatives
Other relatives may be included in your application if they are wholly or substantially reliant on you for financial support for their basic needs of food, shelter and clothing and they have been reliant on you for that support for a substantial period.
They must also be more reliant on you for support than on any other person or source. A relative may also be considered dependent on you if they are reliant on you for financial support because they have a mental or physical disability which stops them from earning a living to support themselves.
Other relatives dependent on you or your spouse may include, for example, an aged, unmarried relative.
- dependent family members who are 18 years of age or over, should complete form 47A and attach it to your visa application.
- details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over must be completed for each dependent, whether migrating or not.
See: Form 47A Details of child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over (156KB PDF file)