Inviting relatives or friends to visit
If members of your family wish to visit you while you are in Australia, the most appropriate visa is a visitor visa. For further information, please contact the DIAC office in your home country.
If your relatives or friends require supporting documents for their tourist visa application, you (rather than the University) will need to:
- write a letter stating that you wish your relatives or friends to visit you (refer to the sample)
- enclose a certified copy of your passport and Australian student visa
- graduation ceremony details (if inviting relatives and friends for your graduations).
Give the letter and supporting documents to your relatives or friends to be included with their tourist visa application.
Sample letter
<Address of the Australian visa office in your home country>
Subject: <name and date of birth of your relatives>
Date: <date>
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am currently enrolled in a course leading to <degree name> at the University of Melbourne and expected to complete my course on <date>. I wish to invite <name of your relatives> to visit me in Australia for <number of weeks or months> {and attend my graduation ceremony on <ceremony date>}.
I have attached a certified copy of my passport and Australian student visa, {and a copy of the University of Melbourne Schedule of Degree Conferring Ceremonies available from www.graduation.unimelb.edu.au}.
Yours sincerely,
<your name>
<your residential address in Australia>
Dependant family members
The Department of Immigration (DIAC) allows most students to bring their family members to Australia as their dependents. Dependent family members include your spouse or de facto partner and dependent children. You must declare all your dependant family members in your student visa application, even if they do not travel with you.
Read: DIAC - Bringing your family
Issues to consider
There are many important issues to consider if you plan to bring your family while you study. These include additional financial responsibility, employment opportunities for your spouse, accommodation, schooling and childcare.
Read: Students with family
Visa application
For your dependant family members to obtain a student visa you can either include your dependant family members in your visa application or they apply for a visa after you have started your course.
To apply for your dependants to join you after you have commenced your studies in Australia:
- Obtain a Reference letter from International Student Services (ISS)
- Download Form 919 - Nomination of Student Dependants
- Download Form 157A - Application for a student visa
Send the completed forms, including the reference letter and other documents, to your family member for submission to the nearest DIAC office.
Read: DIAC – How to apply
Guardians
If you are under 18 years of age and require a family member to stay with you in Australia, he or she can apply for a Student Guardian visa. For more information, refer to arrangements for students under 18 years old.