Whether Australia or New Zealand makes it easier to bring your family while studying depends heavily on your course level, not just which country you choose.
Australia currently allows partners and dependent children to join students on almost any registered course, while New Zealand restricts partner work rights and children’s school access to higher-level qualifications such as a master’s, PhD or specific Green List-linked courses. For Filipino students weighing up both destinations with family in mind, understanding these course-level rules matters more than general reputation.
Comparing Family Visa Rules: Australia vs New Zealand at a Glance
| Factor |
Australia |
New Zealand |
| Course-level restrictions on including family |
None currently; any registered course qualifies |
Significant; partner and child rights depend on course level |
| Partner work rights |
Unlimited for master’s and PhD students’ partners, capped hours for others |
Full work visa only for master’s, PhD or eligible Level 7 or 8 courses |
| Children’s school access |
Included on the student visa, generally can attend school |
Domestic school access generally limited to PhD students’ children |
| Regulatory stability |
Broader rules currently, but reforms are under active government consideration |
Narrower but clearly published and stable by course level |
Bringing Your Partner: Australia vs New Zealand
Australia’s Student visa (subclass 500) currently allows a partner to be included regardless of what course you’re studying, though how many hours they can work depends on your qualification level. Partners of students in a master’s or PhD programme can work unlimited hours, while partners of students in a bachelor’s degree or below are generally capped at 48 hours per fortnight during term time.
New Zealand takes a more restrictive approach tied specifically to course level. A partner can only apply for a full work visa if the student is enrolled in a Level 9 or 10 qualification, meaning a master’s or doctoral degree, or a Level 7 or 8 qualification that’s specifically tied to New Zealand’s Green List or Post-Study Work Visa eligible list. Outside these categories, a partner can generally only apply for a visitor visa, which does not carry work rights.
Bringing Your Children: Australia vs New Zealand
Australia allows dependent children under 18 to be included on the same student visa as the primary applicant, regardless of course level, and they can generally attend school in Australia during this time. Children must apply for their own visa before turning 18, so families with teenagers close to that age need to plan this transition carefully.
New Zealand’s rules are considerably narrower here. In most cases, a student can only support a dependent child’s student visa, the option that allows the child to attend as a domestic student rather than pay international fees, if the parent is studying a PhD, is on a New Zealand Government-approved exchange, or holds a Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship.
For students on master’s, bachelor’s or vocational courses, children can generally only join on a visitor visa, which does not include domestic school enrolment.
Expert View
“A lot of families assume New Zealand is automatically the easier option for bringing dependants, but the reality depends entirely on the course level. For a master’s or PhD, both countries work well, but for a bachelor’s or vocational course, Australia’s rules are currently more accommodating for children’s schooling in particular.” – Joanna Alejandro, Country Manager, StudyIn – Philippines.
Costs of Bringing Family: Australia vs New Zealand
Bringing family members increases your overall budget in both countries, mainly through additional visa charges and higher proof-of-funds requirements.
- Australia: Additional visa costs generally apply per family member, alongside extra proof-of-funds requirements for a partner and each dependent child, plus Overseas Student Health Cover for each family member
- New Zealand: Families need to show additional funds to support a partner and children, along with visa application and service fees, medical checks and police clearance certificates where required
In both countries, a partner’s income can meaningfully offset these costs once they’re eligible to work, which is one reason course level matters so much when family is part of your decision.
Shifting Perceptions
Despite Australia’s currently broader rules, some Filipino families have been leaning towards New Zealand when dependants are a priority. Part of this may come down to clarity and stability rather than the rules themselves. New Zealand’s course-level requirements for family visas are clearly published and have stayed relatively consistent, making it easier for families to plan around.
Australia, by contrast, is currently reviewing potential changes to its international education settings, including proposals that could restrict family visa eligibility to postgraduate research students, government-sponsored students or specific exempt groups, similar to changes the UK introduced in 2024. These changes have not been confirmed or written into law, but the uncertainty itself may be enough to make some family-focused applicants cautious about relying on Australia’s current, broader settings.
Get Expert Support
Choosing between Australia and New Zealand with a family in mind involves weighing course level, work rights, schooling access and how comfortable you are planning around rules that could still change.
StudyIn’s counsellors help Filipino families compare both destinations against their specific course, budget and family circumstances, so you can make a confident decision rather than relying on general assumptions about which country is easier. If dependants are a key part of your planning, a consultation is a practical way to get clarity on where you currently stand.
FAQs
Is it easier to bring family to Australia or New Zealand as a Filipino student?
It depends on your course level. Australia currently allows family members on almost any registered course, while New Zealand restricts full partner work rights and children’s domestic school access mainly to master’s, PhD or specific Green List-linked courses.
Can my partner work while I study in Australia or New Zealand?
In Australia, partners of master’s or PhD students can work unlimited hours, while partners of students on lower-level courses are generally capped at 48 hours per fortnight. In New Zealand, a partner can only get a full work visa if you’re studying a master’s, PhD or an eligible Level 7 or 8 qualification.
Can my children attend school if I study in New Zealand?
In most cases, only if you’re studying a PhD, a New Zealand Government-approved exchange or hold a Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship. Otherwise, children generally join on a visitor visa, which does not include domestic school enrolment.
Is Australia planning to restrict family visas for international students?
The Australian government has been reported to be considering reforms that could limit family visa eligibility to postgraduate research or government-sponsored students, similar to the UK’s 2024 changes. As of now, this remains a proposal and has not been confirmed in law.
Does bringing family cost significantly more in either country?
Yes, in both countries. Additional visa fees and higher proof-of-funds requirements apply for each family member, though a partner’s income can help offset these costs once they’re eligible to work.
