When you decide to immigrate to Australia, you are not just chasing a better future for yourself, but also a new life for your family too. So, a common and important question many applicants ask is: “Can my family members be included in my Australian PR application?” The good news is: Yes, they can.
Australia’s immigration system is known for being both skills-based and family-oriented. The country values family unity, and its permanent residency (PR) pathways are designed to help individuals migrate along with their immediate family members.
Whether you are applying through the General Skilled Migration (GSM) route or a family sponsorship stream, Australia offers multiple options for bringing your family along. In this blog, we will explore who can be included in your Australia PR application, requirements, and documentation for dependents.
Can My Family Members Be Included in My PR Application?
Yes, if you are applying for Australia PR, you can include certain immediate family members in your application. These include:
- Your spouse or de facto partner
- Your dependent children (biological, step, or adopted)
- In limited cases, other dependent relatives
Each member you include must meet eligibility criteria and be declared in your visa application, whether or not they intend to travel to Australia with you immediately.
Who Is Considered a Dependent Family Member?
Let’s take a deeper look into who qualifies to be included:
1. Spouse or De Facto Partner
You can include your legally married spouse or a de facto partner. For de facto relationships, you must prove that you have lived together for at least 12 months in a genuine and continuing relationship. Australia also recognizes same-sex partners under this category.
2. Dependent Children
Children qualify if they meet any of the following:
- Under 18 years old
- Aged 18-23 years, if they are financially dependent on you and not working full-time
- Over 23 years old if they are dependent due to physical or mental disability
- Children must be unmarried and must be wholly or substantially dependent on you or your partner.
3. Other Dependent Relatives
Although uncommon, you may be able to include other dependent relatives such as a widowed parent or disabled sibling, provided you can prove they are financially and emotionally dependent on you and have no other means of support.
Do Family Members Need to Meet Eligibility Criteria?
Yes. All family members included in your PR application who want to immigrate to australia must meet certain criteria:
1. Health Requirements
Each member must undergo a health examination to ensure they don’t have conditions that may be a burden to Australia’s healthcare system.
2. Character Requirements
Applicants over the age of 16 must provide police clearance certificates from every country they’ve lived in for more than 12 months in the past 10 years.
Even if a dependent is not migrating with you, they must still be declared and assessed under health and character checks. Failing to declare a family member can affect future visa applications.
What Documents Are Required to Include Family Members?
Here is a checklist of commonly required documents:
- Marriage certificate or relationship proof
- Birth certificates of children
- Medical reports and police verification
- Passport copies of each dependent
- For children over 18, proof of financial dependence, such as tuition receipts and bank statements
- Evidence of disability, if applicable
What Are the Benefits of Including Family Members in Your PR Application?
There are many advantages to including family members in your application from the start:
- Unified Migration Experience: Your family gets to move and settle with you in Australia together.
- Same PR Benefits: Your spouse and children receive the same rights as you, including the ability to live, work, and study in Australia.
- Access to Medicare: Once granted PR, all family members can avail Australia’s public healthcare system.
- Children's Education: Children can attend public schools, and later qualify for domestic student tuition at universities.
- Pathway to Citizenship: Your entire family can become eligible for Australian citizenship after fulfilling residency criteria.
Can I Add Family Members After Getting My PR?
If your PR visa has already been granted and you didn’t include certain family members, you may still be able to sponsor them later under different visa categories, such as:
- Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801 or 309/100)
- Child Visa (Subclass 101 or 802)
- Parent Visa (Subclass 103, 143, or 804)
However, these visa applications are separate and may involve longer processing times, stricter financial requirements, and higher fees.
How Cross-Border Education Can Help?
At Cross Border Education, we understand the importance of keeping families together. We are one of the leading Australian PR consultants, with a proven track record of helping skilled professionals and their families successfully migrate to Australia.
- Personalized Visa Strategy tailored to your profile and family situation
- End-to-end support from documentation to application submission
- Assistance with relationship proof, health and character certificates, and translations
- Expert advice on family sponsorship pathways and dependent inclusion
- Up-to-date knowledge on Australian immigration laws
Conclusion
To sum it up, your family members can be included in your Australia PR application, provided they meet the eligibility and documentation requirements. Including them in your application is often more efficient and economical than applying later through separate sponsorship visas.
Family is everything, and your PR journey should reflect that. With expert guidance from Cross Border Education, you can take confident steps toward a better future for yourself and your loved ones in Australia.
