Bangladeshi Students May Lose the Right to Bring Spouses to Australia

Australia has announced proposed changes to the rules governing dependants of international students, potentially affecting Bangladeshi students who plan to study in the country while bringing their spouses or children.

Under the announcement made on 17 September 2026, most new international students are expected to lose the ability to bring their partners or children to Australia as secondary applicants on a student visa.

The proposal does not mean that Bangladeshi students are banned from applying for Australian student visas. Instead, it concerns the separate arrangements governing whether family members can accompany students as dependants.

Proposed restrictions on dependants

The Australian government has announced that most new international students will no longer be able to bring their partners or children under student visa arrangements.

The change is expected to affect students from countries that do not fall under the announced exemptions. Bangladesh is not an ASEAN member, while the government has identified ASEAN and Pacific countries for special conditions allowing family members in some circumstances.

The precise implementation details have not yet been published. These include the exact commencement date and the full conditions that will determine which students can bring family members.

For Bangladeshi students planning to study in Australia, the final rules will therefore be important in determining whether a spouse or other family member can accompany them.

The proposed change concerns dependant arrangements and does not mean that Bangladeshi students are banned from applying for Australian student visas.

PhD students expected to receive exemption

PhD students are among the clearest groups identified for an exemption under the announced changes.

Students undertaking PhD programs are expected to retain the ability to bring family members, regardless of nationality. This means Bangladeshi students enrolled in PhD programs are expected to remain eligible to bring their family under the announced exemption.

The position could be different for students enrolled in other programs, including bachelor's and master's degrees, depending on the final implementation rules.

The government has also announced special conditions for students from Pacific countries and ASEAN countries, allowing family members in some circumstances.

ASEAN countries covered by special conditions

ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, comprises 10 member countries:

• Brunei

• Cambodia

• Indonesia

• Laos

• Malaysia

• Myanmar

• Philippines

• Singapore

• Thailand

• Vietnam

Bangladesh is not a member of ASEAN. Therefore, the special conditions announced for ASEAN students do not automatically extend to Bangladeshi students.

The government has not yet provided all the details concerning how the country-based exemptions will operate.

Impact on prospective Bangladeshi students

The proposed changes could have significant implications for Bangladeshi students who intend to move to Australia with a spouse while studying.

Students planning bachelor's, master's or other non-PhD courses may need to consider whether their family members will qualify under the final dependant arrangements.

At the same time, the Australian government has said that families already in Australia with the student will not be separated under the new change.

Until the complete rules are released, it would be premature to treat the announcement as a blanket prohibition on spouses of all Bangladeshi students.

The distinction between the student's own visa and a dependant's visa remains important. A Bangladeshi student may still be eligible to apply for an Australian student visa, while the ability to bring a spouse could depend on the student's course, nationality and the final implementation of the new policy.