Why does Australia encourage international students to bring their families?
Under Australian immigration rules, both international students and graduate visa holders can bring family members with them. Spouses can legally work for up to 48 hours a fortnight. Some may work illegally in the cash economy.
The United Kingdom government, from 1 January 2024, banned undergraduate international students from bringing family members in a bid to “crack down on those who take advantage of the flexibility of the UK’s immigration system” and to “end the unreasonable practice of overseas students bringing their family members to the UK”.
By contrast, the Australian government actively promotes the ability of international students to bring family members on its Study Australia website:
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