Saudi Scholarship Students: Exempt From Australia’s 2026 Dependant Visa Rules?

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Saudi scholarship ( "برنامج خادم الحرمين الشريفين للابتعاث", King Salman Scholarship Program) students most likely fall under the exempt categories in Australia’s new dependant visa restrictions — but with an important caveat you need to know before relying on it. Since, most holders of the student visa (subclass 500) have been barred from bringing a spouse or dependent children, except for a limited set of categories — including holders of a "foreign government scholarship". The Saudi scholarship is an official government-funded programme overseen by the Saudi Ministry of Education. However, there is currently no official text naming "Saudi Arabia" specifically among the exempt nationalities. Confirm your status before applying.

What are the new restrictions on international student dependants in Australia?

As of, most international students and Temporary Graduate visa holders can no longer add family members as secondary applicants to their visas. The Australian Department of Home Affairs states this clearly: an applicant cannot include family members unless a specific exemption applies.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced these measures on as part of a broader package to reduce net migration. An Australian official said "from today, students will not be permitted to bring dependent family members except in limited circumstances",.

The most important practical restriction: dependant details must be included in the initial student visa application itself. Dependants cannot be added later after the primary visa has been granted,. For more on the visa requirements themselves, see Australia Student Visa (Subclass 500): Requirements, Fees and Processing Time.

Are Saudi scholarship students covered by the exemption?

The official exemptions from the restriction include PhD students, students sponsored by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs or Defence, holders of a "foreign government scholarship", and students from ASEAN and Pacific countries, according to the official Australian Department of Home Affairs fact sheet. Since the King Salman Scholarship Program is funded and overseen directly by the Saudi Ministry of Education, it logically falls under the exempt "foreign government scholarship" category.

KD International posted on its X account on 20 September 2026 that "Saudi scholarship students in Australia fall under the categories exempt from the new restrictions on international student dependants, and can bring their families for the duration of their scholarship." This is an assessment based on reading the official fact sheet, not a separate statement from the Saudi Cultural Mission or the Australian Department of Home Affairs naming "Saudi Arabia" explicitly. We therefore recommend contacting the Saudi Cultural Mission in Australia to confirm your status before submitting a dependant visa application.

Why is the Saudi scholarship classified as a "foreign government scholarship"?

Because the scholarship student receives full government funding through the Ministry of Education, and has an official file with the Saudi Cultural Mission in Australia that tracks their allowances and academic status. This official status is, in principle, what distinguishes the scholarship student from a self-funded student or one on a partial university scholarship that doesn’t meet the definition of "government".

Does the exemption cover all Saudi scholarship tracks?

The King Salman Scholarship Program includes four tracks: Al-Ruwad (Pioneers), Research and Development, Emdad, and Waeid — all government-funded through the same Ministry. No official clarification has yet been issued distinguishing between these tracks regarding the dependant exemption. Logically, the exemption most likely covers all of them, as they are part of the same government programme. If you’re unsure which track you fall under, see Comparing Saudi Scholarship Tracks: Al-Ruwad, Emdad, Research & Development and Waeid, and confirm your track details with the Saudi Cultural Mission before applying.

Which categories are exempt from the international student dependant restrictions?

Category	Can bring dependants	Note
PhD students	Yes	Explicitly listed exemption
Holders of a foreign government scholarship (e.g. Saudi scholarship)	Yes, in principle	No text names Saudi Arabia specifically
Students sponsored by Australian Foreign Affairs or Defence	Yes	Narrow, specific category
ASEAN and Pacific country students	Yes	Specific geographic exemption
All other international students	No	Except in very limited circumstances

Source: Australian Department of Home Affairs fact sheet.

How does a scholarship student apply for a dependant visa under this exemption?

1. Determine the visa type needed for your dependant: a family member visa for a spouse, or a guardian visa for other dependants, according to the Saudi Cultural Mission’s guide.
2. Include dependant details in the initial student visa application itself — not after it’s granted — since adding dependants later is not permitted.
3. Contact the Saudi Cultural Mission in Australia to clarify the documents required to prove "foreign government scholarship" status before applying, as a detailed unified mechanism has not yet been published.
4. Review your dependant’s financial allowance in your file before travelling. A married scholarship student receives an additional monthly dependant allowance equal to the student’s base allowance — approximately SAR 5,606.25, according to Category (A) rates.
5. Submit the dependant visa application together with your primary application before travel, not after arrival, to avoid rejection of a later addition.

For more details on dependant visa types, schools, and allowances, see Dependants in Australia: Spouse and Children Visas and Scholarship Allowances.

What if your family is already in Australia?

If your family is already in Australia on a valid student visa, the new restrictions. Grandfathering arrangements have been applied to protect families already established before the implementation date. This does not mean a new dependant can be added later — the arrangement only protects the existing situation and does not open the door to new additions.

How does this relate to other student visa changes since 2024?

These restrictions are not the first change to the Australian student visa; since 2024, the visa has undergone successive changes to fees and financial requirements. For the full picture, see Australia Student Visa Changes Since 2024: Bans, Fees and Financial Proof. And if you’re still exploring available scholarship pathways, see the Complete Guide to Scholarship Pathways, From King Salman to Cultural Scholarships.

What should you do now?

If you’re a Saudi scholarship student planning to bring your family, don’t rely solely on reading the general exemption. Contact the Saudi Cultural Mission in Australia to confirm your status under the foreign government scholarship category, and prepare your dependant’s documents as part of your primary visa application from the start — not after you arrive.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Changes to student visa applications – factsheet — Department of Home Affairs أستراليا
• المخصصات المالية للمبتعثين — وزارة التعليم السعودية – الملحقية الثقافية في أستراليا
• المفكرة القانونية — وزارة التعليم السعودية – الملحقية الثقافية في أستراليا
• تأشيرات المرافقين — الملحقية الثقافية السعودية في أستراليا (SACM)
• مسارات برنامج الابتعاث — وزارة التعليم السعودية
• تعامل الملحقية الثقافية السعودية الطالب المرافق الذي فُتح له ملف كمبتعث بنفس معاملة المبتع — وزارة التعليم السعودية – الأسئلة المتكررة

Last updated: 5 October 2026. Fees and requirements change; always confirm with the official source before deciding.