Studying abroad with your family: spouse work rights and free school

If you are married, or you have children, your study plan is really a family plan. The two biggest questions are simple: can my husband or wife work, and can my children go to school without huge fees? The answers change a lot between countries, and often depend on whether you study a diploma, a bachelor's, a taught master's or a PhD.

This guide compares all 10 of our destinations, using official government sources, as the rules stand on 26 September 2026.

The short answer: three questions for every country

For each destination, ask three questions, in this order:

1. Can my spouse and children come at all? Some countries only allow family for certain study levels. Ireland generally does not allow it for students.
2. Can my spouse work, and how much? Some countries give full work rights, some give limited hours, and some give none.
3. Will my children pay school fees? In some countries, a student's children go to state school free. In others, they pay thousands a year.

Here is the full picture in one table. The details and sources follow in the country tabs below.

Country by country: the details

Click each country for the rules, the money you must show and the official source.

Two patterns stand out. First, the higher your study level, the more your family can do. Research degrees and PhDs open family routes almost everywhere. Second, "can come" and "can work" are different questions. In the USA your family can come but your spouse cannot work. In Canada your spouse can often come as a visitor but can only work if your programme is on IRCC's list.

Spouse work rights by degree level

Many students ask: "If I choose a bachelor's instead of a master's, can my wife still work?" Here is the answer by level, for the countries where family can come.

Diploma or bachelor's degree

• Australia: yes, up to 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session (current rules).
• Canada: usually no open work permit. The exceptions are listed professional degrees, such as nursing (BScN), engineering (BEng) or education (BEd).
• Germany: yes, if your spouse can join you. The spouse's permit generally allows work.
• New Zealand: only if your level 7 course is on the Green List or the Post-Study Work Visa qualifications list. Otherwise your partner can only visit.
• UK, Ireland, Malaysia (for Bangladeshis), Malta: your spouse usually cannot come at this level.
• USA: your spouse can come but cannot work.

Taught master's (by coursework)

• Australia: partner can work more than 48 hours a fortnight. You, the student, are still limited to 48 hours.
• Canada: only if the master's is 16 months or longer. A 12-month master's does not qualify, even at a top university.
• New Zealand: yes. Master's degrees are level 9, so your partner can apply for a work visa.
• UK: no. Taught master's students cannot bring dependants.
• Malaysia: your family can come as dependants, but work rights are not confirmed.

Research master's and PhD

This is the most family-friendly level everywhere except Ireland and the USA.

• UK: dependants allowed, and the partner can work.
• Australia: you and your partner have no weekly work limit.
• Canada: doctoral students' spouses qualify for an open work permit. A research master's qualifies if it is 16 months or longer.
• New Zealand: partner work visa, and if you study a PhD at a New Zealand university, your children can get student visas and may study as domestic students.
• Germany: the same family rules as other students. If you are employed as a researcher, the rules may be easier.

Can your children go to school for free?

School fees can cost more than your own tuition if you have two or three children. Here is where the free options are.

• Free for most accompanying children: the UK (England, when they qualify to come), Germany and the USA.
• Free in some cases: New Zealand (when your children count as domestic students) and Canada (depends on the province and school board).
• Usually fee-paying: Australia, the UAE and, in practice, Malaysia.

Australia: how much NSW public schools charge

In New South Wales (NSW), the fee for a student's child depends on what the parent studies. These are the 2026 annual fees for primary school (Kindergarten to Year 6) from the NSW Department of Education.

Other states and territories set their own fees and exemptions. Check with the education department in the state where you will study. Home Affairs also asks you to show at least AUD 13,502 a year in schooling costs for each school-age child, unless an exemption applies.

Canada: ask the school board

IRCC decides whether your child needs a study permit. It does not decide school fees. School authorities do. Before you move, write to the school board in your city. Ask: "My spouse will hold a study permit for a master's programme. Will my child pay international student fees?" Keep the reply.

Rules announced but not yet in force

For a Bangladeshi master's student planning to bring a spouse to Australia in 2027, this is the biggest risk in this guide. A PhD is the only level named as an exception so far.

Money: what you must show for your family

Every country wants proof that your family will not depend on public money. These are the official figures we could confirm.

Example. Rakib is going to Melbourne for a two-year master's in engineering with his wife and one child aged seven. For the visa he must show living costs of AUD 29,710 + 10,394 + 4,449 = AUD 44,553, plus at least AUD 13,502 for school, plus his first-year tuition and travel. That is more than AUD 58,000 before tuition. His wife may work without an hours limit under today's rules, but he should not count her future wages as visa funds.

Which destination fits your family?

Tick the statements that are true for you. The result is a guide, not a decision.

Myths about bringing your family

Test yourself

A note for Bangladeshi families

Most of the families we meet in Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet have the same worries. Here is honest advice based on the rules above.

Your spouse's income is a bonus, not a plan

Even where your spouse can work full-time, visa officers want to see that you can pay for the family without that income. Job searches abroad take time, especially if your spouse's degree is from Bangladesh and not yet assessed. In Australia, Canada and New Zealand, many spouses first work in jobs below their skill level while they build local experience. Plan your budget as if your spouse will earn nothing for the first six months.

Regulated careers take longer

If your spouse is a doctor, nurse, engineer, teacher or lawyer, they usually cannot work in that profession straight away. Each country has its own licensing body and exams. Your spouse can start the recognition process from Bangladesh, before you travel, and use the first year abroad to finish it.

Getting married just before you apply

Some countries look carefully at relationships that start just before a visa application. Germany, for example, lets a spouse join a student only if the marriage already existed when the student's permit was granted. If you marry after you arrive, check the rules for adding a spouse later, because they may be stricter. Always give true information. A relationship that looks arranged only for a visa can lead to a refusal, and a refusal must be declared in future applications.

Think about the order of travel

Many families choose a simple two-step plan. The student travels first, finds a home and learns the system. The spouse and children join a few months later, when a school place and a flat are ready. This is allowed in several countries, but not everywhere. In Australia you must still declare your family in your first application. In the UK your family can apply separately later, but only if your course qualifies for dependants. Check the rule before you decide who travels first.

Keep one family folder

Put every certificate, translation, bank statement and school letter in one folder, on paper and online. You will use the same documents again when you extend your visa, change course or apply for post-study work.

Documents for a family application

Most countries ask for similar papers. For Bangladeshi families, start early, because certificates and translations take time.

1. 1
   12–15 months beforeChoose the level first

   Decide whether a PhD, research master's or long master's is realistic. It often decides whether your spouse can work.

2. 2
   9–12 months beforeShortlist and check each rule

   Read the official family page for each country. Write down spouse work rights and school fees for your exact course.

3. 3
   6–9 months beforePrepare the money

   Move family funds into the right account early, and keep records of where the money came from.

4. 4
   4–6 months beforeGet documents ready

   Collect translations, birth certificates and relationship evidence. Ask the school board about fees in writing.

5. 5
   Before you lodgeCheck for changes

   Check the official page again on the day you apply, especially for Australia and Canada.

What to do next

1. Decide your study level first. For most families, a PhD or a longer master's opens more doors than a short course.
2. Use the country tabs above to build a shortlist of two or three destinations.
3. Check the document list for your country on our checklists page (change the country in the link, for example UK or Australia).
4. Read our full guides on each destination, and see the latest rule changes on our news page.
5. If you are a parent of a school-age child and want your child to study as the main student, read our K-12 Canada and K-12 New Zealand guides.
6. Want to talk it through? See how we work. We help you choose the right course and institution for your family; for visa decisions, always rely on the official rules or a licensed adviser.