Study abroad with your family: how to prepare and what are the advantages?
Can you imagine being able to travel, study and live in Australia or New Zealand without having to distance yourself from the people you love the most? Well, this is possible through an exchange program with the family.
That’s exactly what you’re thinking. These two countries in Oceania allow international students to travel with family members during the study and work period.
Do you want to know how to study abroad with dependents works and what are its main advantages? So, pay attention to the tips in this post and get ready for one of the most incredible adventures of your life. We can start?
How to get a visa for a family?
The governments of Australia and New Zealand allow students enrolled in programs to have the right to dependents during the period of study in the countries. However, in order to obtain such a visa, the applicants must meet certain requirements necessary for immigration approval. Check out!
To take the loved one
If the idea is to embark with your partner, you will need proof of marriage or stable union. During the assessment process, the embassy may request extra documents proving the couple’s relationship, which must be at least 12 months old. This procedure is not a rule, but it can be performed for the purpose of proving the information provided by the applicant.
Couples with less than 1 year of marriage are unable to apply for the issuance of a visa and must wait for this period to apply.
To take the dear children
Exchanging with the family is not a reason to distance yourself from your children for a while. At least not in Australia and New Zealand. Both countries allow the entry of the student’s dependents, as long as they follow the requirements below:
- prove link through birth certificate;
- children between the ages of 6 and 17 must be enrolled in a school in the country;
- children from 0 to 5 years old do not need to be enrolled in an institution and, therefore, are exempt from this rule.
If the child is over 18 years old, the only way to embark on the exchange program with the family is through an individual visa.
Financial proof
For both spouses and children, when it comes to an exchange with dependents, the applicant must prove their financial situation to guarantee the subsistence of the couple or family in the country.
For this reason, the dependent must have at least 35% of the total financial support of the main exchange student. That is, the applicant must have the equivalent of 1,655.00 Australian dollars for each month in Australia as a student.
So, imagine the case of a student who spends the exchange period of 7 months (6 of studies and 1 of vacation). The international student must then prove an amount of 11,585.00 Australian dollars, and his dependent, 35% of this amount. If you bring your child, you need to add another 250 Australian dollars per month.
How to prepare for an exchange with dependents?
The first step for those who want to study abroad is to find an education agency. After all, this service requires a lot of details and the documentation (from everyone) needs to be complete and without any pending issues. Otherwise, your visa may take longer to come out.
Therefore, the tip is to inform yourself as far in advance as possible, research a lot about the chosen city, the institution of the course, provide all the requested documentation and deliver everything within the stipulated deadlines.
Take it easy, too, to check the prices of airline tickets, as well as the most common itineraries of airlines. Know that the adventure begins at the moment of boarding. After all, it is possible to enjoy the stops a lot until reaching Oceania.
What are the advantages of an exchange with the family?
Traveling with the ones you love the most is always unforgettable, isn’t it? Now, imagine when the trip, in addition to having fun, aims to study and gain international experience.
Undoubtedly, investing in an exchange program with dependents is a unique opportunity that promotes an experience to be taken for a lifetime. Check out some of the advantages for those who choose this type of trip below.
Possibility of jobs for the dependent
In the case of an exchange for a couple in Australia, the work permit for the dependent is the same as for the main visa applicant. That is, the companion can also work the 20 hours per week allowed for a study and work visa in the country.
It is worth mentioning that, when the main exchange student intends to take a master’s, doctoral or some other course in this sense, the work period is different. In these cases, the dependent can work longer without having to have a set hour limit.
Study opportunity for the dependent
When it comes to children, children have the opportunity to enroll in exceptional schools, in developed countries and with a quality of education that is far superior to Brazilian institutions. This will allow a number of advantages, such as developing a second language earlier, having access to new cultures and making friends with foreign children.
For exchanges as a couple, the dependent visa also allows you to attend a school. However, in these cases, the maximum study period is 12 months.
Quality of life
In addition to being an extraordinary experience, an exchange with the family is an opportunity to promote an improvement in the quality of everyone. After all, both Australia and New Zealand boast enviable numbers in terms of safety, education, health, among other public services.
Anyway, these were our tips on family exchange programs. For sure, if you are looking to embark on this adventure with the most special people in the world, don’t even think twice. Both Australia and New Zealand are two incredible destinations that offer countless advantages to international students.
