FAQs

FAQS

Frequently Asked Any Questions

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 "𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭" (𝐌𝐨𝐅𝐔) 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐠 𝟏.𝟏𝟐?

Under the Migration Regulations 1994, a person is considered a member of the family unit of the “Family Head” if they meet one of the following criteria:

– 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫: The legal spouse or de facto partner of the family head.
– 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩-𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧: A child or step-child of the family head (or of their partner) who is not married or in a de facto relationship, and:
    – Is under 𝟏𝟖 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 of age; OR
    – Is between 𝟏𝟖 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟑 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 old and is financially dependent on the family head or partner; OR
    – Is 𝟐𝟑 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 and meets specific dependency criteria under paragraph 1.05A(1)(b).
– 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧: Any dependent child of a person who meets the conditions listed above.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩?

The relationship between a stepchild and a stepparent is legally defined and depends on the marriage between the biological parent and the stepparent.

– 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲: A step-relationship is generally bound by the marriage. If the marriage ends, the step-relationship ends unless the stepparent has a guardianship/parenting order or custody rights (for children under 18).
– 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 (𝐞.𝐠., 𝐒𝐂𝟖𝟎𝟒 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚): Yes, a stepchild can sponsor a visa where the biological parent is a secondary applicant and the stepparent is the primary applicant.
– 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: The spousal relationship between the biological parent and the stepparent must be clearly evidenced. Under Reg 1.14A, references to a “parent” in migration law include step-parents.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 (𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓) 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐝?

New English language test score requirements will take effect on 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓. Here is how the transition works:

– 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓: If your test was conducted before this date, the old score requirements apply. There is a 𝟑-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝 for these results, regardless of whether your application is lodged before or after the cut-off date.
– 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐎𝐍 𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓: If your test is conducted on or after this date, you must meet the new (updated) score requirements specified in the new instrument.
– 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Under LIN 24/022, it appears that the old scores may continue to apply for student visas for the next 𝟐 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬.
– 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝟒𝟖𝟐: Note that the 482 visa category has a different regulation (LIN 24/045) regarding these requirements.

Level	Skill	C1 Advanced		CELPIP General		IELTS Academic		IELTS General Training		LanguageCert Academic		MET		OET		PTE Academic		TOEFL iBT
Level	Skill	Old	New	Old	New	Old	New	Old	New	Old	New	Old	New	Old	New	Old	New	Old	New
Vocational	Listening	154		5	5	5	5	5		41		49		B	220	36	33	4	8
	Reading	154		5	5	5	5	5		44		47		B	240	36	36	4	8
	Writing	154		5	5	5	5	5		45		45		B	200	36	29	14	9
	Speaking	154		5	5	5	5	5		54		38		B	270	36	24	14	14
Competent	Listening	169	163	7	6	6	6	6		57		56		B	290	50	47	12	16
	Reading	169	163	7	6	6	6	6		60		55		B	310	50	48	13	16
	Writing	169	170	7	6	6	6	6		64		57		B	290	50	51	21	19
	Speaking	169	179	7	6	6	6	6		70		48		B	330	50	54	18	19
Proficient	Listening	185	175	9	7	7	7	7		67		61		B	350	65	58	24	22
	Reading	185	179	8	7	7	7	7		71		63		B	360	65	59	24	22
	Writing	185	193	10	7	7	7	7		78		74		B	380	65	69	27	26
	Speaking	185	194	8	7	7	7	7		82		59		B	360	65	76	23	24
Superior	Listening	200	186	10	8	8	8	8		80				A	390	79	69	28	26
	Reading	200	190	10	8	8	8	8		83				A	400	79	70	29	27
	Writing	200	210	12	8	8	8	8		89				A	420	79	85	30	30
	Speaking	200	208	10	8	8	8	8		89				A	400	79	88	26	28