Australian Spouse and Partner Visas
Join your spouse or partner in Australia under the Partner Visa (also known as a Marriage Visa). If you are married (opposite sex, licensed, de jure partners) or in a de facto partnership (opposite sex couple living together for at least 12 months) with an Australian, he or she may be able to sponsor your immigration to Australia. This visa allows partners and spouses of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to enter and stay permanently in Australia.
This visa allows you to enter or remain in Australia on the basis of your married or de facto relationship with your partner:
- on a temporary visa (usually for a waiting period of approximately two (2) years from the date you applied for the visa), or
- on a permanent visa if, after the waiting period (if applicable), your partner relationship still exists and you are still eligible for this visa.
What are the basic requirements for a Spouse or Partner Visa?
- You must be of the minimum legal age for marriage under Australian law, which is 18 years of age in most cases.
- You must be legally married to, or in a de facto relationship with, an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- You must personally know your Australian sponsor, which is defined as having physically met with your Australian sponsor (this applies to arranged marriages and to couples who “met” over the internet).
- Your relationship with your Spouse must be genuine and continuing.
- You must live together as spouses (however there are some exceptions).
- The Spouse Visa application requires substantial proof and requires compiling suitable documentary evidence.
- The Australian Department of Immigration may request that you and your spouse attend an interview.
- You must remain married or in a De Facto partnership with your Australian sponsor during the provisional visa validity period.
- Your Australian spouse/partner must agree to sponsor you and provide a legal undertaking to support you during your first two years in Australia, should you not be able to support yourself.
- You are required to satisfy health and character requirements.
- You must apply for a Permanent Spouse Visa within the provisional visa validity period.
- You can apply for the Spouse Visa from either inside or outside Australia. If you are applying while you are in Australia you must also hold a current and legal visa and also be in Australia at the time the visa is approved.
- If you are applying from outside Australia then you must also be outside of Australia at the time the visa is granted.
Meeting Visa Requirements
What are the basic requirements of proof for a Spouse or Partner Visa?
The Spouse or Partner Visa application requires substantial proof and requires compiling suitable documentary evidence. The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship may request that you and your partner participate in an interview process.
Many Spouse or Partner Visa applicants incorrectly assume that this visa is virtually guaranteed to be granted and this is absolutely not the case. Do not allow your application to become one of the many application refusals issued by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship because you did not have professional advice and assistance. The appeals process can be lengthy, expensive, and stressful.