About Partner Visas
Partner visas allow the married spouses or de facto partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens to travel to Australia or remain in Australia with their partner.
Although only one application is made, an application for a partner visa is an application for both a temporary and a permanent visa. The application is then processed in two stages.
If your application is successful, you will first be granted a temporary partner visa, allowing you to remain in Australia whilst a decision is made in relation to your permanent visa.
A decision will be made in relation to your permanent visa generally two years after your application was made, if you are still in a relationship with your partner and continue to meet the relevant requirements.
If you are outside Australia at the time of applying for a partner visa, you will need to make an application for a combined 309/100 visa.
If you are inside Australia at the time of applying for a partner visa, you will need to make an application for a combined 820/801 visa.
EXAMPLE
Stage 1 →
Temporary
Partner Visa (subclass 820) OR
Partner Visa (subclass 309) lodged offshore
Stage 2 →
Partner Visa (subclass 801) lodged onshore OR
Partner Visa (subclass 100)
You may be eligible for this visa if:
• You are in a spousal (married) relationship with an Australian Permanent Resident, Citizen or eligible New Zealand Citizen
OR
• You are in a de facto relationship with an Australian Permanent Resident, Citizen or eligible New Zealand Citizen; and of at least 12 months in duration or your de facto relationship is registered
AND
• You have been living together for at least 6 months;
• You are able to provide evidence of the following aspects of your relationship:
1. Financial aspects;
2. Nature of the household;
3. Social aspects; and
4. Nature of your commitment to each other
Don’t quite meet the criteria above? Talk to us today to find a solution.
‘Couple’ visa applications need to be put together very carefully. In the last three years, the number of visas refused has steadily increased. It is imperative that you provide sufficient evidence to substantiate your relationship with your partner because the Department routinely experiences applications involving sham relationships as well as incomplete applications due to misunderstandings as to what is required.
We recommend that you engage the services of an experienced and registered migration lawyer to avoid disappointment.
Cost
| Visa subclass | Base application charge | Additional applicant 18 and over | Additional applicant under 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partner (Subclass 309/100) | $7,715 | $3,860 | $1,935 |
| Prospective Marriage (Subclass 300) | $7,715 | $3,860 | $1,935 |
| Partner (Subclass 820/801) | $7,715 | $3,860 | $1,935 |
| Partner (Subclass 820/801) visa application by a Prospective Marriage (Subclass 300) holder | $1,630 | $815 | $410 |
Processing Times
Due to the high volume of applications being made in this category, onshore applications are presently taking approximately 26 to 31 months to process. Offshore applications are processed more quickly with an average service standard of 14 to 20 months.
