Partner visa Australia

When applying for an Australia spouse visa (also known as the Partner visa), you must be in a genuine relationship with your spouse and have a mutual commitment to one another. In most cases, you need to be over 18, and your Australian partner must be willing to sponsor you while also agreeing to provide financial and social support to you for the duration of your visa. You must meet the necessary health and character requirements and evidence of your relationship (such as joint financial commitments, shared household responsibilities, and social aspects of your partnership). 

The Partner visa consists of a temporary and permanent visa—the temporary visa stage is Subclass 820/309, and the permanent visa stage is Subclass 801/100. You'll need to meet specific criteria and requirements to transition from the temporary Partner visa to the permanent Partner visa.

Some of the Partner visas have conditions attached to them that you must adhere to.

Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300)

• You must not arrive in Australia before your sponsor 
• You must not get married or enter into a de facto relationship prior to entering Australia
• You must marry the person specified in your visa while it is still valid

Partner visa (subclass 309 and 100)

• You must not enter Australia before your sponsor 
• You must not enter into a de facto relationship or get married before arriving in Australia

The best Australian visa for a married couple depends on your individual circumstances, including your immigration goals, eligibility, and specific situation. 

Most married couples in genuine spousal relationships opt for the Partner visa (820/801). This allows the spouse or partner of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to live, work, and study in Australia. 

If you’re not sure whether this is the best fit for your situation, contact us, and we can discuss the options during your free consultation.

Applying for a Partner visa in Australia involves several steps and can be a complex process. It includes an eligibility assessment, gathering the required documentation to support your application (including evidence of your relationship, identity documents, health and character clearances, etc.), completing the online form and paying the application fee, undergoing health examinations and obtaining police clearance certificates. 

If you apply for the temporary stage (Subclass 820 or 309), you will be granted a temporary visa first, which allows you to live and work in Australia. After meeting specific criteria, you can apply for the permanent stage (Subclass 801 or 100) when eligible. This typically occurs two years after lodging your initial application.

If you’re unsure how to apply for a Partner visa or have any questions, get in touch with one of our experienced agents, who can help guide you through the process.

To be eligible for a Partner visa in Australia, you generally need to demonstrate that you are in a genuine and continuing spousal or de facto relationship. While there is no specific time requirement, the Department of Home Affairs typically looks for evidence of a relationship that has been ongoing for a reasonable period.

For married couples, there is no set duration that you must be married before applying for a Partner visa. However, you should be prepared to provide evidence of the genuineness of your marriage.

For de facto couples (unmarried but in a committed relationship), you generally need to have lived together in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months prior to lodging your application. You may be exempt from the 12-month living together requirement if you have compassionate reasons (such as having children together), have been in a long-distance relationship, or if you’ve registered your de facto relationship with an Australian state or territory.