The Partner visa allows the partner or spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident to live in Australia.
You apply for the temporary and the permanent partner visas together.
Thinking about applying for a partner visa? We have put together a guide for those of you who are thinking of applying for a Partner/ Spouse /De Facto visa. To qualify and apply for a Partner Visa Australia, you have to be either;
- Married to
OR
- In a de facto relationship unless exempt
with Australian Citizen, Australian Permanent resident or Eligible New Zealand Citizen at the time of applying.
If you lodge a Partner visa whilst onshore (in Australia) you will get a Bridging visa associated to it. Note that there could be limitations on being able to work or Study. This will be dependent on the previous visa you held and if you had work or study rights on that visa. If you are lucky to have had those entitlements then when your previous visa expires, the same conditions would continue on the Bridging visa associated with your partner visa. During your wait for a Permanent partner visa (subclass 100 or 801) you would not be able to receive fee assistance such as HECS or Newstart or other government subsidies.
If you’d like to lodge you Partner visa on your own be aware it is not as simple as it seems. To start you need to:
- create an ImmiAccount
- Fill out the form Form 47SP Application for migration to Australia by a partner
- Once the main applicant fills out their form, the sponsor uses the TRN to submit their own 40SP Sponsorship Form for a Partner to Migrate to Australia
- fill out the form
- Pay the Partner visa Application fee
- Review and press Submit to lodge the application
- Attach all documents
There is an option to lodge the application by post but we do not recommend this as it is hard to track and attach documents to the application in the future.
If you meet the criteria you will initially be granted a Temporary Partner visa (Subclass 820 for onshore or Subclass 309 for offshore). You will be on your Temporary Visa until the you get the permanent partner visa (subclass 801 or 100). You will usually be eligible to apply for a Permanent Partner visa after 2 years being on the Temporary.
As discussed there are 2 eligibility paths to a Partner visa. You either have to be in a Married relationship or be in a De Facto Relationship.
If you are in Australia and want to apply through the marriage pathway it means you have to be legally married to your partner. If you are outside of Australia (offshore) then you need to be either:
- Legally married in your country of residence or another country
- intend to get married in the near future (before a decision is made on your Temporary Partner visa)
For a list of recognized marriages for the Partner visa please refer to this link
In short however these are not accepted from overseas:
- certain polygamous marriages
- marriages of persons within a prohibited degree of relationship
- a person and an ancestor or descendent of the person (that is, parent and child or grandparent and grandchild) or
- siblings (whether full blood or half blood).
- certain underage marriages
Apart from the above the case office will expect your relationship to meet the following:
- he couple have a mutual commitment to a shared life as husband and wife to the exclusion of all others and
- the relationship is genuine and continuing and
- the couple live together, or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis.
- Meet Certain Health and Character requirements
What is a de facto relationship?
You and your partner are in a de facto partner relationship if all of the following applies:
- you are not legally married to each other
- you are committed to a shared life to the exclusion of all others
- your relationship is genuine and continuing
- you live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis
- you are not related by family.
Your relationship can be with someone of the same or different sex.
Length of relationship
Usually, your de facto relationship must have existed for at least 12 months immediately before you apply for the visa.
Time spent dating or in an online relationship does not count as being in a de facto relationship.
If your de facto relationship has existed for less than 12 months, you might still be eligible for the visa. Find out if you do not need to meet (are exempt from) the one year relationship requirement by booking an appointment.
309/100 Partner visa
SC309/100 is an offshore partner visa (apply overseas) that allows the partner or spouse of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia.
300 Prospective Partner visa
SC300 Prospective Marriage visa lets you come to Australia to marry your prospective spouse and then apply for a Partner visa.
Applicant document Checklist for a Partner visa
Identity documents
Documents to prove your identity:
One of the following:
- a birth certificate showing the names of both parents:
- identification pages of a family book showing the names of both parents
- identification pages of an identification document issued by the government
- identification pages of a court-issued document that proves your identity
- identification pages of a family census register.
The page of your current passport showing your photo, personal details and passport issue and expiry dates.
Two recent passport photographs (45 mm x 35 mm):
- the photograph should be of the head and shoulders only against a plain background
- the applicants name must be printed on the back of the photograph
A national identity card, if you have one.
Proof of change of name, if applicable.
Documents about your relationship with your partner
- Two of Form 888 – Statutory declaration by a supporting witness in relation to a Partner or a Prospective Marriage visa application (84KB PDF).
- Proof that your relationship is genuine and continuing
- If you are married, your marriage certificate.
- If you are in a de facto relationship, documents that prove this relationship
Documents about other relationships
If you have previously been married, widowed, divorced or permanently separated, provide divorce documents, death certificates, separation documents or statutory declarations.
Health documents
You do not need to provide any documents to show you meet our health requirement. Your doctor will send them to us.
Character documents
- Completed Form 80 – Personal particulars for assessment including character assessment (PDF 554KB ).
- Police certificates
- If you served in the armed forces of any country, military service records or discharge papers.
Sponsor document Checklist for a Partner Visa
Application
You can lodge your sponsorship form online after your partner has lodged their visa application and given you their Transaction Reference Number (TRN) or application ID.
Identity documents
- Proof that your sponsor is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- If your sponsor is an Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, proof they usually live in Australia
Character documents
- Police certificates
- If you served in the armed forces of any country, military service records or discharge papers.
If you are sponsoring on behalf of your child
Provide:
- A court document allowing the marriage between your child and the visa applicant
- Proof that you are the parent or guardian of your child.
Related: Partner visa processing times
Both applicant and Sponsor to provide:
Proof that your relationship is genuine and continuing
As many of the following documents as possible- here are the 4 pillars of the relationship:
Factor 1 – Financial aspects of the relationship
documents that show you and your partner share financial responsibilities, for example:
-
- mortgage or lease documents showing joint ownership or rental of property
- loan documents of major assets such as homes, cars or major appliances in both names
- joint bank accounts
- household bills in both names
Factor 2 – The nature of the household
documents that show that you and your partner share household responsibilities, for example:
-
- a statement about the way housework is distributed
- household bills in both names
- mail or emails addressed to both of you
- joint responsibility for children
- your living arrangements
Factor 3 – Social aspects of the relationship
documents that show your relationship is known by others, for example:
- joint invitations, going out together, friends and acquaintances in common
- proof that you and your partner have declared your relationship to government bodies, commercial or public institutions
- proof of joint sporting, cultural or social activities
- proof of joint travel.
Factor 4 – The nature of the commitment
- documents to show you are committed to each other your long term relationship, for example:
- knowledge of each other’s personal circumstances such as background and family situation. You could tell us this at an interview.
- documents that show you have combined your personal matters
- the terms of your wills
- letters and phone bills that show you have been in contact when apart.
- a statement about your relationship that describes:
- how, when and where you first met
- how the relationship developed
- when you became engaged or married, if applicable
- joint activities
- periods of separation
- significant events in the relationship
- your future plans together.
“In considering a partner visa application, the Tribunal is required by reg.1.15A of the
Regulations to consider all of the circumstances of the relationship, not only the
matters listed in the Regulations.”
http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/FCCA/2018/121.html
If your current visa expires
If your current visa ends before you are granted the temporary partner visa, you can stay in Australia on a Bridging visa A (BVA). You do not have to apply for a BVA; it is automatically granted when you apply for your partner visa. The BVA starts when your temporary visa ends.
The BVA does not let you travel out of Australia and return. If you want to travel out of Australia and return, apply for a Bridging visa B (BVB).
BVAs and BVBs that are granted to applicants for this visa allow you to:
- work in Australia
- study in Australia (no government support)
- enrol in Medicare, Australia’s health care scheme.
More information is available about bridging visas.
If you cancel a current visa
If you cancel your current visa you will become an unlawful non-citizen. This means you will not be eligible for a Bridging visa A, B, or C and will generally only be considered for a Bridging visa E. You will not automatically be granted a bridging visa in this situation, and will need to lodge an application for a Bridging visa E.
Book a Consultation
Partner visas are complex. Book a Migration consultation to get expert advise.
From 25 November 2023, subclass 309, 820 and 801 can now be granted no matter the location of the applicant at the time of grant.
The new changes to Sponsored family visa’s, have not been implemented for Partner visas. The changes meant that Sponsorships must be lodged first and approved before Partner visas can be lodged. This change would have adversely impacted onshore Partner visa applicants wanting to lodge a visa application prior to their substantive visa expiring. The sponsorship application would have been assessed separately and would had to be approved before a valid Partner visa application could be lodged.
If you are planning to apply for a Partner visa we recommend booking an appointment to discuss and understand how these changes may impact you.
Partner Visa FAQ
Who is eligible for partner visa?
A person will be eligible to apply for an onshore partner visa in Australia only if they are in a de facto, registered or marriage bound relationship with an Australian citizen, a permanent Australian resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
How long does a partner visa take?
The Department of Home Affairs currently estimates that onshore partner visa applications can take anywhere between 3 to 30 months to process, and offshore partner visa applications can take between 3 months to 33 months.
How much money do you need for partner visa Australia?
Can someone on a partner visa work in Australia?
Partner visa holders have full work rights in Australia – whether temporary, permanent or prospective marriage visa.
Related:
- How long does it take to get 801 visa after 820
- Family Violence and Partner Visas
- Australia Visa Waivers and Refunds
- Partner visa grants, refusals and cases on hand
- Major Partner Visa Changes, Family-Employer-Business Visas Prioritised Within 160,000 Places
- Fiance (prospective spouse) visa
- Partner Visa for Same-Sex Relationships
- Limitation on partner visa sponsorships
- English Test for Permanent Stage of Partner Visas
- Partner visa changes ahead
Partner visa options
What happens when a Sc 820 visa holder withdraws their Sc 801 visa application due to a relationship breakdown (assuming no family violence has occurred)?
If a Subclass 820 visa holder separates from their sponsoring partner and decides to withdraw their Subclass 801 application, the consequences can be significant.
In most cases, when a combined Subclass 820/801 application is lodged onshore, the applicant is granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA). Once the Subclass 820 visa is granted, that bridging visa ceases to be in effect because the applicant now holds a substantive visa. However, the bridging visa generally remains associated with the permanent partner visa application until that application is finally determined.
If the relationship has ended and the applicant withdraws their Subclass 801 application (and no family violence or other exception applies), the Subclass 820 visa will generally cease. At that point, the previously granted Bridging Visa A may come into effect.
The applicant will usually have 35 days from the date the Subclass 820 visa ceases to either:
- depart Australia; or
- lodge another valid visa application if they are eligible to do so.
Applicants should obtain advice before withdrawing a Subclass 801 application, as there may be alternative options available depending on their circumstances, including eligibility under family violence provisions, the death of the sponsoring partner, or where there are children of the relationship.
