A partner visa, also known as a spouse visa or a marriage visa, allows you to bring your partner to live with you in Australia. The Partner visa is designed to enable couples in a genuine, committed & ongoing relationships to be together. Partner visas typically grant temporary or permanent residence, depending on the specific criteria and regulations of their subclass.
Types of Partner Visas
820/801 – Onshore Partner Visa
This is a popular visa for married or defacto couples, who are in Australia and are wanting to stay together during the processing time of the visa application. You will be required to evidence you are in a committed & continuing relationship with your sponsor (spouse), during the process time and you will generally, you will have full work rights on your bridging visa A associated with the lodged partner visa.
309/100 – Offshore Partner Visa
This is an option is for people who must remain offshore (out of Australia) during the processing time of the visa. They may come to Australia during the processing time; however, they will need to be apply for & be approved for a different visa subclass and must leave the country for the decision of their 309/100 visa.
300 – Prospective Marriage Visa
This is a visa which is lodged for couples who are engaged. This is the same set up at the 309/100 visa, where an applicant must remain offshore during the processing time and for decision. Once a decision is made, the visa applicant and sponsor would have 9 months from the date of approval to get married in Australia and apply for the partner visa (820/801).
Basic Requirements of Partner Visas
To be eligible for a partner visa, you must meet certain basic criteria. This typically includes being in a genuine, committed, and ongoing relationship, being of legal age, and having the intention of living together as a couple. You are also required to show you share a financial relationship together and have a joint social life together.
Whether you’re married or in a de facto relationship, your relationship status can impact your partner visa application. It’s essential to provide evidence of your genuine relationship, such as joint bank accounts, shared living arrangements, and photos together. The more compelling evidence you can provide, the stronger your application will be.
Basic evidence for a partner visa can include:
- Joint bank statements
- Joint lease agreement or evidence of living together (mortgage documents)
- Joint bills
- Mail to same address
- Superannuation or Will beneficiary documents
- Photos together
- Correspondence together
- Statements from friends and family etc.
To find out if you’re eligible for the partner visa, contact our migration experts today.
