0429417942

How do I apply for an Australian Partner Visa?

by Joanna Hill : December 1st, 2016

If you have fallen in love with an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident, then Australia is the best place to live happily ever after.

Australia’s strong history of migration has created a country that is multicultural, diverse and tolerant. Australia is perfect if you are looking for a place to live together and maybe to raise a family.

If you have decided that you want to live together in Australia you will need to apply for a visa. The Department of Home Affairs offers visas for people who are engaged, married or in a de facto relationship with an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or Eligible New Zealand Citizen (ENZC).

The basic requirements and processes required for applying for the different types of Partner Visas are outlined below. Follow the links so you can find out more information or get further help.

Some people decide that they would rather apply for a work Visa than a Partner Visa. You can find out more about applying for a Work Visa here.

Prospective Marriage Partner Visa Subclass 300

The Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa is for people who are intending to marry an Australian.

Most people who apply for this visa are engaged to be married, which is why the visa is often called the “Fiancé Visa”.

To be eligible for this visa you need to be over 18 years of age. You also need to genuinely intend to marry, and be eligible to marry in Australia.

You need to have met your Fiancé in person to be granted this visa. If you have met online or through an arranged marriage, you need to know each other and have met in person. It isn’t enough to have just talked on the phone and video calls.

Once your visa is granted, you will have a period of 9 months that you can spend in Australia. You will need to be married during this time so you can then apply for a Partner Temporary Subclass 820 Visa.

Partner Provisional Subclass 309

The Partner Provisional Subclass 309 visa is for people who are married or in a de facto relationship with an Australian. Only people who are outside of Australia can apply for this visa.  You also need to be outside Australia when the visa is granted.

People in a same sex relationship can apply for this visa. Dependent family members can also be included in your application for this visa

Once your Subclass 309 visa is granted you are able to travel to Australia. You can start your new life together as a couple in Australia.

This visa has no work restrictions, so you can find work in Australia knowing you have full work rights.

Partner Residence Subclass 100

The Partner Residence Subclass 100 visa is a Permanent Residency visa. An application for a Subclass 100 Visa is made at the same time as an application for a Partner Residence Subclass 309 Visa.

Once you have held your Subclass 309 visa for two years your application for a Subclass 100 Visa is considered. You are required to continue to meet the relationship requirements at the time when your Subclass 100 visa is granted.

Partner Temporary Subclass 820

The Partner Provisional Subclass 820 visa is for people who are married or in a de facto relationship with an Australian. Only people who are in Australia can apply for this visa.  You also need to be in Australia when the visa is granted.

People in a same sex relationship can apply for this visa. Dependent family members can also be included in your application for this visa.

Applying in Australia for an 820 visa means that you can start your life together in Australia while a decision is made on your application.

When you apply for a Subclass 820 visa you will be granted a Bridging Visa with full work rights. This means that you can stay in Australia with the person who you love while your application for an 820 visa is being decided. When your Bridging Visa commences will depend on the visa grant period of the visa that you hold when you apply for your Subclass 820 visa.

Partner Visa Permanent Subclass 801

The Partner Permanent Subclass 801 visa is a Permanent Residency visa. An application for a Subclass 801 Visa is made at the same time as an application for a Partner Temporary Subclass 820 Visa.

The paperwork for your Subclass 801 visa can be submitted two years after your application for the Subclass 820 visa was lodged. You are required to continue to meet the relationship requirements at the time when your Subclass 801 visa is granted.

Partner Visa Sponsorship

To apply for all of the visas above, the Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or ENZC partner needs to act as the sponsor for the visa applicant.

Sponsors need to be over 18 years of age. There are sponsorship limitations on Partners who have previously sponsored Partners for visas.

The sponsor also needs to declare that they are willing and able to support their fiancé, spouse or partner while they are in Australia holding a temporary visa.

Complex Visa History

If you have a complex visa history you may have had visa refusals, cancellations or periods in Australia without a valid visa. In these situations there may be instances where you are still eligible to apply for an Australian Partner Visa.

Where can I get Partner Visa help?

At MyAusPath we love helping our clients who are excited about starting life together in Australia. Achieving visa success for our clients is our main goal. We pride ourselves on the way we make a complex process simple and stress free.

Each visa has a different application process and requirements. The waiting times for the visas are also different, and the wait time can be impacted by the country that you come from. Constant changes to the Australian Migration Legislation also make it hard to know which option is the best for you.

Talk to the team at MyAusPath to book an in depth consultation to get the ball rolling on the application that best suits your needs and circumstances.

About MyAusPath

MyAusPath is a full service Australian Migration Agency based in Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. We help individuals, business owners and HR managers to consistently achieve successful visa outcomes. We are registered with MARA so you know you can rely on our advice (MARN 1575613).

At MyAusPath we are here to give you friendly, efficient service. Importantly, we make the complex and constantly changing Australian visa application requirements simple and stress free for clients. 

Connect with us!

“Thanks Joanna. You are the best!!!

We really appreciate all of your hard work!“

— Employer, Australia

Recent Blog Posts

alt Read Full Author Bio

Joanna Hill

Registered Migration Agent

Joanna Hill is a Registered Migration Agent with over 8 years experience assisting individuals, business owners and HR managers to apply for all Australian Visas. Joanna’s areas of expertise include Work Visas, Partner Visas, Visitor Visas and Australian Citizenship. She makes the complex and constantly changing process of applying for Australian visas simple and stress free for client sand achieves a 100% success rate for partner visa applications. Joanna is a Member of the Migration Institute of Australia and is registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARN 1575613). In addition to her work in Migration, Joanna has over 15 years experience as a teacher, Leading Teacher and Learning Specialist in Primary and Secondary schools. She has a research Masters in Education and has presented research and workshops at conferences in Australia and internationally.