Partner Visas

Prospective Marriage (300)

This visa allows the holder to travel to Australia to marry his or her prospective spouse and thereafter to apply for a Partner visa.

Visa Criteria:

  1. applicant needs to be sponsored by prospective spouse and be 18 years or older
  2. applicant needs to marry the prospective spouse within the 9 months visa validity
  3. meet health and character requirements
  4. this visa is for offshore based applicants only
  5. applicant must continue to be in a relationship with the sponsor. Exceptions apply where the sponsor has died; the relationship has broken down due to family violence; or applicant has custody of a child in the relationship.

Once granted, the visa allows the holder to stay for up to 9 months, with the right to study and work in Australia. This visa costs A$7,160 and holders will pay a reduced visa fee for the subsequent onshore Partner Visa.

Offshore Partner Visa (309)

This visa is comprised of a two-staged application process: Temporary (309) and Permanent (100). The two visas are applied for at the same time. The Temporary Partner visa allows the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian Citizen, PR or Eligible NZ Citizen to travel to and live in Australia as a temporary resident until the Permanent Partner visa is processed.

Visa Criteria:

  1. applicant needs to be sponsored by a spouse or de facto partner
  2. spouse must not have sponsored a previous partner within the last 5 years; and may only sponsor a maximum of 2 partners in a lifetime
  3. applicant must be in a genuine relationship with sponsor who is an Australian Citizen, PR or Eligible NZ Citizen
  4. applicant must be offshore when applying for this visa
  5. applicant must continue to be in a relationship with the sponsor. Exceptions apply where the sponsor has died; the relationship has broken down due to family violence; or applicant has custody of a child in the relationship.

The Permanent Partner visa stage may be fast tracked if applicant demonstrates a long term relationship with the sponsor (e.g. married for 2 years or longer). For recently married partners, the Permanent Visa will be granted 2 years from date of application. Note that Australia recognizes same sex relationships.

Onshore Partner Visa (820)

This visa is comprised of a two-staged application process: Temporary (820) and Permanent (801). The two visas are applied for at the same time. The Temporary Partner visa allows the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian Citizen, PR or Eligible NZ Citizen to travel to and live in Australia as a temporary resident until the Permanent Partner visa is processed.

Visa Criteria:

  1. applicant needs to be sponsored by a spouse or de facto partner
  2. spouse must not have sponsored a previous partner within the last 5 years; and may only sponsor a maximum of 2 partners in a lifetime
  3. applicant must be in a genuine relationship with sponsor who is an Australian Citizen, PR or Eligible NZ Citizen
  4. applicant must be onshore when applying for this visa

In general, the Permanent Partner Visa will be granted 2 years from date of application. However, this may be fast tracked if applicant demonstrates a long term relationship with the sponsor (e.g. married for 2 years or longer).  Note that Australia recognizes same sex relationships.