Are you a spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealander and want to start life afresh in Australia? To temporarily or permanently live in Australia, the country offers several visa programs for partners like you.
Australian Partner/Spouse Visa Options
There are three types of Australian Partner Visas. Though these are temporary visas, they all lead to Australian PR visas after a certain period.
- Partner (provisional) visa (subclass 309)
- Partner visa (temporary) (subclass 820)
- Prospective marriage visa (subclass 300)
Partner visa (subclass 309)
This visa program is for those partners who will be applying from outside Australia (Offshore). It is a temporary visa that allows the applicant to stay in the country for a limited period (usually between 15-24 months) until the application of PR is granted or rejected. After 2-years of holding this temporary visa, you can apply for the permanent Partner visa (subclass 100).
What Can You Do with the Partner (Provisional) Visa
With this temporary residency spouse visa, a partner can:
- live in Australia while the Department of Home Affairs, Australia evaluates the application for subclass 100.
- work and study (the partner will not receive any government support) in the country
- travel from and to the country anytime as you please
- attend the free English language classes of up to 510 hours offered by the Adult Migrant English Program
- get access to the public health care scheme of Australia
- include the applicant’s dependent children in the application
If you show evidence of being in a long-term relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealander, your PR visa (subclass 100) may be granted immediately after the provisional visa (subclass 309) is approved.
Cost
The applicant has to pay a one-time AUD7,715 that covers both provisional and permanent residency visa programs.
Visa Processing Time
It may take:
- Around 22 months for 75% of applicants
- Around 24 months for 90% of applicants
Eligibility
To apply for Partner visa (subclass 309), the partner must:
- be 18 years or older while applying
- apply for subclass 309 while staying outside Australia
- be a spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealander.
Partner Visa (subclass 820)
Partner Visa subclass 820 is for partners applying for the visa from inside Australia (Onshore). It offers temporary residency to the de facto partner or spouse of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealander. After 2-years of holding subclass 820, that partner can apply for PR (subclass 801).
What Can You Do with the Partner Visa (temporary) subclass 820
Holding a Partner (temporary) visa (subclass 820) enables a partner to:
- live in Australia temporarily (between 15-24 months) until the PR (subclass 801) is evaluated.
- study (without government support) and work anywhere in the country
- travel from and to Australia anytime
- take part in the free English language classes of up to 510 hours offered by the Adult Migrant English Program.
- Get access to the public health care scheme of Australia
- Include the applicant’s dependant children in the application
Partners being in a genuine long-term relationship may get their PR visa (subclass 801) granted immediately after the approval of TR (subclass 820).
Cost
The applicant may need to pay:
- AUD1,285 if he/she holds a Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300)
- AUD1,630 if the partner previously owned a Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) but didn’t lodge an application for subclass 820 and subclass 801.
- AUD 7,715 for most applicants
Visa Processing Time
The department may take:
- Around 22 months for 75% of applicants
- Around 24 months for 90% of applicants
Eligibility
To apply for TR (subclass 820), the applicant must:
- be 18 years old or over
- be in a genuine relationship with an Australian permanent resident, citizen, or eligible New Zealander
- Stay inside Australia while applying for subclass 820 and while the department evaluates the visa
Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300)
This visa is for those applicants who live offshore and are planning to marry an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealander. Once the visa is granted, the applicant has 9-15 months to stay in Australia and marry the prospective spouse.
If both you and your partner want to live in Australia permanently after the visa is granted, you can apply for a partner visa (subclass 820 and 801) after the marriage before the Prospective Marriage visa period expires.
What Can You Do with the Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300)?
With the Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300), the applicant can:
- Stay in Australia for 9-15 months from the date of visa grant
- Study(at the applicant’s own cost) and work in the country
- Travel to and from the country as you please
Cost
The main applicant may need to pay AUD7,715
Visa Processing Time
The Department of Home Affairs, Australia may need:
- 22 months for 75% of the applicants
- 30 months for 90% of the applicants
Eligibility
To apply for the Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300), one must:
- be 18 years old or above
- apply from outside Australia
- be sponsored
- marry the prospective partner before the visa duration expires
Though there is not much qualification requirement for getting partner visas, proving your relationship and providing necessary documents can be tricky and toilsome. You can consider hiring an Australian Registered Migration Agent to do the job for you.