Partner Visas

An Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible NZ citizen may apply to sponsor a partner to live in Australia, with the Partner Visa (both 820/801 for onshore couples and 309/100 for offshore couples). The Partner Visa is centred around proving a genuine and continuing relationship. Key to the eligibility criteria are:

1. The couple’s relationship must be shown to be genuine, ongoing and committed. Substantial evidence pointing to the financial aspect, social aspect, nature of household and commitment to each other during and in the future of the relationship are required.

   
   Couples need to show that they live together, or not permanently apart, although there are exceptions in some cases.
   

2. The Sponsor must not have sponsored anyone else or have been sponsored as a partner in the 5 years before the current application. They cannot have sponsored a partner more than twice in their lifetime, including the current sponsorship.
   

3. The couple must have met each other in person, at least once in the last two years before application unless exceptional circumstances apply.
   

4. Health and Character requirements apply – both applicant and sponsor must provide police clearance certificates for each country they have lived in for more than 12 months in the last 10 years. The applicant must meet health requirements and undergo a medical examination.

The Partner visa is a 2 stage process. Stage 1 is the temporary visa (820 or 309) and Stage 2 is the permanent visa (801 or 100). Depending on how long the relationship has been, both stage 1 and 2 may be granted at the same time. However, if the relationship duration is shorter than 3 years (or 2 years if there is a biological child involved), then the second stage will only be processed 2 years after the lodgement of the first stage and proof of the ongoing nature of relationship is provided.