Partner visas
The Australian Partnership Visa Stream allows applicants who are married, engaged or are in a de facto relationship with an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen to seek a visa to be in Australian with their supporting partner.
Heterosexual as well as same-sex couples may apply for an Australian partner visa.
Which Australian partner visa is right for you?
There are three types of partner visa:
- temporary,
- permanent, and
- prospective marriage
The partner visa is a 2-stage process where you will be applying for both temporary and permanent visa at the same time.
If you are outside Australia, you will be applying for Sc 309-100 visa and those who are in Australia will need to apply for Sc 820-801 visa.
The Prospective Marriage visa Sc 300 is a temporary visa that can only be applied for from outside of Australia and enables visa holders to apply for an onshore partner visa (Sc 820-801) once they marry their Australian partner.
What are the Australian temporary partnership visas?
An Australian partner visa is a two-stage process where you first need to be granted a temporary Partner visa (Subclass 309 or Subclass 820) before you can be eligible for a permanent partner visa (Subclass 100 or Subclass 801).
You apply for both temporary and permanent visas at the same time where only one application fee will need to be paid. If you are granted the temporary Partner visa (Sc 309 or Sc 820), you will be assessed for the permanent Partner visa (Sc 100 or Sc 801) in approximately two years from the date of temporary visa application submission. You will need to provide further documents to prove your relationship for the second stage of the process.
Holders of a temporary partner visa can:
- stay in Australia until the decision on the permanent Partner visa (Sc 100 or Sc 801) is made
- work in Australia for any employer and study in Australia as an international student
- travel to and from Australia without limitations
- if eligible, attend English language classes provided by the Adult Migrant English Program at no cost
- receive free or subsidised health care at publicly funded health services (Medicare)
What are the Australian permanent partnership visas?
What is the Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300)?
