The Spouse Visa Australia usually means five different visa subclasses, and those visas can fall into three categories.

• Offshore Partner Visa (For overseas applicants)

1st Stage: subclass 309, Temporary Partner Visa.

2nd Stage: subclass 100, Permanent Partner Visa.

Applicants submit a packaged application for 309 and 100 together.

• Onshore partner visa (For applicants currently in Australia)

1st Stage: subclass 820, Temporary Partner Visa.

2nd Stage: Subclass 801, Permanent Partner Visa.

Applicants submit a packaged application for 820 and 801 together.

• Prospective Marriage Visa (For overseas applicants)

Subclass 300, Temporary Visa; Stand-alone Visa

How to Apply for an Australian Partner Visa?

Applying for a partner visa in or outside Australia can be a quite challenging process. It requires a lot of time and effort. The close cooperation between visa applicant and spouse or De Facto partner is also essential to the visa grant.

We have summarized some of the key steps here to help you have an overall understanding of the long partner visa journey.

Step 1: You and your partner need to know all the details about the Australian Partner Visa. Particular attention should be paid to visa cost, processing time and legal requirements of your relationship.

Step 2: Make sure you and your partner are eligible to become the visa applicant and visa sponsor. The following questions should be answered first:

• Have you been sponsored to apply for a partner visa before?
• Have you previously sponsored anyone to apply for a partner visa before?
• Have you been cancelled or refused any Australian visas before?
• Do you have any significant criminal record in Australia before?
• Do you have any long-term health conditions? Such as HIV, Tuberculosis, Yellow Fever?
• Do you own any debts to the Australian government?
• Is your De Facto Relationship less than 12 months?

If you answer ‘yes’ to any of the questions above, you might not be able to become an applicant or sponsor immediately. Further advice from the DHA or Migration agent should be sought.

Step 3: Make sure your relationship can meet the legal requirements for partner visa purposes. Proving your married or De Facto relationship with convincing evidence on paper is the only key to get approval.

Step 4: Collect high-quality documents and present them logically. Your goal is to submit a ‘decision ready’ application to DHA to make the case officer’s job easier.

Step 5: Register an immi account on the DHA website and fill out the relevant online visa application form. We strongly suggest you submit an online visa application, as a paper application can make the processing time significantly longer.

Step 6: Pay the application fees to DHA and formally begin the waiting journey.

Step 7: An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen partner should also submit the sponsorship to support the visa application. This application is free.

Step 8: Closely monitor your case and submit additional relationship documents consistently.

Step 9: Get ready for your first Australian partner visa (820/309/300). Organize your police check and health examination.

Step 10: Your visa is granted!