Australia is one of the most migrated-to nations of the world. Since the five decades, more than seven million migrants have made Australia their home. Currently, one third of the total Australian population comprises of migrants in Australia who have settled down in the country. Although Australia is consistently looking for talent from all over the world, there are many migration applicants who move to Australia on a partner, parent and child visas. The Australian culture and societal norms are driven by the institution of family. This is one of the reasons that Australian authorities have a visa for every family situation. Once you migrate to Australia on a PR visa, you, in most of the cases, become eligible to bring your parents, partner and children to the country as well.

Australian authorities offer a range of partner visas that are meant to cater to most of the relationship situations. Australian partner visas range from prospective marriage (Fiancé) to married and Defacto partner visas.

General Eligibility Criteria

The general eligibility criteria (applicable in most of the partner / spouse visa cases) to qualify for a partner visa is:

• You and your spouse or your prospective partner can prove that you have shared life as a couple or are ready to marry.
• You and your partner can prove that your relationship is based on genuine grounds and is continuous.
• For those couples who are not legally married, it is – most of the times – a pre-requisite to prove their current relationship has been ongoing since the last 12 months.
• You and your partner should be at least 18 years of age to apply for any form of an Australian partner visa.
• You and your partner must pass the health and character criterion set by the Australian authorities.
• In order to apply for the partner visa, one of the partners must be an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident.

Generally, the onshore temporary partner visa is granted to the applicant if they meet the eligibility criteria. Once a temporary partner visa is granted, a permanent partner visa goes into processing. The permanent partner visa also serves as a pathway to Australian citizenship provided the eligibility criteria for the citizenship conferral is met.

Benefits of a Permanent Partner Visa

Some of the general benefits of Australian permanent partner visa (applicable in most of the partner visa cases) are:

• Stay in Australia permanently
• Work and study in Australia
• Enrol in Australia’s public healthcare insurance scheme, Medicare
• Sponsor your family members to come to Australia
• Travel to and from Australia for 5 years
• If eligible, attend free English language classes provided by the Adult Migrant English Program
• If eligible, apply for Australian citizenship

The partner (spouse) visas are intended for married couples, partners or those in a de facto relationship. This visa regime requires one partner to be an Australian Citizen or in possession of an eligible PR or provisional stay visa.

Australian Partner Visas

1. Partner Provisional Visa Subclass 309

The Salient Features of Australian Partner Provisional Visa Subclass 309 are:

You can:

1. Live, work and Study in Australia
2. Avail conversion of this visa to permanent migrant visa within Australia
3. Travel to and from Australia as many times as you like
4. Attend free functional English classes imparted by the Australian Adult Migrant English Program.

The eligibility criteria of applying for Partner Provisional Visa Subclass 309 is

You must:

1. Be in a genuine and verifiable relationship with your spouse, partner or de facto partner who is an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident
2. Be outside Australia when you are applying for this visa.

1. Partner Migrant Visa Subclass 100

The Salient Features of Australian Partner Migrant Visa Subclass 100 are:

You can:

1. Live, work and study in Australia permanently
2. Sponsor your eligible relatives or family members to come to Australia
3. Apply for citizenship if you meet the criteria.

The eligibility criteria of applying for Partner Migrant Visa Subclass 100 is:

You must (In majority of the cases):

1. Hold a temporary Partner Provisional Visa Subclass 309
2. Continue your ongoing relationship with your partner
3. Partner Visa Temporary Subclass 820

The Salient Features of Australian Partner Visa Temporary Subclass 820 are:

You can:

1. Live, work and Study in Australia
2. Avail conversion of this visa to permanent migrant visa within Australia
3. Travel to and from Australia as many times as you like
4. Attend free functional English classes imparted by the Australian Adult Migrant English Program.

The eligibility criteria of applying for Partner Provisional Visa Subclass 820 is

You must:

1. Be in a genuine and verifiable relationship with your spouse, partner or de facto partner who is an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident
2. Be inside Australia when you are applying for this visa.

1. Partner Visa Permanent Subclass 801

The Salient Features of Australian Partner Visa Permanent Subclass 801 are:

You can:

1. Live, work and study in Australia permanently
2. Sponsor your eligible relatives or family members to come to Australia
3. Apply for citizenship if you meet the criteria.

The eligibility criteria of applying for Partner Visa Permanent Subclass 801 is:

You must:

1. Hold a temporary Partner Visa Temporary Subclass 820.
2. Continue your ongoing relationship with your partner.

About BMS Australia

Are you looking for an Australian Partner Visa? Let BMS Australia’s experienced team help and handhold you through the process. Best Migration Services Australia was established in 2014. Since the time of its inception, we have helped and assisted thousands of clients in and outside Australia with their Australian immigration and settlement cases. BMS Australia is headquartered in Perth and has a network of exclusive global partners. BMS has various MARA Registered agents and Lawyers who specialize in providing the best guidance and services for that Australian visa and/or its subclass as per clients’ requirements. For more details and setting up an appointment with our registered Mara agent, click here.