Australia Partner Visa 2022: Requirements, Steps, Eligibility Criteria

Of all the visa types to migrate to Australia, a crucial one is the Australia spouse visa or Australia partner visa. Are you looking to immigrate to Australia on an Australia Spouse Visa? Don’t miss to read out the given information.

The blog aims to present important details that may be of your interest if you are planning to apply for Australia partner visa.

Australia Partner Visa – A Brief Introduction

Australia Partner Visa, also called Australia spouse visa lets the spouse of an Australian citizen, Australian PR or an eligible New Zealand citizen to immigrate to Australia. An Australia spouse visa can be majorly divided into two categories – temporary visa and permanent visa. The process of moving to Australia as a spouse typically starts with an application for a temporary visa. After your temporary visa gets approved, you can raise a request for permanent visa.

Types of Australia Spouse Visa or Australia Partner Visa

• Provisional Partner Visa

The provisional partner visa is a temporary visa allotted for a definite period. The visa is of two types including subclass 820 and subclass 309. Subclass 820 is for the people applying from within Australia and subclass 309 is for the people raising applications from outside Australia. The visa can be transformed into permanent residency through visa subclass 100.

• Permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 100)

The permanent partner visa (subclass 100) is a permanent type of visa that can be applied by the people who hold a provisional partner visa (subclass 309). To apply for a permanent partner visa (subclass 100), the applicant must reside with his/her spouse for at least 2 years in Australia. The visa is granted only to those who satisfy the eligibility criteria to obtain a permanent partner visa.

• Temporary Partner Visa (Subclass 820)

The temporary partner visa (subclass 820) is for those who are outside Australia at the time of application. The visa can be transformed to permanent residency through visa subclass 801.

• Permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 801)

The permanent partner visa (subclass 801) can be applied by those who resided in Australia on a temporary partner visa (subclass 820) for at least two years.

• Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300)

The prospective marriage visa (subclass 300), also known as the Fiance visa, is a non-immigrant temporary visa that enables applicants to reside in Australia for nine months. The visa is for those who are engaged to an Australian citizen, Australian PR, or an eligible New Zealand citizen. The visa also permits you to marry your spouse in Australia. Later on, the visa can be upgraded to a temporary partner visa i.e. subclass 820 visa.

• Dependent Child Visa (Subclass 445)

The dependent child visa (subclass 445) is a temporary visa that allows subclass 100 or subclass 801 permanent partner visa applicants to include their dependent child in the application. The visa can be applied by those who have a child or stepchild or adopted child below 25 years of age.

The availability of multiple Australia spouse visa types may confuse you and make it hard to choose the right one while planning to apply for Australia spouse visa. Our Australia immigration consultants can ease your dilemma in the best manner.

Australia Partner Visa – Eligibility Requirements

• The applicant must meet the desired health and character requirements.
• The applicant’s spouse must be an Australian citizen, Australian PR, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Applicant’s relationship with his/her spouse should be authentic and long-term.

Australia Partner Visa – Steps to Apply

Step 1: Organize documents

First of all, you must plan and organize all the necessary documents that you will need to complete your Australia Partner Visa process.

Step 2: Raise application for Australia partner visa

Make an online application for an Australia partner visa. After lodging the application, complete the necessary payment and retain the fee receipt for future use.

Step 3: Await decision from the DHA

DHA may take a couple of months to give a decision on your application.

Step 4: Prepare to move

If DHA approves your application, you can obtain your Australia partner visa and plan your travel to Australia.

Australia spouse visa process typically takes more than a year to get completed. Hence, commencing the process asap is imperative to get an Australia spouse visa in a timely manner. Contact our Australia immigration consultants to get detailed information and understanding of the Australia spouse visa application process and conclude it without flaws.

Australia Partner Visa – Usual Processing Time

Depending on the type of visa you are applying for, the processing time for an Australia Spouse Visa may vary. For instance, 75% of the applications for a provisional partner visa (subclass 309) get processed in around 11 months and 90% of applications get processed in around 15 months. Similarly, 75% of the applications for a permanent partner visa (subclass 100) get processed in around 20 months and 90% of applications get processed in around 23 months.

Australia Partner Visa During Covid – 19

Despite the pandemic, the application for an Australia partner visa can be lodged. As discussed above, Australia spouse visa is of different types. COVID-19 and travel restrictions affect different visa application types differently.

Partner visa subclass 309/100 (offshore)

Generally, the applications for Australia spouse visa subclass 309/100 can be made only from outside Australian boundaries. The applicant must be outside both at the time of lodging the application as well as its grant. For this, the offshore partner visa applicants have to separate from their spouse for an extended period of time before being granted a temporary partner visa.

Earlier, several offshore partner visa applicants would have visited Australia on other temporary visas to meet their spouses while waiting to acquire their temporary partner visa. Also, they must have planned to move out of Australian boundaries to fulfill the offshore Australia visa application prerequisites. However, in the latest scenario, numerous offshore partner visa applicants may be present in Australia and unable to leave the country due to COVID restrictions.

Fortunately, a temporary concession that began on February 27, 2021, may permit some partner and Child Visa Subclasses to obtain their visas without the need to depart from Australia. These are

• 309 partner visa and 300 prospective marriage partner visa
• 101 child visa, 102 adoption visa, and 445 dependent child visa

Partner visa subclass 820/801 (onshore)

Applicants for a partner visa onshore, on the other hand, are normally unlikely to be affected by the latest travel restrictions since their entry requirements do not demand them to leave Australia. They can calmly stay in Australia from the day they make an application for the Australia partner visa until it is given.

Conclusion

The Australia spouse visa application process is difficult and time-consuming. Prior to applying for Australia spouse visa, you must gather relevant paperwork and satisfy predefined qualifying criteria such as the main applicant must have enough money to manage the expenses of his or her partner during the time, he/she stays in Australia and likewise. Hence, adopting assistance from dependable Australia Immigration Consultants is a perfect option to get accurate details and lodge Australia spouse visa application flawlessly. For the best help, you can contact our Australia immigration consultants anytime!