Australian Partner Visas are divided into Onshore and Offshore visas, which vary depending on whether you are inside or outside of Australia at the time of application. They are further separated into temporary and permanent visas depending on how long they are valid.
Another type of Partner Visa, which does not fall into either category, is the Prospective Marriage Visa, which many also refer to as a fiance visa.
Australia Partner Visa Types
The various partner and spouse visas available in Australia are shown below:
1. Visas for onshore partners:
Thanks to onshore partner visas, you can submit your visa application from inside Australia and wait for it to be completed there. You must submit applications for both of them simultaneously because there is a collaborative application process. However, you will get the 820 and have to hold off on applying for permanent residency for two years. There are two visa types:
· Onshore Permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 801), which is permanent. After two years with a subclass 820 visa, you h documents, and then you will receive the 801 tickets.
· Onshore Temporary Partner Visa (Subclass 820), valid for about two years.
2. Visas for offshore partners:
You can submit your application outside of Australia with the Offshore Partner Visas. As soon as your Visa is granted, you can stay with your partner while you wait to be qualified for permanent residency. The Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 Visa must be applied for simultaneously, but you won't get the permanent Visa until two years have passed since you received the temporary one. Therefore, when you apply for and acquire your 309 visas, you must be outside of Australia, but when you receive your permanent Visa, you may be inside or outside of Australia. Two offshore partner visas are available:
· Provisional Offshore Partner Visa (Subclass 309): This is a temporary two-year visa.
· Offshore Migrant Partner Visa (Subclass100): This is the permanent Visa you will receive after the temporary one expires.
3. Future Marriage Visa
You can get a Future Marriage Visa if you are engaged to an Australian citizen or resident and wish to marry them in Australia. With this Visa, you can stay there for 9 to 15 months, but you'll need to wed your fiancé during that time.
What Distinguishes Temporary and Permanent Visas
Even when you simultaneously apply for the Temporary Partner Visa (Subclass 820/309) and the Permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 801/100), you do not get both. The temporary Visa must have been granted two years before applying for the permanent one. You and your partner will be residing in Australia at this time.
The Department of Home Affairs will inform you that they have begun processing your application for permanent residency two years after you acquire the Temporary Visa and that you must submit a few additional papers.
You do not need to pay anything for a Permanent Visa because you will already have paid the visa application fee when you submit the joint application.
The Australian Immigration Authorities want to be sure that you genuinely have ties to Australia before allowing you to live there permanently, which is why you do not get a permanent visa immediately.
General Requirements for a Partner Visa in Australia
You and your partner must fulfill the following requirements to be eligible for an Australian Partner Visa:
· Your partner has to be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
· You have to be in a sincere, committed relationship.
· You must be an adult (over 18 years old).
· You must be able to demonstrate the sincerity of your bond.
· You had to have been dating for at least a year at the time of application.
How Can I Show a Relationship Is Sincere?
The Australian visa officials will want you to provide certain documents as proof of your relationship. This can include utility bills addressed to both of you to demonstrate that you share household responsibilities, a joint bank account to demonstrate that you share finances, phone records to demonstrate that you communicate over the phone even when you are not together, photos of the two of you together and with other people to demonstrate that you have spent time together and that others are aware of your relationship, etc.
Before you can be granted a permanent visa, two persons familiar with you and your partner must fill out a form that assures them that you are actually a pair.
Sponsorship Requirements
Your Australian partner must also fulfill several requirements to sponsor you:
· If your partner has sponsored another partner during the last five years, they are ineligible to sponsor you.
· Your partner cannot sponsor you if they recently acquired their Permanent Partner Visa through sponsorship. After five years since they acquired their Visa, they must wait.
· Throughout their lifetime, their spouse is limited to two other partners. Therefore, they cannot sponsor you if they have already sponsored two other persons.
Can You Get Married and Get Citizenship in Australia?
Yes, it will take a few years. However, you can also become an Australian citizen if you marry an Australian citizen or resident.
· He/she is not spent more than 90 days outside of Australia in the 12 months before the application.
· He/she must have basic knowledge of the English language, Australian culture, society, and way of life.
· He/she must not have been outside Australia for longer than 12 months in the four years before the application.