Are you dreaming of joining your loved one in the land Down Under? Australia's Spouse Visa, also known as the Partner Visa, might be your ticket to making that dream a reality. Let's break down everything you need to know in simple terms.
The Two-Stage Journey: Temporary to Permanent
The Partner Visa process in Australia consists of two main stages:
Temporary Partner Visa (Subclass 820/309): At this stage, you can live in Australia with your partner on a temporary basis. To qualify, you must either be married to an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen or be in a genuine de facto relationship.
Permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 801/100): After a waiting period of about two years from your initial application, you can become eligible for permanent residency in Australia.
What is the eligibility criteria?
To be eligible for an Australia Spouse Visa, you must meet certain criteria:
- Relationship Requirement: You should either be married to an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen or in a genuine and committed de facto relationship. You'll need to provide evidence of your relationship's genuineness, like shared financial accounts, responsibilities, and photos together.
- Sponsorship Requirement: The sponsoring partner must be at least 18 years old, an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen. They also shouldn't have sponsored more than two previous partners for migration to Australia.
- Age Requirement: There's no age limit, but if you're under 18, there are special considerations.
- Health and Character Requirement: You'll need to pass health and character checks, which may include medical exams and police clearances from countries you've lived in.
- Genuine Intention: You must genuinely intend to live together as spouses or de facto partners in Australia.
What are the required documents?
For your application, you'll typically need these documents:
- Identity and Relationship Documents: Passports or travel documents, marriage certificates (if married), or evidence of your de facto relationship, such as shared financial statements and bills.
- Evidence of Genuine and Ongoing Relationship: Photos together, bank statements showing joint commitments, shared assets or liabilities proof, correspondence addressed to both of you at the same address, and statements from friends and family supporting your relationship's genuineness.
- Sponsorship Documents: Completed sponsorship form by the sponsoring partner, evidence of their citizenship or residency, and their identity documents.
- Health and Character Documents: Medical examination results and police clearance certificates from the past ten years.
- Additional Supporting Documents: Proof of shared responsibilities, social activities, or any other documents that demonstrate your relationship's genuineness.
What is the application fee?
The application cost varies depending on the visa subclass and whether you apply from within or outside Australia. The base application fee for both temporary and permanent Partner Visas is AUD $8850, and additional costs may apply for medical exams, police clearances, and document translations.
What is the processing time?
Processing times can vary, but here is a rough estimate:
- For Subclass 820/309: 6 to 34 months.
- For Subclass 801/100: 10 to 29 months.
In a nutshell, Australia's Spouse Visa can be your pathway to uniting with your loved one in this beautiful country. It might seem complex, but with the right documents and patience, you can make your dream of living together Down Under a reality.
