Partner Visa Australia

Australia's partner visa program allows Australian citizens, permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens to sponsor their spouse or de facto partner for permanent residency. The program operates as a two-stage process: a temporary visa first, followed by a permanent visa approximately two years later (or immediately for established long-term relationships).

​

Relationship evidence is the most critical component of a partner visa application. Insufficient or poorly organised evidence is the leading cause of partner visa refusals. MigrationSquare guides you on exactly what you need and how to present it.

• The Department of Home Affairs assesses your relationship across four categories. You must provide credible evidence in each:

• Financial: Joint bank accounts, shared assets, joint loans, life insurance naming each other as beneficiary

• Household: Joint lease, shared utility bills, evidence of cohabitation at the same address

• Social: Photos together, travel records, invitations to family events, social media, statutory declarations from family and friends

• Commitment: Personal relationship statements (written separately by each partner), future plans, knowledge of each other's life, marriage certificate if applicable

• Genuine ongoing relationship (married or de facto — de facto generally requires 12 months together)

• Sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible NZ citizen

• Both applicant and sponsor must be of marriageable age

• Health and character requirements for both parties

• Sponsor has not previously sponsored multiple partners (restrictions apply)

Partner visas are among the most document-intensive visas in the Australian system. Current processing times for the temporary stage (820 or 309) are typically 12–24 months. The permanent stage follows approximately 2 years after the temporary visa is granted — or can be granted immediately if you have been in a genuine relationship for 3 or more years at the time of application.