Australia is the most-suited destination for overseas candidates who have their spouse or de-facto partners already residing in the country as permanent residents, citizens, or New Zealand citizens. To know the partner visa Australia requirements, one has to first understand its basic concept, the benefits it can grant, and the eligibility to apply for one. To start with, an Australian PR holder or citizen gets to enjoy a high standard of living in addition to overhead advantages like free healthcare facilities, education, an overflowing amount of work opportunities in diverse fields, and many more. More so, it provides specific visa categories to all applicants depending on their present circumstances. The subclass of partner visas 309 and 100 are a great example of this. The partner visa offered by Australia provides a pathway to not only onshore but overseas candidates as well to have a chance at permanently settling in the country and staying for an indefinite period alongside enjoying other benefits.

About Visa Subclass 309 (Provisional)

The temporary partner visa Australia allows the spouse or de factor partner of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or New Zealand citizens to reside temporarily in Australia. Getting a positive result for this category is your one-way ticket toward permanent partner visa subclass 100. This provisional subclass grants temporary residency to the applicants who reside overseas at the time of application and give them a pathway to move to Australia. A few deciding details of this visa apart from the partner visa 309 checklist are given below.

Cost: Starts from AUD 8,085

Stay: Temporary

Processing Time: 29 – 38 months

Benefits of this visa:

• Move to Australia on temporary bases to live, work, and study

• Move in and out of Australia for indefinite times

• Take up English language sessions

• Apply for Australia’s public healthcare

About Visa Subclass 100 (Migrant)

Subclass 100 of partner visa offered by Australia allows the spouse or de facto partner of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or New Zealand citizens to reside permanently in Australia. This visa is granted only to the holders of subclass 309 (provisional) visas. Through this category, the applicants get a chance to avail permanent residency in Australia based on the immigration status of their partners. A few crucial details of this visa are given below.

Cost: Your payment for this visa is included in the amount for the temporary visa subclass 309

Stay: Indefinite

Processing Time: 16 – 27 Months

Benefits of this visa:

• Permanently settle in Australia

• Live, work or study anywhere in the country

• Sponsor close family members and relatives to visit

• Eligible to apply for Australian citizenship

What is a de facto partnership?

This is the relationship between two people wherein they are not legally married but live together anyways. They are committed to sharing their life, have a genuine relationship, and are not related by family/blood.

Eligibility for Partner (Provisional) Visa 309

The criteria to be considered eligible under this subclass is a little elaborate as it is your pathway towards the permanent subclass.

• The applicant must be residing outside Australia at the time of visa application as this subclass is specifically for overseas candidates. In case you are onshore and wish to apply for an Australian partner visa, click here.

• The applicant must have a sponsor in Australia (Australian permanent resident, citizen, or New Zealand citizen). This is usually the spouse or de facto partner of the applying candidate.

• The applicants should be a minimum of 18 years old to apply under this visa category.

• One must meet the relationship, health, and character requirements as per Australian law.

• There must be no pending debts to the Australian government at the time of visa application.

Eligibility for Partner (Permanent) Visa 100

The eligibility criterion under this subclass is slightly different from the previous one.

• The applicant must continue to be a spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or New Zealand citizen.

• At the time of visa application, they must hold a visa category 309 for two years.

• One must be the right age while applying for the visa which is 18 years or older. This is because 18+ is the age acceptable by the Australian government for marriage.

• The applicant should also be able to meet the Australian government's health and character requirements.

Step-by-step Application Process

i. Document Preparation

The first step to apply for this visa is to arrange certain specific documents as per the partner visa checklist. These might include identity documents, evidence of de facto partnership or spousal partnership between the applying and prospective candidates, evidence of shared finances, evidence to demonstrate shared domestic and social responsibilities, etc.

ii. Online/In-person application

The applicant has the liberty to choose whether they want to apply for the visa through the online mode or if they want to go in person and lodge the application with the authorities. Lodging an application is followed by this next step of submitting all the required documentation and successfully paying the application fee. Without this step, the application submission won’t be complete.

iii. Document Submission

The application is followed by this next step of submitting all the required documentation and successfully paying the application fee. Without this step, the application submission won’t be complete.

iv. Fee Payment

Application fees for partner visa Australia costs are paid together at the time of application for the provisional partner visa subclass 309. You do not need to pay separately and again when applying for the permanent partner visa subclass 100.

v. Await Results

The final step is to wait for the assessing authorities to process your application. The average partner visa Australia processing time for both subclasses is subject to change as per the country’s standards.