Australia’s Partner Visa options enable you and your partner to start a life together in Australia. The two types of Partner Visas are Subclass 309/100 Visas and Subclass 820/801 Visas. Both visas provide a pathway to permanent residence for de-facto and married applicants. To make a valid Partner Visa application, you will be required to provide evidence that your relationship is genuine and ongoing.
Onshore and Offshore Partner Visas
The main difference between the Subclass 309/100 Visas and Subclass 820/801 Visas are the way in which you apply – either from within Australia or outside of Australia. The Subclass 820 Visa is an ‘Onshore’ Partner visa and requires the applicant to be within Australia when applying for the visa and at the time their visa is granted. This will require logistical planning to ensure evidence requirements are prepared according to schedule and before the applicant’s temporary visa expires. It’s important to note, delays could result in the applicant having to return to their home country and apply from offshore.
Australia’s ‘Offshore’ Partner Visa is known as the Subclass 309/100 Visa. This visa requires the applicant to be outside of Australia when applying and when the visa is granted. It is more flexible than the Subclass 820/801 Visa as it does not require applicants to be bound by time constraints of a temporary visa. As the application is made offshore, couples will need to be comfortable with continuing their relationship long-distance until the visa is granted.
Partner Visa Requirements
There are several eligibility requirements which determine whether you can obtain a Subclass 309/100 Partner Visa. Applicants need to provide evidence showing their relationship is able to satisfy the below criteria:
- Financial
- Social
- Nature of household
- Nature of commitment
How a couple can provide evidence for the above requirements will differ depending on their relationship status, living arrangements and other factors. The Department of Home Affairs assesses the above criteria to determine the genuineness of the couple and ultimately, to decide whether to grant a Partner Visa.
Am I Eligible To Sponsor My Partner?
To sponsor your partner for an Australian visa, you will need to be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent citizen or an eligible New Zealand citizen. It’s important to know, new legislation will require sponsors to first become approved as an eligible sponsor before a Partner Visa application can be made. Find out how the implementation of the family sponsorship framework will impact couples applying for a Partner Visa – particularly those intending to apply for an Onshore Subclass 820/801 Visa.
How we can help
Interstaff have been helping Perth couples successfully apply for Partner Visas for over 30 years. We begin by conducting a detailed assessment of your Partner Visa eligibility and advising a strategy for your onshore or offshore application. We then assist you in preparing your evidence in a way that meets the Department of Home Affairs’ strict application requirements. Simply contact our team of Registered Migration Agents on (08) 9221 3388 or visa@interstaff.com.
“I just wanted to say thank you and to let you know you have been very helpful and professional during this process. I would definitely recommend Interstaff to any of my friends in the future if they require immigration assistance.”
Chris, Partner Visa