Prospective Marriage Visa Travel
While Australia’s international border is still closed to all but essential travellers until the country reaches a higher vaccination rate, Travel Exemptions to enter and leave Australia are constantly being reviewed by the Government. Here’s a few updates.
- New Travel Exemption for Prospective Marriage Visa holders
- Further changes to Travel Exemptions for Australians normally living overseas
- Updates on the Australia-New Zealand Travel Bubble
Travel Exemption Introduced for Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa Holders
Department of Home Affairs Minister, Karen Andrews has announced that Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa holders can now apply for a Travel Exemption to be with their partner in Australia. Here’s the details.
- Unlike Subclass 309/100 and 820/801 Partner Visa holders, who are automatically exempt and do not have to apply for a Travel Exemption, Prospective Marriage Visa holders must apply to be exempt.
- A Prospective Marriage Visa holder can apply for a Travel Exemption one year after they submitted their visa application.
- Travel Exemption grants are at the discretion of the Commissioner of the Australian Border Force and decision makers. Sufficient evidence is required to support the application.
Many Prospective Marriage Visa holders have been unable to apply for a Travel Exemption for some time during the border closures.
Despite being granted a visa that recognises their commitment to marry their partner, Prospective Marriage Visa holders have not been classified as ‘immediate family members’ in the same way 309/100 and 820/801 Partner Visa holders have – you may have seen this contested in the media.
The change is expected to allow 1,600 people to marry and be with their partner in Australia. You can find out more about applying for a Partner Visa in the COVID-19 Era here.
Further Travel Exemption Changes for Australians Normally Living Overseas
As recently announced, the Government has removed an automatic Travel Exemption that previously allowed Australians who normally live overseas to travel to their country of residence without needing permission to leave Australia.
In addition, the three month expiry for unused Travel Exemptions for people ordinarily resident overseas has been removed. Travel Exemptions approved before 11 August 2021 are an exception – these can be used beyond the expiry period.
Other Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents have a three month period to leave Australia using their Outbound Travel Exemption once it is granted – read more about this here.
The Australia-New Zealand Travel Bubble
In response to COVID-19 outbreaks, quarantine-free travel to fly to New Zealand (NZ) from all Australian States and Territories remains suspended until further notice by the NZ Government.
If you are in New Zealand and normally live in Australia, you can currently travel home to Australia without having to quarantine on arrival.
Read more about how the Australia-New Zealand Travel Bubble operates here.
Travel Exemptions to Leave or Enter Australia | Post Pandemic Travel
We hope our update on Prospective Marriage Visa travel was helpful. Stay up-to-date on Australia’s Travel Exemption categories with our summaries on:
Should you need professional advice on your Visa or Travel Exemption, we encourage you to contact Interstaff’s Registered Migration Agents to arrange a consultation so that your circumstances can be considered.
You may also wish to connect with us on Facebook and LinkedIn to keep up-to-date.
Source:
Interstaff’s Registered Migration Agents
Migration Institute of Australia
The Department of Home Affairs
7 News
