In principle, an Australian Partner visa can be applied for if you have an Australian partner. But what does this actually mean in practice? What requirements must be met? Which factors can determine whether an application is successful or refused? And which mistakes should be avoided? This article provides an overview of what to expect and what to consider if you are thinking about applying for a Partner visa for Australia.
Who is the Partner visa a suitable option for?
Australian migration law provides a range of visa categories that can lead to permanent residence, each with its own requirements. Depending on your personal circumstances, different strategies may be available, and the Partner visa is not automatically the best option in every case.
For example, if your occupation is listed on one of Australia’s skilled migration lists, a visa under the General Skilled Migration program may offer a pathway to permanent residence. This can be particularly relevant if you are unable to meet the evidence requirements for a Partner visa, or if you prefer to pursue a visa option that is independent of your relationship. In addition, the points test for skilled visas may award extra points to partners of Australian citizens or permanent residents.
However, if you do not meet the requirements for skilled visas or prefer not to engage in the often time-consuming skills assessment process, the Australian Partner visa can be a viable alternative – provided the relationship can be documented comprehensively and convincingly.
What are the requirements for a Partner visa?
The Partner visa does not assess an applicant’s professional background, income or assets. Instead, the primary focus of the Australian authorities is on whether the applicant is in a genuine and ongoing relationship with an Australian partner and whether both parties intend to continue that relationship.
This means that the relationship must be sufficiently evidenced and documented.
In addition, applicants must meet health and character requirements. If there are serious criminal convictions or significant medical conditions that could pose a risk to the Australian community or result in substantial costs to the public health system, this may negatively affect the outcome of the application.
Who qualifies as an “Australian partner”?
The term “Australian partner” includes Australian citizens, who may sponsor their partner regardless of whether they currently live in Australia or overseas. Australian permanent residents and certain New Zealand citizens may also act as sponsors, although additional requirements regarding residence and length of stay in Australia apply in these cases.
Do you need to be married to apply for a Partner visa?
No formal marriage is required to apply for a Partner visa. De facto relationships are recognised for visa purposes, and Australian migration law makes no distinction between same-sex and opposite-sex relationships.
Which Partner visas are available and how does the application process work?
The Australian Partner visa is available in two main variants: an offshore and an onshore application pathway. The eligibility requirements are essentially the same for both.
The offshore pathway must be applied for from outside Australia, and relocation to Australia is only possible once the visa has been granted. The onshore pathway can be applied for while the applicant is already in Australia. In this case, applicants may remain in Australia on a Bridging visa while awaiting a decision.
In general, a Partner visa application consists of two parts: the visa application submitted by the applicant, and the sponsorship application lodged by the Australian partner.
Both applications are submitted together and assessed as part of the same process. This means that both the applicant and the sponsoring partner are assessed.
Does the Partner visa lead to permanent residency?
A Partner visa provides a pathway to permanent residence in Australia. This may occur either directly or via a two-stage process. In most cases, the applicant is first granted a temporary Partner visa. If the relationship continues after two years, permanent residence is granted in the second stage.
However, if the applicant and sponsor can demonstrate that they have been in a long-term relationship for more than three years, the authorities may waive the temporary stage and grant permanent residence immediately. This decision is discretionary and depends on how thoroughly the long-standing relationship is evidenced.
What documents are required for a Partner visa application?
In addition to the mandatory forms and standard identity documents, the core focus of a Partner visa application is proving that the relationship is genuine, ongoing and long-term.
Various aspects are considered in this assessment, including the length of the relationship, whether there is a shared household, how finances are managed, and the couple’s future plans.
There is no universal checklist of relationship evidence that applies to every case. Each relationship is unique, and the way it can be documented varies accordingly. Common examples include joint lease agreements, shared bank accounts, photographs and personal statements. Beyond these, there are many other ways to demonstrate a shared history and genuine commitment. Creativity and careful planning are often required, as there is no one-size-fits-all solution for Partner visa applications.
Do relationship documents need to be translated?
Partner visa applications are assessed by Australian authorities, and the official language is English. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all submitted documents are understandable to an English-speaking case officer.
Any document not in English must therefore be translated into English.
Self-translations are not accepted; translations must be completed by an accredited translator.
Depending on the number of non-English documents, translation costs can add up and increase the overall cost of the application. In some cases, partial translations may be acceptable to reduce costs. However, care must be taken to ensure that the meaning, context and evidentiary value of the document remain clear.
Common pitfalls and risks with Partner visa applications
Australian migration law is strict, and Partner visas have one of the highest refusal rates among Australian visa categories. Over the past five years, refusal rates have regularly ranged between approximately 25% and 33% of all applications.
The reasons for refusal are varied and often avoidable. As Partner visa applications involve substantial costs that are not refunded if the visa is refused, careful preparation is essential.
Insufficient evidence and application errors
Inconsistent or contradictory information, as well as formal errors, frequently lead to refusals. One of the most common reasons for refusal is insufficient evidence.
While factors such as long-term cohabitation, marriage or having children together are important, they are not sufficient on their own to fully demonstrate a genuine and ongoing relationship. All relevant aspects of the relationship must be comprehensively documented.
In addition, an applicant’s visa history can affect the outcome. Previous refusals, incorrect information in earlier applications, or breaches of visa conditions can have serious consequences. Health and character requirements are also common refusal grounds, meaning that criminal convictions or significant medical conditions can complicate the process.
Sponsors must also meet certain criteria. Relevant criminal convictions or having sponsored another family member in the past may complicate the application and, in some cases, lead to refusal.
Quantity versus quality of evidence
Partner visa applications are primarily assessed on the documents provided. While interviews may be requested in exceptional cases, they are not the norm.
Case officers have limited time to review each application. Submitting large volumes of unstructured documents and assuming that the relevance will be understood automatically is a common mistake. Authorities are not obliged to request clarification.
Success therefore depends not on the quantity of evidence, but on the careful selection of meaningful documents, clear structure, and a coherent explanation of how the evidence supports the relationship.
Short relationships or long-distance relationships
As a general rule, a Partner visa requires the relationship to have existed for at least 12 months.
In certain cases, this requirement can be waived if the relationship is officially registered in Australia. However, registration alone does not guarantee success. The genuineness of the relationship must still be demonstrated through appropriate evidence, which can be challenging for relationships of shorter duration.
Long-distance relationships can also present evidentiary challenges, particularly in relation to shared living arrangements and mutual commitments. Distance alone does not exclude an application, but careful strategy and preparation are even more important.
Has COVID-19 affected Partner visa processing?
Partner visas have traditionally involved long processing times, often around two years. During and after COVID-19, processing priorities shifted, and Partner visas have been prioritised by the Department of Home Affairs. As a result, some applications have been processed within months or even weeks.
This situation is unlikely to remain permanent and may change as other visa programs resume at higher volumes. In addition, significant changes to the Partner visa process are planned. Proposed reforms include English language requirements for certain applicants and a new process where sponsorship approval may be required before the visa application can be lodged. These changes could make application planning more complex, particularly for applicants in Australia who rely on Bridging visas. At present, the exact implementation details remain unclear.
Anyone considering a Partner visa is therefore advised to commence the process sooner rather than later to take advantage of current arrangements.
Do you need a Migration Agent for a Partner visa?
Australian visas can be applied for either independently or with professional assistance, such as from a registered Migration Agent. There is no obligation to engage a Migration Agent.
Applicants who feel confident managing the process themselves may choose to do so.
However, for those who are unsure about the appropriate strategy, professional support can provide clarity and reassurance. A Migration Agent cannot influence processing times or guarantee approval. However, an experienced agent can assess realistic prospects, identify risks, advise on how to address them, and recommend the most suitable pathway.
Beyond form completion, the key value of a Migration Agent lies in developing the right strategy for your individual circumstances, presenting your case clearly, structuring evidence effectively, and supporting the application with a well-reasoned submission.
Every Australian visa application is based on legislation and legal interpretation. While requirements for short-term visas are often straightforward, complex visas such as Partner visas involve discretionary decision-making. Success depends not merely on completing forms correctly, but on applying the law accurately and demonstrating that the legal criteria are met in a specific case.
