Partnership visas for Australia
Join or bring your partner
Under the Partner Visa Stream, applicants who are married, engaged or are in a de facto relationship with an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, may be eligible for a grant of an Australian partner visa.
Partner visas
The Australian Partnership Visa Stream allows applicants who are married, engaged or are in a de facto relationship with an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen to seek a visa to be in Australian with their supporting partner.
Heterosexual as well as same-sex couples may apply for an Australian partner visa.
Which Australian partner visa is right for you?
There are three types of partner visa:
- temporary,
- permanent, and
- prospective marriage
The partner visa is a 2-stage process where you will be applying for both temporary and permanent visa at the same time.
If you are outside Australia, you will be applying for Sc 309-100 visa and those who are in Australia will need to apply for Sc 820-801 visa.
The Prospective Marriage visa Sc 300 is a temporary visa that can only be applied for from outside of Australia and enables visa holders to apply for an onshore partner visa (Sc 820-801) once they marry their Australian partner.
What are the Australian temporary partnership visas?
An Australian partner visa is a two-stage process where you first need to be granted a temporary Partner visa (Subclass 309 or Subclass 820) before you can be eligible for a permanent partner visa (Subclass 100 or Subclass 801).
You apply for both temporary and permanent visas at the same time where only one application fee will need to be paid. If you are granted the temporary Partner visa (Sc 309 or Sc 820), you will be assessed for the permanent Partner visa (Sc 100 or Sc 801) in approximately two years from the date of temporary visa application submission. You will need to provide further documents to prove your relationship for the second stage of the process.
Holders of a temporary partner visa can:
- stay in Australia until the decision on the permanent Partner visa (Sc 100 or Sc 801) is made
- work in Australia for any employer and study in Australia as an international student
- travel to and from Australia without limitations
- if eligible, attend English language classes provided by the Adult Migrant English Program at no cost
- receive free or subsidised health care at publicly funded health services (Medicare)
What are the Australian permanent partnership visas?
An Australian partner visa is a two-stage process where to be eligible for a permanent partner visa you must be granted a temporary Partner visa (Sc 309 or Sc 820) first.
If you are granted a temporary partner visa, the Australian Department of Home Affairs will assess your eligibility for the Permanent Partner Visa in approximately two years from the date of temporary visa application submission.
Applicants for a permanent partner visa must be able to prove they are still in a relationship with their Australian partner or spouse and will be notified via email when and how they can provide such evidence.
Once approved, the permanent partner visa holder may live in Australia indefinitely regardless of whether their relationship with the Australian partner continues.
Holders of permanent partner visa can:
- stay in Australia indefinitely (with valid travel conditions)
- work in Australia for any employer or be self-employed
- study in Australia as a domestic student
- receive free or subsidised health care at publicly funded health services (Medicare)
- be a sponsor for eligible relatives to come to Australia
- attend English language classes provided by the Adult Migrant English Program at no cost, if eligible
- if eligible, apply for Australian citizenship
What is the Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300)?
Sc 300 visa is a temporary visa allowing fiancés and fiancées of Australian partners to stay in Australia for up to 9 months (currently 15 months due to COVID). If your Sc 300 visa is approved, you must enter Australia before the date specified in your grant letter, marry your fiancé either in or outside Australia and apply for a Partner visa (Sc 820-801) before your Prospective Marriage visa expires.
Holders of a Subclass 300 visa can:
- stay in Australia for between 9 and 15 months from date of grant of visa
- work in Australia
- study in Australia as a foreign student
- travel to and from Australia without limitations
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