Australia Spouse Visa/ Partner Visa

 The Australian spouse visa allows you to sponsor your loved ones (partner or spouse) in Australia and live together. 

If your spouse or partner is an Australian citizen or a permanent resident holder, you may be eligible for an Australian spouse visa. Department of Home Affairs Australia gives access to applicants in two ways.

• • Partner (Provisional) visa Subclass 309:
    It is a temporary visa to live in Australia with your partner until you are granted a PR visa. Please note it is a temporary visa.

• • Partner (permanent) visa (subclass 100):
    It is a Permanent resident visa issued only to those holding Australia Partner (Provisional) visa Subclass 309, allowing your spouse/partner to stay permanently.

Benefits of Partner Visa Australia

• You will be allowed to stay with your Australian partner indefinitely.
• You can work and study anywhere in Australia.
• You will receive some social security payments in Australia.
• You can avail of Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare.
• You can travel to and from Australia multiple times for five years.
• Spouse needs not to write English language exam.
• You can include the members of the family unit in your application.
• There is no funds requirement to show minimum funds.
• There are no minimum points passing mark system such as 65.
• Moreover, there is no age limit to apply for an Australian spouse visa

Australia Spouse visa Requirements

To be eligible for an Australian spouse visa, you need to meet the following Australian spouse visa eligibility requirements: –

• • Relationship requirements:
    The first and foremost requirement to apply for the Australian spouse visa is your relationship must be genuine, either married or in a de-facto relationship. To prove your relationship status, you need to take care of the following things:

• • 1. You and your spouse must both be committed to a shared life together.
    2. Your relationship must be confirmed and continuing.
    3. Your marriage must be lawful.
    4. You both must spend time together.
    5. You both must be committed to sharing liability.

These are the most critical parameters monitored by DHA Australia to get to know the relationship status. DHA Australia may interview the applicant or sponsor to decide whether this relationship is genuine.

Australia spouse visa interview questions

• • 1. When and where did you meet with each other?
    2. What did you find attractive about your partner at first?
    3. When did you start your relationship together?
    4. When did you fall in love with your partner?
    5. When did you consider yourselves “in a relationship”?
    6. What’s the last thing each of you gave the other as a gift?
    7. When did you decide to get married?
    8. How much time have you spent with your partner’s family?
    9. Why did you and your partner decide to apply for an Australian partner visa instead of staying home country?
    10. When did you officially become engaged?
    11. Where were you when you became engaged?
    12. What was the name of the place you were married?
    13. How many people attended your marriage ceremony and reception?
    14. When was your partner born?
    15. Does your partner have a degree? If so, what type and from what school?
    16. What does your partner do for work?
    17. What are your partner’s favorite foods?
    18. What was the last film you saw together with your partner?
    19. What will you do if your visa application is refused?
    20. Do you plan to have children with your partner?

• • Meet health requirements:
    You and your family applying for this visa must meet the health requirements. To prove your health status, all the family members (either accompanying or not) need to go under medical examination, such as:

• • 1. TB Screening test
    2. Chest x-ray
    3. HIV
    4. Another relevant test may also be required – depending on the applicant’s circumstances.

• • Meet character requirements:
    You and your family must be of good character; you and all family members aged 18 years or older must provide a Police clearance certificate to prove your character status.
    Please note character requirements for Ship workers and Military workers differ. Please contact our Australia spouse visa expert to know more.

• • Best interests of the child:
    Department of Home Affairs Australia may refuse your Australian spouse visa if it is not in an applicant’s interest under 18.

• • Pay your debts to the Australian Government:
    Suppose the sponsor or any family members owe the Australian government debts. In that case, DHA Australia will refuse your Australian spouse visa application, So it is advisable to pay it back or arrange to pay it back before sponsoring your spouse or partner on an Australian spouse/ partner visa.

• • Previous visa cancellation or refusal:
    Suppose your spouse’s previous visa is refused or denied by DHA Australia due to misrepresentation, deportation, or being banned from entry to Australia. In that case, you won’t get approval for your Australian spouse visa.

There are many other requirements to apply for an Australian spouse visa, depending upon the individual’s circumstances. For better clarification, contact our Australia spouse visa expert for professional consultation.

Australia Spouse visa process / how to apply for Australia spouse visa step-by-step guide

To apply for an Australia spouse visa, you must follow the steps below carefully.

• • Step 1: Check Australia spouse visa eligibility:
    To apply for an Australian spouse visa, both (the applicant and sponsor) need to meet the Australian spouse visa requirements in terms of the following:

• • 1. Genuine relationship,
    2. Health requirements,
    3. Character requirements,
    4. Australian debts,
    5. Previous sponsor status, etc.
       Additionally, the sponsor must meet sponsorship obligations, which means your sponsor must be able to support the basic need of the applicant, such as:

• • 1. Accommodation
    2. Financial assistance, including English language courses, if needed
    3. Other support, such as child care, if needed

       In most cases, an Australian Spouse visa gets denied because either applicant or sponsor cannot satisfy Australian spouse visa requirements.
       You can also use the Aptech visa Australia spouse visa eligibility tool to know your chances of succeeding or approving an Australia spouse visa.

• • Step 2: Prepare required Documents:
    As we all know, documents play a crucial role in visa processing; your Australian spouse visa will be approved or refused entirely depending on how you present your visa application documents to the authority to process your application.
    Australian spouse visa document requirements also depend on the applicant or sponsor personal circumstances. You may refer to our Australia spouse visa documents checklist to know more.
    Providing bogus documents, unreadable, black & white, supplementary documents other than the required format, can delay your application processing time and increase the chances of refusal.

• • Step 3: Apply for your Australia Spouse visa:
    Once you are sure about Australian spouse visa eligibility requirements and furnish your documents as per case specification, you can now apply for the Australia spouse visa by paying the Australia spouse visa application fee. The applicant or sponsor is responsible for telling the changes after the lodgment of your application.
    Once you apply for your visa, you will receive your application ID / TRN number that you can use to track your application status online.

• • Step 4 Australia spouse visa Outcome:
    The final step is the Australian spouse visa decision, which depends on the verification of supportive documents, an Interview with the applicant or sponsor, a background check, etc.
    Once you are granted your Australian spouse visa, you can fly to Australia and live with your partner or sponsor.
    If the Department of Home Affairs Australia decides to refuse your Australia spouse visa, I will tell let you know:

• 1. Why was your Australian spouse visa refused
  2. Whether you have a right to a review of the decision

Spouse visa Australia Cost/fee

The Australian spouse visa application fee or cost depends on the number of applicants in the application, the application type (onshore or offshore) you are applying for, the date of application, currency fluctuation, etc.

A surcharge will also be applicable if you pay an Australian spouse visa application fee by credit card.

1. Australia spouse visa fee – AUD 7,850
2. Additional applicant charge 18 and over – AUD 3,960
3. Additional applicant charge under 18 – AUD 1,965

Another cost

1. Medical expenses Rs. 5000/- per person
2. PCC charges approximately Rs. 1000/- per certificate

Please note this fee covers both temporary visa subclass 309 & the permanent Partner (Migrant) visa subclass 100. And it may change at any point in time without prior notification.

Spouse visa Australia processing time

Australian spouse visa processing time depends upon the number of applications they receive and the type of application and also relies on

1. Forms filled properly
2. Correct visa application fee payment
3. Verification of your supportive documents & Credentials
4. Your response on any ADR raised by the Department of home affairs Australia.
5. Visa interview slot availability
6. Sponsor credential verification and interviews

However, the current processing time for an Australian spouse visa is

For Subclass 309 Partner (Provisional) visa

1. Seventy-five percent of applications get processed in 18 months.
2. Ninety percent of applications get processed in 23 months.

For Subclass 100 visa (Permanent Australia Partner Visa)

1. Seventy-five percent of applications get processed in 17 months.
2. Ninety percent of applications get processed in 23 months.

Australia Parent Visa Processing Time

Australian Parent visa processing time ultimately depends upon capping and queueing. The capping means that the authorities will accept a limited number of applications for the year. Queue means they will treat your application on a first-come, first-serve basis.

For the year 2022 – Australia will accept a total number of parent visa applications of up to 4,500.

Generally, the processing time for

1. Australia Contributory Parent Visa subclass 143 is approximately two years.
2. Australia Non-Contributory Parent Visa subclass 103 is about 10 – 15 years.

Australia Spouse visa documents checklist

The following documents are required to apply for an Australian spouse/Partner Visa. You must ensure that you furnish all these documents per the pre-described format.

1. All Australian spouse visa documents must be in English.
2. All documents in color and in an acceptable format
3. All records must be readable

Please provide only accurate, authentic documents. If you provide false or misleading documents or information documents, your application will not only be refused. You may be banned from applying for further applications.

Please find the Australia spouse visa documents checklist below for smooth sailing of your Australia Partner Visa process.

• • Application forms:
    Your application form must be filled out accurately, and the information must be readable.

• • Identity documents:
    Provide a birth certificate or any other documents issued by your national govt. For identity purposes for you, your spouse, and your dependent children.

• • Character documents:
    Provide a police certificate from every country, including your home country, where you spent 12 months or more in the last ten years since you turned 16.

• • Health clearance:
    You or any applicant age two years need to undergo a medical examination to prove your health status.

• • Australia residency proof:
    Your sponsor needs to provide residential evidence proof such as utility bills, rent agreements, phone bills, etc.

• • Photographs:
    All the applicants included in the application must submit colored passport-size photographs.
    If you are married, you need to provide a marriage certificate and If you are a de facto partner, provide proof of your de facto relationship. Also, explain about

• • 1. Genuine Relationship status:
       Show evidence to prove your relationship is genuine and continuing.
    2. Finances:
       You need to provide that you and your partner share financial matters.
    3. Your household:
       You & your partner need to provide documentary evidence that you and your partner share domestic matters.
    4. Social matters:
       Provide evidence that others know about your relationship.
    5. Commitment:
       Provide enough supportive documents on how you are committed to a long-term relationship with each other.
    6. Other relationships:
       You or your sponsor also need to declare if you have previously been married, widowed, divorced, or separated.

Department of Home Affairs Australia may request you to submit additional documents within a specific time frame, and the applicant must provide copies as per requirements.