Your Complete Guide to Application Process, Types, Costs, & Timeline

 If you are considering applying for an Australian partner visa, this guide is the go-to source for completing an Australian partner visa application and will help you to find the best visa agency Sydney. You can choose to work with a registered migration agent (RMA) or an immigration lawyer, or you can prepare your own application (DIY). When preparing your own application, the process of obtaining a partner visa can be complicated and very time-consuming (100+ hours) with 50 to 100 documents to collect, produce, and reformat. The more you understand the application process, the better positioned you will be to determine which pathway to take. At MCS, we want to help make the application process seamless and stress-free for you, and we are happy to provide the proper tools and personalised assistance to support you in reaching your goal of becoming a permanent resident and subsequently, a citizen of Australia. This is an in-depth guide to applying for an Australian partner visa.

Partnership Migrants

• Prospective marriage visa (300) offshore.

• Partnership visas 309 (temporary) and 100 (permanent) offshore.

• Partnership visas 820 (temporary) and 801 (permanent) onshore.

Partnership migration allows an applicant from overseas, who is in a relationship with their partner (future spouse), to come to Australia to live. For all of these visa classes to be successful, a person must be sponsored by either an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen to apply for any of these visas.

The Types of Partner Visas (820/801 and 309/100):

The major factor that makes these two groups of visas different is determined by the applicant's location when submitting their application for a partner visa. An applicant must be outside of Australia's borders to apply for a Partner visa 309 (temporary visa) and must be in Australia at the time of application for a Partner visa 820 (temporary visa).

Once the applicant has held the temporary visa for two years, they are eligible to start their application for a Permanent Partner Visa (100/801) if they are still in a genuine relationship with their partner. An applicant who holds a temporary partner visa may remain in Australia until their permanent visa is granted, as indicated on the government website. As an applicant who holds an 820/801 or a 309/100 visa, the applicant has the right to work, attend school, travel to and from Australia, and obtain free English language courses.

Explore Partner Visa Subclasses in Australia: 820, 801, 309, 100, and 300 Options

Streamline your partner visa options to Australia (820, 801, 309, 100) and (300). There are many subclass options for partners of citizens and permanent residents of Australia and eligible New Zealand citizens to support the ability of these families to remain in Australia together. Knowing what each subclass entails and how best to utilise each can be instrumental in finding which subclass is ideal for the individual's circumstances.

Partner visa applicant eligibility requirements in Australia include:

• Sponsorship – Your sponsoring partner must meet Australian citizenship/permanent residency requirements before sponsorship is provided.

• Document Requirements - An applicant for a partner visa must submit documentation supporting the sponsor's commitment to support the applicant and their relationship with the applicant; the applicant must provide health and police record documents. An applicant should also confirm with an experienced migration agent or the Sydney 

Visa homepage as to the documents required to apply for a partner visa to ensure submission occurs without delay.

How To Apply For An Australian Partner Visa – A Guide To Applying

Applying for a partner visa can be very confusing. However, by following a logical system, you have a better chance of success:

• Identify Which Subclass To Select - Select either Temporary Visa (Subclass 820 or 309) OR Permanent Visa (Subclass 801 or 100). This may depend on how long you have been together and the specific circumstances surrounding your case.

• Documents Required - Gather together all relevant documents needed, including, but not limited to, evidence supporting your relationship (evidence of a strong relationship in the form of photos, emails, etc.), health checks and police checks.

• Submit Application Online via the Australian Immigration Portal – You must ensure that you submit an error-free application in order for your application not to be rejected/held up due to any incorrect information contained within it.

• Attend an Interview if Requested – If necessary, immigration officials may contact you to request an interview to further investigate your relationship.

• Wait For Approval – Processing times vary across the board, so please be patient while waiting for a response.

Using the assistance of an experienced migration advisor will simplify your Partner Visa application procedures considerably.

Costs and Processing Time for Australian Partner Visa Subclasses 801, 820, 309, and 100

Costs and processing times of Australian Partner Visa Subclasses 820, 801, 309 and 100 - Knowing what you are financially and in terms of your time:

• Costs – The starting point for applications for Partner Visas (820 subclass, 309 subclass) starts at $7850 AUD, and there are additional charges for dependants.

• Processing times – Temporary Visas (820 and 309) take a minimum of 12-24 months and Permanent Visas (801 and 100) may take 6-12 additional months.

• Other costs – medical check-ups, police checks and document translations – add to your total costs.

Being prepared for your application and submitting it on time will help keep delays to a minimum.

Contradistinction Between Partner Visa Subclasses 820, 801, 309, and 100 Explained

Partner Visa Subclasses 820, 801, 309 and 100: Learn how they differ

• It is essential that you choose the right subclass. Subclasses 820 and 801 allow you to apply for a partner visa while you are in Australia; the 820 visa is temporary until you are granted a permanent residency visa via the 801.

• Subclasses 309 and 100 allow you to apply for a partner visa while living outside Australia; the 309 visa is temporary, and the 100 visa provides you with permanent residency.

You can live, work, and study in Australia, with access to healthcare services, along either of these pathways.

Conclusion

Applying for a partner visa to Australia represents a pivotal moment in your life, as it will allow you to be with your partner in Australia. Each subclass has specific requirements and processes, and understanding these requirements will assist you in making informed decisions about your partner visa application. Please let Visa Agency Sydney assist you through this process to ensure a smooth application and to maximise your chances of success with your application.