Australian Family Visas

If you are in Australia and you want to stay in Australia with your spouse or de facto, a two-step visa system applies.

Firstly, the Partner Visa Temporary- subclass 820 allows you to live, work, and study in Australia temporarily. You and your partner or spouse must meet certain requirements to be eligible. This visa enables you to stay in Australia while a decision is made under the Partner Visa (Permanent) subclass 801. This can take around 20 to 27 months. Include your dependent child or children, if any, in your application.

Providing certain conditions are met, and you are granted the permanent parent visa, you are able to stay indefinitely, work and study in Australia. You can also enrol in Medicare (public health system) and sponsor family members to come to Australia. You may be able to apply for Australian citizenship. It can take around 11 – 19 months to process the permanent Partner Visa.

If you are planning to marry your partner (and you are not in Australia), you may be able to apply Prospective Marriage Visa Subclass 300. This visa lets you come to Australia to marry your prospective spouse. You are able to stay for between 9 – 15 months from the date of grant of the visa. During this time, you can work and study (at your expense) in Australia. Processing time for this visa takes from about 23 – 27 months.

If you and your spouse want to settle in Australia, you can apply for the Partner Visa Subclasses 820 and 801. If successful, you can stay in Australia indefinitely, work, and study. You can enrol in Medicare and apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible. All visas are subject to eligibility requirements and certain conditions.