INTRO TO VISA

This visa is an offshore partner visa that allows an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or Eligible New Zealand Citizen to sponsor their spouse or de facto partner to live in Australia with them. The partner is generally based overseas during the course of the relationship and the visa is lodged in their home country. This is a pathway to permanent residence.

ABOUT THIS VISA

The applicant lodging this visa is required to show that they are in a long term, committed relationship with the sponsor and have been for at least 12 months prior to the lodging of the visa application. The applicant and sponsor must show that the relationship is continuous and ongoing despite being offshore, that it is only the two of them in the relationship and that they have some financial responsibility to each other. The applicant will need to show that they meet the health and character requirements for the visa and that they are able to remain in the relationship with the sponsor after the grant of the visa application. Minor children of the applicant may be included in this visa application provided that consent is obtained from the other parent for the grant of the visa to the minor child. The visa is granted for an indefinite period of time pending the lodgement of the permanent residence partner visa. The sponsor is required to show good character prior to the visa being granted and any criminal record may prevent the sponsorship from being granted.

The Immigration lodgement cost of this visa covers both the Subclass 309 and the Subclass 100 at the time of the lodgement of the Subclass 309.

AFTER GRANT

The applicant must enter Australia prior to the “enter by date” and establish residence within Australia with the sponsor. The applicant is entitled to enter and exit Australia multiple times while holding this visa. The applicant is entitled to Medicare Benefits on entry into Australia.  The applicant has unlimited Study rights and full work rights while holding this visa. The sponsor is required to maintain a clear character record during this period of time to ensure that they meet the character requirement on the permanent residence portion of the application. The permanent residence evidence must be lodged when requested to do so by the Department of Home Affairs.