If you are the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen or permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen and want to live together in Australia, applying for an Australian partner visa should be your priority.
There are several partner visas offered by the Department of Home Affairs of Australia, of which some are onshore, and some are offshore. For example, while the Partner Visa Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 Visa are onshore partner visas, offshore visas include Partner Visa Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 Visa. So, before you apply, you must be careful about it.
What Is the Main Difference between Onshore and Offshore Partner Visas?
The onshore Australian partner visa involves two stages, the first being the temporary Visa 820 and the second being the permanent Visa Subclass 801.
The 820 Visa will allow you to stay for a maximum of 2 years in Australia with your spouse or partner, during which you can prepare to lodge your next stage visa application.
You need to meet certain conditions when you apply for an onshore partner visa. These are as follows.
- As the name suggests, you must be onshore, i.e. in Australia, while lodging the application.
- In addition, your physical presence is mandatory at the time of visa decision, too.
- You may apply for your partner visa while holding a substantive visa in Australia. In that case, the Department of Home Affairs will grant you a bridging visa to allow you to stay lawfully when your partner visa application is under process.
- With the bridging visa, you can work and study in Australia. However, you may not have permission to travel outside Australia unless you have the Bridging Visa B.
The offshore Australian partner visa also involves two stages: the Visa 309 while the other is the Visa Subclass 100.
- Just like an onshore visa, the first visa is a temporary one, with the second visa being a permanent residence visa.
- The term ‘offshore’ is used because for the Visa Subclass 309, you have to be in another country except for Australia at the time of your application. Once granted, you can come and stay with your partner. You can also apply for a permanent partner visa while staying on the temporary partner visa.
- You must remain outside Australia at the time of lodging your application and at the time of the visa grant. This condition applies to the first stage or temporary visa.
- However, when it comes to applying for a permanent or second stage visa, you can be overseas or in Australia at the time of visa grant.
Because you will apply outside Australia, there is no need to get a bridging visa.
What Are the Visa Application Fees and Processing Times?
For both types of partner visas, the application fee is AUD7850. However, if you hold a Prospective Marriage Visa Subclass 300 at the time of your Subclass 820 Visa application, you will need to pay only AUD1310.
Processing times are different for the two types.
The 820 Visa takes about 6 to 34 months to get processed, depending on the number of applications submitted at a given time. In contrast, the 309 Visa takes a little less time, 5 to 31 months.
On the other hand, the permanent onshore visa, Partner Visa Subclass 801, takes much less time (52 days to 20 months) than the permanent offshore visa, Partner Visa 100, which takes about 5 to 29 months.
Some Frequently Asked Questions regarding Partner Visas
Take a look at the following questions faced by migration experts quite frequently.
Do We Need to Have Lived Together to Apply for a Partner Visa?
You may want to apply for a de facto partner visa. In that case, make sure that you have been in a relationship for a minimum of 12 months with your partner before applying.
What Is the Temporary Partner Visa Validity?
Usually, you can live for a maximum of 2 years while holding a temporary partner visa, provided you are in a genuine and continuing relationship.
Can I Work or Study with My Temporary Partner Visa?
Yes, a temporary partner visa allows the holder to work and study.
Can I Access Medical Benefits?
Holding a temporary partner visa will give you access to medical benefits.
Can I Receive Government Funding to Study on a Temporary Partner Visa?
The Australian Government does not offer any funding for studies to temporary partner visa holders.
Do I Need a Sponsor to Obtain My Partner Visa?
Yes, all partner visas need a sponsor. Your sponsor has to take all the responsibilities, including accommodation, financial obligations, and living requirements.
Do I Need to Go through Any Health Examination?
Meeting the health requirements is one of the primary eligibility criteria for obtaining a partner visa. So, if the Department of Home Affairs asks you to go through health examinations, you have to obey their order. At the time of your visa application, you must submit those examination reports.
Can I Apply for the Temporary and Permanent Partner Visas Together?
Yes, you can apply for temporary and permanent partner visas simultaneously.
Do I Require to Submit a Police Clearance Certificate?
Meeting character requirements is another basic criterion for partner visas. You have to submit clearance certificates issued by the police departments of all the countries you have lived in for at least 12 months in the last 10 years.
Can I Travel to and From Australia on my Temporary Partner Visa?
The temporary partner visa will allow you to travel to and from Australia whenever you wish.
Should I Hire a Migration Agent in Perth?
A migration agent Perth will not only help you with your application but also give you advice on which visa will be ideal for you.
Final Words
All Australian migration agents are registered professionals and thus can give you the most helpful advice on visa choice. For hiring the best immigration agent Perth, you may contact any reputed migration firm that has served for an extended period.
