If you are an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, and you want to bring your girlfriend to Australia to live with you, you may be able to apply for a partner visa Australia. A partner visa allows your girlfriend to stay in Australia indefinitely, work and study in Australia, enrol in Medicare, and apply for Australian citizenship if eligible.
There are two types of partner visas: the temporary partner visa (subclass 820 or 309) and the permanent partner visa (subclass 801 or 100). The temporary partner visa is the first stage of the process, and it allows your girlfriend to stay in Australia until a decision is made on the permanent partner visa. The permanent partner visa is the second stage of the process, and it allows your girlfriend to stay in Australia permanently.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
To apply for a partner visa, you and your girlfriend must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- You must be in a genuine and ongoing relationship, either as married spouses or de facto partners. A de facto partner is someone who lives with you as your spouse, but is not legally married to you. You must have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months before applying, unless there are compelling or compassionate circumstances.
- You must be at least 18 years old, and your relationship must be consensual and exclusive. You must not be related by family.
- You must meet the health and character requirements. This may include undergoing medical examinations, police checks, and providing biometric data.
- Your girlfriend must have a sponsor who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. The sponsor must be at least 18 years old, and must agree to support your girlfriend financially and emotionally during her stay in Australia. The sponsor must also meet the character requirements.
How to Apply?
You can apply for the partner visa either online or by paper. You can apply from inside or outside Australia, depending on which subclass you choose. The application fee for both the temporary and permanent partner visas is $7,850 as of July 2021. You may also have to pay additional charges for health assessments, police certificates, biometrics, and translation of documents.
The Processing Time for the Partner Visa
The processing time for the partner visa varies depending on the complexity of your case, the completeness of your application, and the availability of places in the migration program. As of July 2021, the estimated processing time for the temporary partner visa (subclass 820) is 17 to 24 months, and for the temporary partner visa (subclass 309) is 13 to 17 months. The estimated processing time for the permanent partner visa (subclass 801) is 15 to 19 months, and for the permanent partner visa (subclass 100) is 12 to 16 months.
You can check the status of your application online through ImmiAccount. You can also contact the Department of Home Affairs by phone, email, or post if you have any questions or concerns about your application.
Benefits and Risks of Bringing Your Girlfriend to Australia
Benefits
- She can stay in Australia temporarily, until the Department decides her permanent Partner (Migrant) visa (subclass 100)
- She can work and study in Australia
- She can travel to and from Australia as many times as she wants
- She can attend up to 510 hours of free English language classes provided by the Adult Migrant English Program
- She can participate in Australia’s medical benefits expenses and hospital care scheme
- She can enjoy the beautiful scenery, culture, and lifestyle of Australia with you.
Risks
- You may face difficulties in obtaining a visitor visa or a partner visa for your girlfriend, depending on your circumstances and the evidence you provide. The visa application process can be complex, lengthy, and costly, and there is no guarantee of success. You may need to seek professional advice from a registered migration agent or lawyer before applying
- You may have to meet certain health and character requirements for yourself and your girlfriend, which may include undergoing medical examinations, police checks, and providing biometric data. You may also have to pay additional charges for these services.
- You may have to prove that you are in a genuine and ongoing relationship with your girlfriend, either as married spouses or de facto partners. This may require providing various documents and evidence, such as joint bank accounts, shared bills, photos, correspondence, statements from friends and family, etc. You may also have to attend an interview with an immigration officer .
- You may have to sponsor your girlfriend financially and emotionally during her stay in Australia. This means that you have to agree to support her living expenses, health care, education, and any debts she may incur. You may also have to meet certain income and asset thresholds to be eligible as a sponsor.
- You may encounter cultural and language barriers with your girlfriend, especially if she is from a different background or country than you. You may have to help her adjust to the Australian way of life, learn English, make friends, and find employment or education opportunities. You may also have to deal with any family or social issues that may arise from your relationship.
- You may have to comply with certain visa conditions and obligations during your girlfriend’s stay in Australia. For example, you may have to notify the Department of Home Affairs of any changes in your circumstances, such as address, relationship status, employment, etc. You may also have to ensure that your girlfriend does not overstay her visa or breach any other visa rules .
Conclusion
Bringing your girlfriend to Australia to live with you can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. However, it can also be a complex and lengthy process that requires careful planning and preparation. Therefore, it is advisable to seek professional advice from a registered migration agent or lawyer before applying for a partner visa. They can help you understand the requirements, prepare the necessary documents, and avoid any potential pitfalls that may delay or jeopardise your application.