How to Apply for Spouse Visa for Australia

Wondering what you need to get a spouse visa for Australia? If you've been married to an Australian, or are in a de facto relationship with an Aussie or permanent resident for at least 12 months, you may be able to apply for a spouse visa for Australia.

What is a Spouse Visa for Australia?

It is a temporary visa that allows you to stay in Australia with your partner. It can also be the pathway to permanent residence if, after two years of applying for this visa, your relationship is still genuine and continuing.

In order to be eligible for a spouse visa for Australia, you and your partner must fulfill the following requirements:

• Both of you must have a commitment to a shared life as husband and wife, regardless if you are legally married.
• Your relationship must be genuine and continue.
• You must live together (at least on a permanent basis).
• If you are not legally married, you will have to prove that you have been in a relationship with your spouse for the last 12 months, and that you have lived together during this time.
• Both of you need to be 18 years old or over and must pass health and character criteria.

When applying for a spouse visa for Australia, you may either be in Australia or overseas, however, apply from within Australia has its advantages. Once your application is accepted, you will receive an Extended Eligibility Temporary Visa that will give you the right to stay in Australia for two years and you will have the right to work during this period.

Depending on your case, you may not need to wait the two-year period to be complete to be able to apply for a permanent residence visa. Circumstances that this may happen are:

• If you have been married for five years or more at the time of application.
• If you have been married for two years and there are dependent children of the relationship.
• If your partner was approved for a permanent visa under the humanitarian program or has got a protection visa and was in the relationship with you before the visa was given.

Once the two-year period has passed, you will be able to apply for a permanent residence in Australia, provided that your relationship still continues. Depending on the case, you may be able to get a permanent residence even if the relationship has broken up before the end of the two-year period. Cases that this applies include if your spouse has died during this period; if you and your Australian partner have children under 18 years of age or if you and your dependents have experienced domestic violence during this period.

Keep in mind that applying for a spouse visa for Australia can be a stressful time. The complexity of the paperwork and lengthy processing times can put a lot of pressure on your relationship. To minimize the time and stress, we recommend you to book a professional consultation with a visa expert who will guide you through the process and make your visa process as smooth as possible.

Using an Immigration Agent to migrate to Australia

Australia Perth (Photo credit: Kenny Teo (zoompict))

Why Australia?

Australia has the image of a country with optimal living conditions and opportunities to achieve the perfect balance between work and private life. This has made Australia one of the top destinations that foreigners choose as their second home. Quality of life, beautiful and exotic nature,
education and work opportunities make the number of foreigners wishing to immigrate to Australia increase every year.

How can you move to Australia?

Australia has strict laws and procedures when it comes to immigration. If you are thinking about migrating to Australia, it might be a good idea to consult a migration agent.

Using a migration agent is not essential to move in Australia. It actually depends completely on the ability to make a successful visa application. Somehow, it is a little bit like determining if you want to use an accounting professional to submit the return tax, or use a solicitor to make your Will.

It is individual choice. Many people feel confident to do it by themselves and do it effectively and successfully, and other people choose to use an expert consultant.

If you choose to use a registered migration agent in Australia, the offered services usually will include:

• Giving you advice about what kind of visa is best for you if you are in or out of Australia;
• Offering you a real and sincere opinion about your possibilities of success;
• Giving you a strong, written quote of their charges to represent you, which includes information about the application components, for example translation and medicals costs that will represent other extra costs;
• Ensuring that the needed application documents are of a standard that complies with the Australian Department of Immigration and the Citizenship's requirements;
• Helping you with any specific difficulties;
• Ensuring that your visa application form is finished right and correctly along with the right charge, - this means that your application is valid, because the Department can't accept invalid visa application;
• Making legal submission to support your visa application and represent you in the best light;
• Lodging the application, monitor the progress;
• In the case that your visa application is not approved/unsuccessful, applying for Ministerial intervention, submit the appeal and represent you at the tribunal court date.
  
  

  

One of the most important things you should know when choosing a migration agent is that the agent must be registered at the Migration Agents Registration Authority – MARA. It is a criminal act for the unregistered agents to provide advice.