Applying for a Partner Visa is a 2-stage process. You apply for both a temporary and permanent visa in the one application at the same time.
Temporary Partner Visa
- If you lodge your application outside Australia, you must be outside Australia when the temporary visa is granted.
If you are granted a temporary visa, you will:
- Have permission to travel to and from Australia until a decision is made on your permanent visa application; and
- Be able to work in Australia.
Permanent Partner Visa
- If you lodge your partner application outside Australia, you may be either in or outside Australia when the permanent visa is granted.
- In most cases, permanent residence cannot be granted less than 2 years from when you lodge your temporary partner visa application. However, you may be granted a permanent visa without having to fulfil the usual 2 year waiting period if at the time you apply you meet certain criteria, as follows:
- You have been in a relationship with your partner for 5 years or more (as a married or de facto partner); or
- You and your partner have been in a married or de facto relationship for 2 years and have children.