If you’re planning to move to Australia with your spouse, you’ll need to apply for a Spouse Visa Australia. This visa is designed to allow foreign nationals to live and work in Australia with their partners who are Australian citizens or permanent residents. Before you apply for a Spouse Visa Australia, there are some key points to keep in mind. In this blog post, we’ll discuss 5 important things to know before you apply for a Spouse Visa Australia.
1) The application process is long
The application process is long and arduous, with many pieces of documentation required. There are also two stages: Stage One – Application, which is the first stage of the process where you apply for your spouse visa; and Stage Two – Settlement, which is where you arrive in Australia as the new family member.
2) You need to be married
You need to be married. You also need to be in the same country as your spouse at the time of application, and you can’t travel outside of that country during your stay. If you don’t get married at all, but have lived with someone long enough, then you may qualify for a de facto visa, which requires proof that you have been living with them since before February 26th 2016. In this case, there is no time limit on how long you must live together.
3) You need to show financial stability
You need to show that you have enough money to support your spouse. The Australian immigration website has more information about these requirements and what else you will need.
4) The sponsor needs to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
The sponsor needs to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident who can provide evidence of this. If the sponsor is not Australian, they will need to prove that they have been living in Australia for at least two years. Sponsors must also be able to provide evidence of an ongoing income which meets the minimum requirements as outlined by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. These income requirements vary depending on how many children the applicant has and whether or not he or she has any disability-related needs.
5) There are different types of visas
There are many different types of visas that may apply to your situation. The two most common visas that you can apply for as the spouse of an Australian citizen or permanent resident, is the Subclass 309 and the Subclass 100. A further visa which may be applicable is the Subclass 870 which is designed specifically for partners who have been living together in a de-facto relationship with their partner on or before 20 August 2012, and who have not married their partner. For those couples who have married after this date, they will need to wait 2 years from the date of marriage before applying for this visa. It’s important to note that there are many different factors which may affect your eligibility and final outcome, so it’s important to do your research before you apply.
