Australia's Department of Home Affairs has outlined four partner visa options available to the foreign spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens, covering both offshore and onshore applicants. The visa pathways are grouped into two broad categories based on the applicant's location at the time of lodgement, with each category pairing a temporary visa with a permanent one applied for simultaneously.
Offshore Partner Visa Applications: Subclass 309 and Subclass 100
The first category covers applicants who are outside Australia when they submit their application. It includes the Subclass 309, the Partner (Provisional) visa, and the Subclass 100, the Partner (Migrant) visa.
The Subclass 309 is a temporary visa that allows the foreign partner to live in Australia while their permanent visa application is being processed. It costs from AUD 11,710, with concessions available in limited circumstances. Once the temporary visa is granted, the path leads directly to the Subclass 100, a permanent visa that allows the holder to remain in Australia indefinitely. No additional payment is required for the Subclass 100, as the fee is covered at the time of the joint application.
Onshore Partner Visa Applications: Subclass 820 and Subclass 801
The second category is designed for applicants who are already in Australia when they apply. It includes the Subclass 820, the Partner (Temporary) visa, and the Subclass 801, the Partner (Permanent) visa.
The Subclass 820 functions similarly to its offshore counterpart, granting a temporary stay while the permanent application is finalised. The cost starts from AUD 11,710 for most applicants, though holders of a Prospective Marriage visa (Subclass 300) pay a reduced rate from AUD 1,955. Subclass 801 follows as the permanent stage of this onshore pathway, again requiring no separate payment since the fee is settled upfront.
Eligibility and Validity Across All Four Subclasses
Across all four subclasses, eligibility hinges on being the de facto partner or spouse of an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. The temporary visa in each pair remains valid until the permanent application is either finalised or withdrawn by the applicant.
Legit.ng has also published residency years for foreigners who want to become Qatari citizens.
Citizenship: Australia Mentions Residency Years for Foreigners
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Australia's Department of Home Affairs has outlined the residence requirement foreigners must meet before applying for citizenship. Applicants must have lived in Australia on a valid visa for a number of years before the date they apply for citizenship. The rules also specify how much time applicants are allowed to have spent outside Australia during that period.
