Visas & Advice Detail
Australian family visas
Got an Australian partner, or family members living in Australia? Then an Aussie family visa could be your ticket to a new life Down Under
A relative of an Australian permanent resident or citizen does not have automatic entitlement to reside in Australia; neither does a spouse, a fiancé(e), a de facto spouse, or a same-sex partner.
Rather, those wishing to emigrate to Oz must apply for the relevant visa and be sponsored by a person who is a permanent resident or citizen of Australia or an eligible New Zealand citizen. Read on to find out if any of these categories could be your route to a life Down Under...
Parent visas
Parent visas are, surprise surprise, for parents of a child (natural, adopted or step-child) who is a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or a settled eligible NZ citizen. Settled, generally, means that they have lived in Oz for at least two years. Parents must pass a balance of family test and be sponsored by their child in Australia and an Assurance of Support (AoS) should be in place. Applicants in this visa class can expect a substantial wait before their application is processed.
To speed this up you may wish to apply through the Contributory Parent category. This visa allows for expedited processing on the proviso that applicants pay a higher visa application charge (see page 10) and a larger AoS bond. Permanent and Temporary Contributory parent visas are available with different application charges and AOS requirements. The same balance of family and sponsorship requirements apply.
Partner visas
Those who can apply under the Spouse category are people who are married or in a de facto relationship with their sponsor. This is usually a two-stage visa, being a temporary visa initially that is subsequently changed to a permanent visa.
First, you will be assessed for a temporary visa, valid for two years after you first applied for your spouse visa.
A permanent visa will then be issued if the relationship is assessed as still being genuine and ongoing at the end of these two years.
Those who can apply under the Interdependent Partner
category must be at least 18 years old and in an
interdependent relationship with their sponsor. Interdependent relationships include, but are not restricted to, same-sex couples. The application criteria and procedures are as for the spouse visa.
The Prospective Marriage (Fiancé(e)) visa is open to people who are living overseas and engaged to an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. If you do have an Aussie fiancé(e) then they will need to agree to be your sponsor.
Those who can apply through this category must be outside of Oz when they apply and when the visa is granted.
When granted the visa is valid for nine months, during which time the applicant must marry the sponsor and then apply for the spouse visa if he or she wishes to remain in Oz.
Other family visas
Child category: Is for the natural, adopted or stepchild of a sponsor who is an Oz citizen, permanent resident or an eligible NZ citizen.
Aged Dependent Relative: is available for a single (having never married), widowed, divorced or formally separated aged person who is dependent on a close relative living in Australia.
Remaining Relative: This visa may allow an applicant whose only near relatives are usually resident in Australia to qualify for a visa.
For further information:
Department of Immigration & Multicultural Affairs
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