Family & Partner Visas

The 820/801 is a combined application for partners or spouses of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. You apply while physically in Australia, allowing you to stay on a bridging visa while the application is processed.

• Two-stage process: You are first granted a temporary visa (820). Two years after your initial application, you submit further evidence to receive permanent residency (801).
• Benefits: Includes immediate work rights and access to Medicare.
• Eligibility: Married or de facto couples (living together for at least 12 months, though some exemptions apply if the relationship is registered).

This is the equivalent of the onshore visa but for applicants located outside Australia at the time of lodgment.

• Structure: Similar to the onshore version, it moves from a temporary (309) to a permanent (100) visa.
• Strategy: This is the primary route for couples currently living overseas who are planning their move to Australia together.
• Evidence required: Must cover four main pillars: financial aspects, nature of the household, social aspects, and commitment to each other.

If you are engaged to an Australian and intend to marry after arriving in Australia, this is the correct pathway.

• Duration: Usually granted for 9 to 15 months.
• The next step: Once you are in Australia and have married your partner, you then apply for the onshore partner visa (820/801).
• Requirement: You must have personally met your fiancé in person as adults before applying.

Australia offers several pathways for parents to join their children, categorised mainly by cost and processing speed. All parent visas require the "Balance of Family" test (at least half of your children must live in Australia).

• Contributory Parent (Subclass 143/173): Features a much higher application fee (the "contribution") but significantly faster processing times than non-contributory options.
• Aged Parent (Subclass 804/864): For parents who have reached the Australian pension age. These can be lodged while the parent is in Australia on a visitor visa.
• Sponsored Parent Temporary (Subclass 870): A non-resident option that allows parents to stay for 3, 5, or 10 years. It does not lead to PR but is an excellent solution for long-term family visits without the strict Balance of Family test.

These visas allow a child to live in Australia permanently with their parents.

• Subclass 101: For children currently outside Australia.
• Subclass 802: For children currently inside Australia.
• Adoption & orphan relative streams: Specialised pathways for children adopted outside of Australia or for children whose parents are deceased, permanently incapacitated, or whose whereabouts are unknown.
• Sponsorship: The child must be sponsored by an eligible parent (citizen/PR) and generally must be under 18 (though exceptions exist for full-time students up to age 25).