Spouse visa Australia is a type of visa that allows married couples to live together in Australia. It is also known as a partner visa or marriage visa. If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident and you want to bring your spouse to Australia to live with you, you can apply for a spouse visa.
Types of Spouse Visas
There are two types of spouse visas available in Australia: the temporary visa and the permanent visa.
Temporary Visa
The temporary spouse visa allows your spouse to live in Australia with you for up to two years. During this time, they can work and study in Australia. To apply for a temporary spouse visa, you and your spouse must be married or in a de facto relationship. You must also meet other eligibility criteria, such as age, health, and character requirements.
Permanent Visa
The permanent spouse visa allows your spouse to live in Australia with you indefinitely. To apply for a permanent spouse visa, your spouse must have held a temporary spouse visa for at least two years. You and your spouse must still be in a genuine and ongoing relationship, and you must meet other eligibility criteria.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for a spouse visa, you and your spouse must meet certain requirements:
Relationship Requirements
You must be married or in a de facto relationship with your spouse. A de facto relationship is defined as a relationship where you and your partner have been living together for at least 12 months. You must also be able to prove that your relationship is genuine and ongoing.
Age Requirements
You and your spouse must be at least 18 years old at the time of application. If your spouse is under 18 years old, they must have the consent of their parent or legal guardian.
Health Requirements
You and your spouse must meet certain health requirements to be eligible for a spouse visa. You will need to undergo a medical examination to prove that you are in good health and that you do not have any communicable diseases. Your spouse will also need to undergo a medical examination.
Character Requirements
You and your spouse must also meet certain character requirements. You will need to provide a police clearance certificate from any country that you have lived in for more than 12 months in the past 10 years. Your spouse will also need to provide a police clearance certificate.
Documents Required
To apply for a spouse visa, you will need to provide the following documents:
Marriage Certificate or Evidence of De Facto Relationship
You will need to provide a marriage certificate if you are married. If you are in a de facto relationship, you will need to provide evidence that you have been living together for at least 12 months, such as joint bank accounts, shared bills, or photographs of you and your partner together.
Passport and Identity Documents
You and your spouse will need to provide your passports and other identity documents to prove your identity and citizenship or residency status.
Proof of Financial Support
You will need to provide evidence that you can financially support your spouse in Australia. This can include bank statements, tax returns, and employment contracts.
Police Clearance Certificates
You and your spouse will need to provide police clearance certificates from any country that you have lived in for more than 12 months in the past 10 years.
Application Process
The application process for a spouse visa can be complex and time-consuming. It is recommended that you seek the assistance of a registered migration agent to help you with your application.
Step 1: Gather Documents
First, you will need to gather all of the documents required for your application.
Step 2: Lodge Application
Next, you will need to lodge your application with the Department of Home Affairs. You can lodge your application online or by post.
Step 3: Wait for Visa Decision
After you have lodged your application, you will need to wait for a decision. The processing time for a spouse visa can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the complexity of your case and the number of applications being processed at the time.
Conclusion
Applying for a spouse visa can be a complex and time-consuming process, but it is worth it if you want to live with your spouse in Australia. Make sure you meet all of the eligibility criteria and provide all of the required documents to increase your chances of a successful application. Seek the assistance of a registered migration agent if you need help with your application.
