Australian immigration department in an effort to bring family members together has introduced a family visas in Australia. This entitles …
Australia Family Sponsorship Program
Australia Family Sponsorship Program
The Australian Family Sponsorship Program allows Australian Permanent Residents, Citizens of Australia or eligible citizens of New Zealand in Australia to sponsor their family members to join them in Australia. Every year Australia offers around 60,000 visas to family members of Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens. The family visas are given under the ‘Family Sponsorship Stream’ and have four main categories:
- Partner Visa
- Prospective Marriage Visa
- Parent Visa
- Other Family Visas
- Child Visa
Partner Visa
The partner visa is for the spouses, fiancé (e), and de-facto or same-sex partner of Australian citizens, Australian PR holders or citizens and eligible New Zealand citizens. To be eligible for this visa you must prove that your relationship is genuine and you intend to live together permanently.
The application for a Partner Visa must be sponsored by your partner who must be already living in Australia for two years.
Basic Requirements for Partner Visa Australia
To be eligible for the partner visa for Australia the following requirements must be fulfilled:
- Both the partners should be 18 years of age or above;
- The applicant must be spouse/fiancée/ de facto partner of the person residing in Australia
- Your spouse must be able to sponsor you for at least two years.
- Married couples need to prove that their relationship was for more than 12 months and is legit under Australian Law.
- De facto partners must demonstrate the length of their relationship for at least 12 months
Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300)
The Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) is for individuals who want to get married to an Australian citizen/ permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen. Under this visa category, the applicant can stay in Australia for nine months, during which he/she must marry the prospective partner. Once you are married, you may apply for a partner visa which will lead to your Australia PR status.
Applicants who come to Australia under Subclass 300 visa category can apply for a full-time job or study in these 9 months at their own expense
Eligibility Criteria for Prospective Marriage Visa:
The following eligibility criteria must be met by applicants applying for a Prospective Marriage Visa.
- Both partners must be 18 years or above
- You must be engaged to an Australian citizen/permanent resident or an eligible citizen of New Zealand
- The applicant’s visa application must be sponsored by his/her prospective spouse/partner
- Both must be intended to marry each other within 9-months
- The health and character requirements must be fulfilled
Child Visa
The child or dependent visa allows the dependent children to join their parents who are permanent residents/citizens of Australia or New Zealand citizens. While the parents can include their children while applying for their Permanent or Temporary visa, those who cannot migrate with their parents can migrate separately under the dependent/child visa. Moreover, temporary students, workers or business visa holders can also sponsor their children, below 18, under this visa category.
Those who migrate under the Child category receive permanent resident visas allowing them to live in Australia permanently and later apply for citizenship.
The categories available under Child visa are:
The following eligibility criteria must be met by applicants applying for a Prospective Marriage Visa.
- Adoption (Subclass 102)
- Orphan Relative Visa (Subclass 117/Subclass 837)
- Dependent Child Visa (Subclass 445)
- Both must be intended to marry each other within 9-months
- The health and character requirements must be fulfilled
Parent Visa
The Parent Visa category is for Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens to sponsor their parents.
