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FAMILY VISAS

Parent Visas

Partner  Visas

Parent
Visas

About This Visa

Contributory Parents Visa

This visa requires that you be sponsored by your child, or another eligible sponsor, in Australia.

 

Who is eligible for a Contributory Parent Visa?

You must be the parent of a child who is settled in Australia and is an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen.

 

You must be sponsored by an eligible sponsor. Usually, your child will sponsor you. If your child is under 18 years you may also be sponsored by your child's spouse, a close family relative or guardian of your child, a close family relative or guardian of your child's spouse or a community organization.

 

You must have a commitment by a person prepared to provide you with an Assurance of Support.

 

Other Requirements for a Contributory Parent Visa

The balance of family test requires that half your children must be permanently resident in Australia or you have more children permanently resident in Australia than any other overseas single country.

 

This visa can be applied for onshore if you do not have restrictions on your current visa.

 

Benefits of a Contributory Parent Visa

This visa allows parents to migrate to Australia permanently to join their children who are living in Australia.

Pension

As a rule, only people who have been Australian residents for 10 years are eligible for age or disability pensions. However, the 10-year requirement is waived if you become disabled after becoming an Australian resident.

 

The 10-year waiting period may also be waived if you are covered by an international social security agreement.

 

Australia currently has international social security agreements with the following countries:

 

  •   Austria

  •   Canada

  •   Cyprus

  •   Denmark

  •   Germany

  •   Ireland

  •   Italy

  •   Malta

  •   The Netherlands

  •   New Zealand

  •   Portugal

  •   Spain

  •   USA

 

You should contact the social security authorities in your home country to discuss your pension arrangements and to confirm that your pension is transferable and will be paid to you even if you live in Australia.

Social Security

When applicants first migrate to Australia, there is a two year waiting period before applicants are entitled to receive social security payments, including sickness, unemployment and student benefits.

 

It is therefore essential that applicants have sufficient funds to support yourself (and your family) for at least your first 2 years in Australia.

parent
Partner
Visas

About This Visa

Spouse Visas - Onshore and Offshore

 

This visa is for those in committed relationships.

 

These visas allow you to enter or remain in Australia on the basis of your married or de-facto relationship with your partner (a) on a temporary visa (usually for a waiting period of approximately two (2) years from the date you applied for the visa) or (b) on a permanent visa if, after the waiting period (if applicable), your partner relationship still exists and you are still eligible for this visa.

 

This visa includes dependent children and other eligible dependent relatives.

 

Who is eligible for a Spouse Visa – Onshore and Offshore?

 

Married Applicants - Your marriage must be legal under Australian Law. If you were married in a country other than Australia and that marriage is valid in that country, generally, it will be recognised as valid under Australian law.

 

There are some exceptions, such as same-sex, underage or polygamous marriages, which are not accepted in Australia. Same-sex couples are not eligible for this visa.

 

De Facto Applicants - You and your partner must have been in a de-facto relationship for the entire 12 months immediately prior to making application and you must have been living together for at least six months immediately before application.  Same sex couple can apply under this subclass and use the same criteria.

 

The 12-month requirement may be waived if (a) you can demonstrate compelling and compassionate circumstances, (e.g. you and partner have children) (b) all the following circumstances apply (i) your partner is, or was, the holder of a permanent humanitarian visa (ii) prior to their permanent humanitarian visa being granted, you were in a relationship with your partner that meets the requirements of a de facto relationship and (iii) the department was informed of this before the permanent humanitarian visa was granted.

 

Other Requirements for a Spouse Visa – Onshore and Offshore

 

You must be sponsored by an eligible sponsor. An eligible sponsor is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen, who undertakes sponsorship obligations. Usually, the sponsor is your partner and is over 18 years old.

 

You and your partner must show a mutual commitment to a shared life as husband and wife to the exclusion of all others. You and your partner must be living together or, if not, any separation must be only temporary. You must also have a genuine and continuing relationship with your partner.

 

Benefits of the Prospective Marriage Visa (300) - Offshore

 

Spouse temporary visa (onshore and offshore visas) – permit you to enter or remain in Australia with your spouse, until a decision is made regarding your permanent visa, work in Australia, study in Australia, but you will not have access to government funding for tertiary study and Australia's medical benefits expenses and hospital care scheme, Medicare.

 

Spouse permanent visas (onshore) – allow you to remain permanently in Australia with your spouse, work and study in Australia, enrol in Australia's medical benefits expenses and hospital care scheme, Medicare. You may also be eligible to receive certain social security payments and apply for Australian citizenship (subject to the residency eligibility criteria)

 

Note: In certain circumstances you can apply to go straight to permanent residency without the two year temporary residency requirement.

Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) - Offshore

 

This visa allows you to enter Australia and marry your intended spouse (fiancé(e)) within the visa's nine (9) month validity period.

 

Your fiancé(e) must be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen.

 

Who is eligible for a Prospective Marriage Visa (300) - Offshore?

 

The main purpose of applying for this visa is to allow you to come to Australia and then marry your intended spouse and live as husband and wife. You must genuinely intend to marry your fiancé(e). You must also genuinely intend to live with your fiancé(e) as husband and wife.

 

You must be sponsored by an eligible sponsor. An eligible sponsor is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen, who undertakes sponsorship obligations. Usually, the sponsor is your partner and is over 18 years old.

 

Other Requirements for a Prospective Marriage Visa (300) - Offshore

 

You must be able to legally marry according to Australian law. This means you must be aged 18 years or over. If you are aged 16 years or over but less than 18 years, you must have an Australian court order allowing you to marry your intended spouse, or you must both be of marriageable age at time of the intended marriage.

 

Your fiancé(e) in Australia can be aged under 18 years if they have an Australian court order allowing them to marry you. In these circumstances, their parent or guardian must be your sponsor and they must be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen aged 18 years or over.

 

You must be of the opposite sex to your intended spouse. Same-sex couples are not eligible for this visa.

 

You must have met (as adults) your intended spouse in person and know him or her personally. This must be the case even if it is an arranged marriage, you and your sponsor met as children and the marriage was arranged before you turned 18 years of age or you met on the internet (exchanging photographs is not evidence of having met in person).

 

Benefits of the Prospective Marriage Visa (300) - Offshore

 

With this visa, you must enter Australia before you marry your fiance(é), may leave and re- enter Australia as many times as you wish before your visa ceases (nine (9) months after visa grant), can work in Australia, can apply for a Spouse visa in Australia after you marry your fiance(é), can study, but you will not have access to government funding and may use Australia's medical expenses and hospital care assistance scheme, Medicare, but only if you are in Australia and have already applied for a Spouse visa.

Same-Sex Couples

Although marriages between gay and lesbian couples are not recognised under Australian marriage law, informal relationships of the same-sex are.

 

If you have an Australian partner of the same sex, then you may be considered for migration to Australia as an Interdependent Partner, provided you can satisfy the requirements of the visa.

Social Security

When you first move to Australia, there is a two year waiting period before you are entitled to receive social security payments including sickness, unemployment and student benefits from Centrelink (the Australian Department of Social Security).

 

It is therefore essential you have sufficient funds to support yourself (and your family) for at least your first two years in Australia.

 

You should ensure that your Australian spouse or partner is fully aware of their sponsorship obligations.

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