Australia is a country that welcomes immigrants from all over the world. One of the ways to migrate to Australia is through the Partner Visa program. This program allows Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens to sponsor their foreign partners to come to Australia to live with them permanently.
There are two types of Partner Visa: the Spouse Visa and the De Facto Visa. The Spouse Visa is for couples who are legally married, while the De Facto Visa is for couples who are not married but have been in a committed relationship for at least 12 months. In this article, we will focus on the requirements for the De Facto Visa.
To be eligible for the De Facto Visa, you and your partner must meet the following requirements:
- Genuine and continuing relationship: You must prove that you are in a genuine and continuing relationship with your partner. This means that you and your partner have a mutual commitment to a shared life together, and you live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis.
- 12-month relationship: You must have been in a de facto relationship with your partner for at least 12 months before you apply for the visa. This requirement may be waived in certain circumstances, such as if you can prove that you have registered your relationship with a relevant authority, or if you can prove that there are compelling and compassionate reasons for the waiver.
- Age: You and your partner must be 18 years of age or older.
- Health and character requirements: You and your partner must meet health and character requirements set by the Australian government.
- Sponsorship: Your partner must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, and they must be willing to sponsor you.
- Financial requirements: Your partner must meet certain financial requirements to sponsor you. They must prove that they meet a minimum income threshold or have sufficient assets to support you and any dependents.
- English language requirements: You and your partner must meet certain English language requirements. This requirement can be waived if you are from a country where English is the official language, or if you have completed a certain level of education in English.
- Application process: You and your partner must lodge your visa application together, and you must provide supporting documents to prove that you meet all the requirements.
It is important to note that the De Facto Visa application process can be complex and time-consuming. You may want to consider hiring an immigration agent to help you with your application.
If you are in a committed de facto relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, you may be eligible for the De Facto Visa. However, you must meet all the requirements set by the Australian government. If you have any questions or concerns about the visa application process, it is best to seek advice from an immigration agent.
