All of your Partner Visa questions answered by our experienced Registered Migration Agents
Applying for a Visitor Visa before applying for a Partner Visa is often one of the first thoughts couples have, particularly where they have not had the opportunity to spend significant amounts of time together or live together as yet. Subject to being approved, the time spent together in Australia is a great place to start gathering evidence of various aspects of your relationship which the Department of Immigration will be interested in knowing when the time comes for you to lodge your Partner Visa application.
For example: One of the aspects of the relationship the Department of Immigration will look at is the social aspects of the relationship that can include whether or not you socialise together, whether your friends and family view you as de facto partners or a married couple and whether you present yourselves in social situations as such. If you have visited each other and spent time together on a Visitor Visa then you will, in most cases, have had good opportunities to meet friends or family, celebrate birthdays, or enjoy other activities together.
It is important to remember The Department of Home Affairs assesses all tourist visa applications against specific eligibility criteria, some of which are highly subjective. Not all applicants will be granted a tourist visa due to several potential reasons. Statistical information shows applicants from certain countries experience less than a 50% grant rate and recent trends show increasing rates of Visitor Visa refusals. It is important to get advice from a Registered Migration Agent before making plans to lodge either a Visitor Visa or a Partner Visa so you can be prepared and understand the prospects of success.
No. Quite often, couples are misled to believe that getting married will make it easy for them to be granted a visa, but this isn’t necessarily the case. A marriage certificate alone does not prove that you meet the eligibility criteria for a partner visa. The Department still requires evidence of various aspects of a couple’s relationship to demonstrate all legal criteria have been met. This includes documents which show a mutual commitment to a shared life, that the relationship is genuine and continuing and proof that you live together (or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis).
If you aren’t quite yet ready to get married, you may still be eligible to apply if you can demonstrate you meet the criteria of de facto partners. In this scenario you will need to have met the legal definition of de facto partners for a minimum period of 12 months immediately prior to lodgement of your application. There are some exceptions to the 12 month minimum duration of the relationship in cases where the relationship is registered with a relevant state or territory government or where compelling circumstances exist. We always recommend seeking professional advice to ensure you are meeting the legal thresholds and apply under the most appropriate pathway to your circumstances.
Getting married in Australia isn’t considered ‘better’, however, there are a few things to consider if you do plan to get married overseas. First and foremost, if you want to apply for a Partner Visa and your eligibility is based on your overseas marriage you need to ensure that this marriage is recognised legally and properly registered in the place of marriage AND complies with the Australian Marriage Act. Customary marriages, common law marriages, and civil partnerships from other countries are as yet not recognised in Australia and you cannot use them to show that you are married for the Partner Visa application. In some instances Australia will not recognise a marriage conducted overseas (even if the laws of that country allow it) for example for certain polygamous marriages or underage marriages.
Yes, it is not a requirement to be married to apply for the 309/100 visa and you may also consider applying on the basis of your de facto relationship. In either case, you will still need strong supporting evidence of your genuine and continuing relationship.
Couples applying offshore are often navigating the challenges of a long distance relationship and being separated from their partners which can make things a little more complex. We recommend speaking to a Registered Migration Agent to confirm you meet the criteria and the most suitable pathway and timing for lodgement of an application. In some cases a Prospective Marriage Visa might be a better fit.
As the partner applying for a Partner Visa, you can include your dependent children and step children in the application. There are additional criteria that need to be met for children who are over the age of 18, including demonstrating financial dependence. The upper age limits vary depending on the type of visa you apply for. It’s always worth consulting with a Registered Migration Agent to discuss your plans and get an understanding of your children’s eligibility now or into the future so you can plan accordingly.
If you are currently in Australia on a Student Visa and you lodge an onshore Partner Visa, you will be automatically granted a Bridging Visa A. The Bridging Visa A will not come into effect until your Student Visa expires. This means that you will need to continue your studies and meet all the conditions of your existing visa until it expires or you complete your course. If you stop studying prior to the expiry of your Student Visa, you will be in breach of your Student Visa and both your Student Visa and Bridging Visa A may be subject to cancellation.
For more, read our full post about going from a Student Visa to Partner Visa.
If you need to stop studying for any reason, or you receive a notice of intention to consider cancellation of your visa you should seek advice from a Registered Migration Agent.
Interviews used to be a common feature of the Partner Visa Program, but in recent years we have seen this happening less – largely due to the volumes of application and resourcing requirements to conduct interviews, but that’s not to say it can’t or won’t happen.
Being interviewed by Immigration often depends on which country you are applying from, the evidence provided to prove your relationship, and the individual decision maker assessing your Partner Visa application. An interview is more commonly requested if you are lodging from another country and if you have not known your partner for very long before applying for the visa. The interview may be over the telephone or in person with the decision maker at an agreed location and time.
If you applied in Australia, generally you can expect to not be interviewed.
You may be able to apply for a Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801) while in Australia on a Subclass 600 Visitor Visa if you meet the eligibility criteria and you do not have an “8503 – No Further Stay” condition on your visitor visa.
An “8503 – No Further Stay” condition prevents you from lodging a valid visa application whilst you remain in Australia. The 8503 condition can only be waived in limited circumstances, and you will need to have this waiver approved in order to lodge a Partner Visa onshore. You will have to show that there has been a major change in your circumstances since the grant of the visa, the circumstances are compelling and compassionate, and the change was beyond your control. You must have extremely strong reasons as to why you have to remain in Australia to lodge a Partner Visa. As an example of what is not strong enough, the Department of Immigration usually does not accept falling pregnant, while in Australia on a Visitor Visa with an 8503 condition, as grounds for a waiver. To find out more check out our article on the dreaded 8503 visa condition.
The main difference between these two subclasses of Partner Visas is that the Subclass 820 can only be lodged when the applicant is physically present in Australia and the Subclass 309 can only be lodged when you are located outside Australia. The Subclass 820 visa application will result in a Bridging Visa which allows you to remain in Australia after the visa you hold at the time of application expires and until the Partner Visa is decided. Normally you need to wait for the grant of the Subclass 309 visa before you can travel to Australia unless you are granted another visa during the processing of the application. In limited circumstances you may be eligible for a Bridging Visa if you travel to Australia following the lodgement of an offshore visa, however this requires a detailed assessment of your unique circumstances to confirm eligibility.
Which visa you lodge will depend on your physical location and personal situation, however, the application process for both is very similar in terms of the forms, application charge, documents, health and character checks. If you need help deciding which pathway is going to be best for you, we recommend booking a visa planning session with our team.
The Prospective Marriage Visa and Partner Visa are designed for couples in different stages of their relationship.
The Prospective Marriage Visa is for people who are engaged and will allow them to travel to Australia so they can marry their partner. Meanwhile, the Partner Visa is for people who are already married, in a de facto relationship, or in a registered relationship with their Australian partner.
The Prospective Marriage Visa can only be applied for from outside Australia. You do not have to be married or be a de facto couple to be eligible. However, the couple must have met in person since both parties have turned 18, have a genuine intention to marry, and live together as spouses within the visa validity period. After your marriage, the next step is to apply for the Partner Visa while in Australia.
As everyone’s situation is different, there is no single checklist that can list out all the documents you must provide to the Department of Immigration for your Partner Visa application. The different types of documentation that best demonstrate how you meet the criteria for a Partner Visa will vary greatly depending on how you choose to set your life up so following a cookie cutter template isn’t a good idea. We always recommend consulting with a Registered Migration Agent who can firstly understand your personal circumstances and then guide you on the types of documents to provide in order to have the best chance of success.
If you’d like to know more about the mandatory documents for Partner Visas, the dangers of using a generic checklist, and how to develop a personalised checklist, check out our full post: Where can I find a Partner Visa Checklist?
It really depends on which visa you apply for and if you are applying from in Australia or overseas. The Department of Immigration’s average processing times for the first stage temporary Partner Visa (Subclass 820 or 309) and the second stage permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 801 or 100) vary greatly. You can review the most up to date processing times on the Department’s website. From time to time more detailed data is released that includes more specific information about processing times based on the applicant nationality or processing office and we do see significant variances based on location and nationality as well as volumes of applications.
The Department encourages everyone to ensure the application is complete with respect to all documents including all health and character checks to facilitate faster processing and avoid repeated requests for additional information.
Generally you will receive an automated email from the Department with a reminder that you will soon be eligible to apply. This will be sent to the authorised email address you provide in your application. In some cases, this email might go to spam. We strongly advise you to keep track of the date two years ahead of your first Partner Visa application. Mark it on your calendar, set a reminder to contact Immigration, or reach out to us and we’ll advise you on what to do next. Unfortunately we do sometimes see couples who have missed this correspondence and/or follow up requests which can result in a refusal.
The answer all depends on which stage of the relationship you are at with your partner.
If you have met in person and are engaged, but not yet married, the Prospective Marriage (Subclass 300) Visa may be suitable for you. This visa allows you to come into Australia and marry your Australian partner. After that, you will be eligible to apply for the Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801).
If you are already married, in a de facto relationship, or registered relationship with an Australian, but you are living in another country, the offshore Partner Visa (Subclass 309/100) may be suitable for you. The first temporary stage of this visa can only be applied for from outside Australia, but you can be anywhere in the world at the time of approval for both visas, this includes in Australia (subject to holding a valid visa of course).
If you are already married, in a de facto relationship, or registered relationship, and currently in Australia, the onshore Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801) may be suitable for you. You need to be physically present in Australia at the time of lodgement, and the visa you hold can’t have any blocking conditions like an 8503 attached. The good news is that you can be in Australia or abroad when a decision is made. If you plan to travel during the processing of your application make sure you have an appropriate visa to return BEFORE you depart or you could land yourself in hot water!
Everyone’s personal circumstances are different and it is very important to choose the right visa for your situation.
When submitting evidence of a de facto relationship, applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have met the legal definition of de facto partners for at least 12 months immediately prior to lodgement of the application. The Department must be satisfied you have a commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others, that your relationship is genuine and continuing, and that you live together (or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis).
They will take into consideration the history of the relationship, financial aspects, social aspects, nature of the household, and nature of the commitment to each other, including future plans of the couple. The documents you provide must therefore evidence these parts of your relationships (often referred to as the Four Pillars).
For example, photos of dates and social outings or significant events, joint bank account statements or records of shared expenses or money transfers, joint tenancy agreements or other proof of your shared residential address. Other evidence include proof of your identity, witness statements attesting to your relationship, and health and character checks.
Unless you have a complex issue such as a section 48 bar you can choose almost anyone to provide a witness/support statement for your visa application. When choosing which people to ask to provide a Form 888 for a Partner Visa application, remember, they must be at least 18 years of age and know the visa applicant and their partner and the history of the relationship.
It’s important to consider who are the people that know you best and will be in a good position to provide commentary on all the reasons they believe you are in a genuine and continuing relationship.
When assessing if a couple are in a genuine and continuing relationship, case officers must consider the financial aspects of your relationship. This includes any joint ownership of real estate or other major assets, any joint liabilities, the extent of any pooling of financial resources (especially in relation to major financial commitments), whether one person in the relationship owes any legal obligation in respect of the other, and the basis of any sharing of day-to-day household expenses.
The Department won’t just take your word for it when it comes to explaining how you manage your finances together. For this reason, you and your partner should expect to provide fairly detailed financial information including bank account statements or transaction history as part of your Partner Visa application.
You need to be OUTSIDE of Australia at the time of your Partner Visa application. If you want to travel to Australia whilst the visa is being processed you will need to meet the relevant criteria and be granted another visa in order to do so. This is an important consideration when it comes to planning your future together as processing times can be significant.
If you’re applying for the Subclass 820 you need to be INSIDE Australia at the time of application. You can be anywhere in the world on the day your visa is decided, however if you plan to travel and wish to return to Australia during the processing of your Partner Visa application, it is important to check you will continue to hold a valid visa. We’ve seen plenty of cases of confusion where an applicant has left Australia without a valid visa to return.
Making a valid application includes the most basic items needed to make sure the application is considered lodged technically or legally. It has nothing to do with the prospects of success.
Each visa subclass is different and you need to meet the prescribed lodgement criteria including submitting the correct forms, using the approved application method, paying the correct fee as well other considerations like the location of the applicant at the time of lodgement or the type of visa held. (Did you know if you hold a 491 or 494 visa there are rules about how long you need to have held this visa before you can apply for an onshore Partner Visa?) Where an applicant has a history of visa refusal or cancellation they might be subject to a Section 48 bar, in which case there are additional criteria including specific documentation that MUST be provided at the time you lodge your application for it to be considered valid.
Remember, lodging a valid application does not guarantee your visa will be approved. It just means the application will be considered. Along with ensuring you submit a valid application you will need to provide appropriate documentary evidence that you meet the eligibility criteria for grant of the visa which covers a whole lot more than forms!
Good question! Immigration forms ask for details of your travel and address history over the last 10 years. Our clients often ask, “Do I really have to provide ALL the details?” and the short answer to this is YES! When the Department asks for specific information, you have to provide it.
To find out more read this article on travel details required for my application.
A Bridging Visa is a visa that allows you to stay lawfully in Australia when you are waiting on the outcome of a further visa application. For example, if you hold a Student Visa and are nearing the end of your studies when you apply for your onshore Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801), you will be granted a Bridging Visa A which will come into effect after the expiry of the Student Visa. You can stay in Australia on the bridging visa until your Partner Visa is granted. For more info on this check out our blog post that gives a bit more detail on how bridging visas work.
A Bridging Visa allows you to stay lawfully in Australia whilst you are waiting on the outcome of a further application. To be eligible for a Bridging Visa, you need to be in Australia at the time of approval and you also need to hold another visa at the time of applying for your partner visa. Once granted, it ‘bridged the gap’ from when the current visa expires until a decision is reached on your Partner Visa.
For example, if you are holding a 3 month Visitor Visa and lodge a Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801) while in Australia, you will be granted a Bridging Visa A which will come into effect after the expiry of the Visitor Visa. The Bridging Visa A will remain in effect until your visa is granted.
To find out more, check out our blog all about Bridging Visas.
If you have lodged a Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801) application while in Australia on a substantive visa, you will be granted a Bridging Visa A with full work rights. It is important to remember that work restrictions associated to other visas like a student visa or a sponsored work visa will continue to apply until the Bridging Visa A is active – the work rights do not start immediately.
There are some situations where you may not be automatically granted work rights, for example, if you were not holding a substantive visa when you applied for the Partner Visa. In that case, you will have to show the Department of Immigration you will be in financial hardship if you are not able to work to apply for a new Bridging Visa with work rights.
The temporary Partner Visa, subclass 820 and 309 have full work rights and this continues until a decision is made on your permanent residency.
Read more in our full article about working on a Bridging Visa.
Regardless of when you have lodged an onshore Partner Visa, the 6 month work limitation will remain valid and in effect until the Working Holiday Visa’s original expiry date. The Bridging Visa A and associated work rights will only become active or in effect if your original visa expires before a decision is made on the Partner Visa. If you reach the 6 month work limitation with your employer before your Bridging Visa A is active, you can apply for permission to continue your employment on the basis that you have lodged your Partner Visa. You will need to complete the online web form before the 6 months limitation is reached.
If you and your partner have been in a long-term partner relationship and you can provide appropriate documentary evidence at the time of application, you may be considered for permanent residency immediately after the first stage temporary Partner Visa is granted and effectively receive both visas in succession or a “Double Grant”.
A long-term partner relationship means a relationship as a de facto couple or married (or a combination of both) that has continued for at least 3 years, or where you also have a child of the relationship at least 2 years.
If you have lodged a Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801) application while in Australia on a substantive visa, you will be granted a Bridging Visa A automatically and you do not have to submit a separate application for this bridging visa. In rare cases there may be delays in receiving the bridging visa grant notice due to technical issues with the online system or if there are issues verifying your visa status (e.g. change in passport details or name change).
The Bridging Visa A does not include travel rights. If you need to depart Australia you must apply for a Bridging Visa B to allow you to return. It is very important you apply for the Bridging Visa B before you leave as this visa can only be granted whilst you are in Australia. Learn more about bridging visas here.
The thought of being separated for an extended period during the processing of a Partner Visa application is a concern for many. If you have lodged an offshore Partner Visa, you might consider applying for a Visitor Visa to spend some time with your partner whilst awaiting the outcome of your application. You will still need to demonstrate you meet all the criteria for approval of a Visitor Visa.
We get asked this one a lot and YES, be warned the Department can do just that. The social aspects of your relationship and how you present your relationship/how it is perceived socially by family and friends is an important aspect of the visa application. Now, that’s not to say if you prefer to keep your relationship private and offline your application won’t be approved, but make sure you carefully consider details that are shared online and the access and privacy settings. Learn more here.
Whether you apply for your Partner Visa onshore or offshore or a Prospective Marriage Visa, the Visa Application Charge (VAC) for the main applicant is currently $9,365*. Additional fees apply if you include your dependent family members in the application. For people who have already been granted their subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa, and have since married their partner, there is a reduced fee when applying for the subclass 820/801 Partner Visa. This is currently set at $1,560* for the main applicant. Additional fees apply if you include your dependent family members in the application.
If you would like more information on all the things you need to budget for when thinking about applying for a Partner Visa the check out this article on What is the true cost of a Partner Visa.
*As of 1 July 2025. Visa Application Charges are usually increased on 1 July each year.
A Registered Migration Agent is someone who is legally allowed to give immigration and visa advice in Australia. To become a Registered Migration Agent, you are required to undertake an approved program of study in Australian Migration Law, pass an entrance exam, and complete continuing professional development on an annual basis. Registered Migration Agents are bound by a strict Code of Conduct. It is a criminal offence for anyone who is not a Registered Migration Agent or practicing solicitor to provide immigration advice. You can check out the list of MARA Agents in their website.
To learn more on why you should use a Registered Migration Agent, click here.
Before deciding to go it alone, we recommend that everyone starts their Partner Visa journey with a Visa Planning Session. You are about to make a significant investment in your future together, so this is a great starting point to ascertain whether or not a DIY application is something that will be achievable or if you could use some extra support from our team. Like they say.. “You don’t know what you don’t know”.
To be granted a Partner Visa as a de facto couple, you and your sponsor must show that you have been in a committed de facto relationship for the entire 12 months immediately prior to lodging your application. The only exception to the 12 month rule is where you are in a registered relationship or can demonstrate compelling circumstances that would justify waiving the 12 month requirement.
A key part of the legal definition of a de facto relationship is demonstrating that you live together or do not live apart on an ongoing basis. In cases where you are not currently living together or have lived together for less than 12 months it is best to get professional advice as it may be more difficult to prove the relationship status is consistent with the level of commitment expected of de facto partners and more distinct from exclusive dating.
You may still be eligible to apply if your periods of living together are not continuous. For example: You lived with your partner for 9 months before your partner was suddenly required to move to another city for work. You were unable to move to the same city, because of a family situation, until 3 months later. The 3 months of living separately could be counted towards the 12 month period as it was a temporary separation and you remained committed to each other as a de facto couple.
It is possible to include children from a previous marriage as secondary applicants to a Prospective Marriage application or Partner Visa application. You need to provide details of ALL your children in the application forms, no matter what their age or situation.
If a child under 18 years of age is included in the Partner Visa application, the other non-migrating parent must provide written consent to the child’s migration. Alternatively, your partner can produce official legal documents to prove that they have sole rights and access to the child to the exclusion of the other parent.
If the child is over 18 years of age and migrating with your partner, they have to be financially dependent on your partner (e.g. studying full time, not working, and reliant on their parents for basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter). Upper age limits apply depending on the pathway chosen so it is recommended you seek professional advice.
Dependent children, whether or not they are migrating, may be required to undertake a visa medical examination. This is important because of the “one fails, all fails” rule; if a dependent child does not meet the health criteria, your partner will also be deemed to not meet the health criteria. If this occurs, you will need to seek a waiver of the health criteria for grant of the Partner Visa.
YES!!! When it comes to the Partner Visa and Prospective Marriage Visa programs, love does not discriminate! The current legislation does not reflect any sex or gender related requirements to be eligible. In some cases there may be additional hurdles or challenges faced when it comes to documentation or evidence of your relationship but these are not insurmountable – read more here.
The health requirement for Australian visas is designed to protect the Australian community from public health and safety risks, control expenditure on health services, social security benefits allowances and pensions, and safeguard access to health care and community services that are in short supply. When you apply for the Partner Visa, which eventually leads to permanent residency, you will be subjected to more comprehensive health checks than if you were applying for a temporary visa.
If your partner does not meet the health criteria, the Partner Visa may be refused unless you are eligible for a waiver.
If your partner has a health issue or concern, it is important to get professional advice prior to lodging the visa application so you know what to prepare for and whether or not a health waiver is likely to be necessary and if you will meet the criteria for approval. Read more in our full blog post about Partner Visa Health Criteria.
If this happens, you may be entitled to apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal for a review of the decision to refuse your visa. Additional fees are payable and it is important to note that strict time limits apply. Failure to submit your application on time will lead to forfeiture of your rights to review.
If you do not apply for a review through the ART you will need to leave Australia before the expiry of your visa. In most cases, you will not be able to apply for another visa while in Australia.
Yes. If you have been formally separated but not legally divorced from your ex-partner, and in a de facto relationship with your new partner for at least 12 months, you may be eligible to apply for a Partner Visa if you also satisfy the other criteria for the visa. Ideally, you should be able to show that you are in the process of finalising the divorce with your ex-partner or reasons why you are unable to divorce.
We’ve made a blog about this. Check it out: I am not divorced. Can I still apply for a Partner Visa?
Unfortunately, if your relationship ends before you are granted either the provisional Partner Visa (Subclass 820 or 309) or Permanent Partner Visa (Subclass 801 or 100) the visa can only be approved in limited circumstances. This may include:
The rules and evidence required to prove family violence is very complex. It is extremely important to get professional advice if you are in this situation to have the best chance of getting permanent residency.
In this scenario we recommend seeking tailored advice on how to proceed. Whilst there is technically no limit to the number of times you can apply for a Partner Visa as the applicant, there may be additional considerations depending on how far through the application process you are (e.g. do you hold a bridging visa or has the provisional Partner Visa already been granted). The length and duration of your new relationship and whether or not you informed the Department of your change in relationship status also need to be considered when determining your eligibility and prospects of success.
Where you have had a refusal or cancellation, you may be subject to Section 48 of the Migration Act. The good news is the Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801) is one of the very few visas that you may apply for with a Section 48 bar unless the visa that was refused or cancelled was a type of Partner Visa.
In these scenarios there are additional requirements to lodge a valid application and criteria to be met for approval known as Schedule 3. We strongly recommended you seek professional advice to navigate these additional complexities and to better understand your prospects of success.
Yes, your partner may be able to sponsor you depending on whether they are subject to the sponsorship limitations.
Wait periods of 5 years apply between the date of application of the first Partner Visa and the date of approval of a new visa unless you can demonstrate compelling circumstances. Usually you cannot be approved to sponsor more than 2 people in a lifetime. In limited cases if you can demonstrate compelling circumstances exist, you may be eligible for a waiver of the 2 person limit.
Yes, you may be able to depending on how long ago your own Partner Visa was lodged. This is because there are limitations on sponsorship where you have previously been sponsored.
You cannot sponsor someone for a Partner Visa if you were sponsored as a partner yourself within the last 5 years. The 5 years is calculated from the date your original application was made. This wait period cannot be waived unless you can demonstrate compelling circumstances (e.g. your previous partner passed away or you experienced family violence).
Both the visa applicant and the sponsoring partner are required to provide police checks and demonstrate they are of good character in order for the application to be approved.
Depending on the nature of offending and sentence imposed, the Department has discretion to approve or refuse the visa following consideration of a range of factors. In some cases a refusal is mandatory unless a waiver is exercised. To find out more have a read of our blog post on Partner Visa Character Requirements.
When it comes to the Partner Visa, the short answer is YES. You will have to jump through a few more hoops; but, it is possible to migrate to Australia and we have had numerous success stories! Read more here.
This raises serious questions about your credibility and can lead to additional scrutiny of any claims made in your Partner Visa application, particularly in relation to the genuineness of your relationship. Where the Department considers that you provided information that is false or misleading this can lead to refusal of your application as well as a 3 year ban from being approved for any further visas. Read more about the potential consequences in my blog post.
When it comes to Partner Visa applications, the Department uses statistical analysis and fraud detection techniques to assess the risk level of Partner Visa applications to assist in determining if they are low risk (likely to be genuine) or high risk (likely to be fraudulent). They collect and analyse historical visa data to identify patterns in fraudulent and genuine applications. Some key factors include risk profiling based on country of origin and previous immigration history (e.g. data models to compare approval and fraud rates based on nationality).
Assessment of other relationship characteristics and trends may also be considered. For example, higher scrutiny may be placed on couples with a significant age gap or limited time spent together prior to entering into a relationship or significant gaps in evidence to substantiate their claims.
Disclaimer: We have endeavoured to ensure that all information given on this page is accurate at time of publishing, however, Australian immigration legislation and policy is constantly changing without notice. Information on this page is to be used as a general guide only and does not in any way constitute immigration or legal advice. Always seek professional advice from a Registered Migration Agent about your specific circumstances before lodging any visa application.
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