Partner Visa

Eligibility

In order to meet the eligibility criteria and to apply for a partner visa, the relationship must be ongoing and genuine and meet several requirements. Immigration lsaw require an evidence of at least 12 months relationship duration, to satisfy the genuine relationship provisions.

There are 4 general categories of evidence that the couple require to provide to prove the genuine relationship:

1. Financial aspects

Evidence to show that you and your partner share financial commitments and responsibilities, such as:

• evidence of any joint ownership of real estate or other major assets (Cars, appliances) and any joint liabilities (loans, insurance)
• legal commitments that you and your partner have taken on as a couple
• evidence that you and your partner have operated joint bank accounts for a reasonable period
• sharing of household bills and expenses.
  
  

2. The nature of the household

Documents to show that you and your partner share responsibilities of your household, such as:

• your living arrangements
• joint responsibility for the care of children
• Sharing of housework and responsibility
• correspondence addressed to both you and your partner at the same address
  
  

3. Social aspects

Documents to show how your relationship with your partner is seen by your friends and family, such as:

• evidence that you and your partner are usually accepted as a couple socially (Joint invitations, going out together, friends and acquaintances in common)
• Form 888 - Statutory declarations from your partner’s parents, family members, relatives, and other friends about their assessment of the nature of your relationship

• Evidence that you have declared your relationship to government bodies, commercial or public institutions or authorities, joint memberships etc.
• Evidence of joint participation in sporting, cultural or social activities
• joint travel
  
  

4. The nature of your commitment to each other

      Documents to show your commitment to each other:

• Your intention of the relationship to be long-term (for example, the extent to which you have combined your affairs)
• Proof you have combined your personal matters
• the terms of your wills and superannuation beneficiaries
• the degree of companionship and emotional support that the persons draw from each other

Another important document you should provide is a statement about the history of your relationship. There should be one statement from the visa applicant and one from the sponsor which covers the following:

• how, when and where you first met
• how your relationship developed

• when you decided to marry or to start a de facto relationship
• your domestic arrangements (how you support each other financially, physically and emotionally and when this level of commitment began)
• any periods of separation (when and why the separation occurred, for how long and how you maintained your relationship during the period of  your future and plans